Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1897-12-09
MISSOURI GOLD HUNTERS.
Housed For the Winter In Cabins at
Sun Rise City, Alaska.

Sun Rise City, Alaska.
VANDALIA, Mo-, December 1.-The
following letter, written by Mrs. W.
L. Frost, who is spending the winter
at Sun Rise. City, Alaska, about seven
ty-five miles from the mines, has been
received here. The party includes
MIR. and Mrs. Jack Frost, Alba Frost
and John Thomas, brother of Mrs.
Frost:
Sun Rise City, October 15.-Mail
boat arrived last evening with cargo
OF letters from homo. This will be
our last mail till spring. shall write
from time to time during the winter
and give You an account of just how we
are spending the time. We are all here
now, and expect to be settled soon for
the next eight months. Alba and
John just came down from the noun
tains this morning, making the dis
tance, seventy-fiy miles, in two days.
Jack and have been down for some
time. We left Tuesday week, and
also walked the distance in two days.
l stood the trip down much better
than l did going up. 1t commenced
showing after we left the fiat, and we
had to continue our trip in one of the
heaviest storms 1 ever saw. The
snow was SO dense that we could
hardly see across the canyon. as
sure you we didn't tarry long over our
lunch by the wayside-our Alaska
picnic, as we call it, under pine tree
with beautiful white carpet of snow
spread all around. To make it more
interesting, Jack thought we were on
the wrong trail, and we had to go
back and start anew. But we were
all right. A new trail had been made,
and Jack was not familiar with the
landmarks; and the road gave the
landscape such weird appearance.
With a good nights rest l made the
rest OF the journey all right, with a
good appetite for the wild goose din
ner that awaited US. Mrs. Pierce and
Mrs. Smith came down the day before
and prepared for us such nice din
ner.
was the last white woman to leave
the fiat. The other men finished their
work before our boys. Besides, they
were afraid it would storm 80 they
couldn't get out of the mountains, so
they started first. Our boys quit
"shoveling in," as it got 80 cold water
froze solid in the sluice boxes about
September 2sth. Then they start
ed shaft on high bench; got down
about SO feet and had to quit on ac-
count of water before getting to bed
rock. You see, it does not freeze
here like it does on the Klondyke.
The water will always bother them till
they get machinery to keep it out.
Jack says he will not be satisfied till
he sees bed rock.
This season has not been as success
full as we hoped, as there was so much
dead work. OF course, this country
will not compare with the Klondyke,
if reports are true. However, there
are several good paying claims here,
and a great deal OF gold is taken out.
Still, we would rather be on the
Yukon. Jack says the chances are
better there, and it makes him sick to
think he can't arrange to go there this
fall. Jack has charge of MI. Wheeler's
stock of goods here this winter. Mr..
Wheeler's two schooners arrived yes
terday with provisions, so there will
be plenty of everything in camp this
winter-potatoes, turnips, eggs and
nice fresh apples. Just think of what
treat they were to rs. They sell at
S3 per box. Alba and John have been
eating apples ever since they arrived
this morning.
We are all contented to remain this
winter. OF course, they all have the
Klondyke fever, but know it will do
no good, as we have made up our
minds to remain this winter. Jack
says he never was in such an unset
tied state of mind. 1t makes HIM
sick to read about the rich strikes In
Klondyke. You know, he started
there two years ago and got ship
wrecked here.
| We haven't had any news from the
Copper River, only from papers be-
low. Jack thinks there are good
prospects there, and If anything il
found the boys can get there in g
short while, as it is only about seven
ty- five miles from here to the mouth
of the river. The last mail boat left
) twenty-four men there, and the one
before thirty-two, so there will be
quite a settlement there this winter
The people here have little faith II
! the reports of gold coming from there
Perhaps the Indians will bring III
, news from there this winter.
There will be only two othel
women in the inlet this winter ane
one of them, Mrs. Klein, will winte
: up at Forks OF Canyon, about fifteel
miles from here. Mrs. Smith ant
, myself will remain at this point.
don't believe I'll suffer this winter
. and if it only passes as quickly ant
pleasantly rs the summer Pll not evel
!, be lonesome.
There are dozen new new comers
? They arrived on the last mail boat
' started for the Klondyke and wer'
caught in the blockade at Skaguay
got disgusted and came on here t.
winter. Several Of them were fror
Jefferson City, Mo-, and knew JAG
? and Alba. One of them, Mr.. Oldham
FROM FOOT TO KNEE