The times., 1897-07-25

the thermometer registered go degrees
below zero the entire party slept in the
open all without any protection except
our fur coverings This weather, it must
be explained, however, was not as cold
as when IL is zero ia Washington The
air is so rarified and pure that human
beings do not experience much discomfort
from frigidity when travelling in Alaska.
We were comfortably but not clumsily
dressed. Each man wore heavy suit of
underwear, stout woolen trousers, vest
| and sort OF native boot or moccasin
made of reindeer hide, worn with the hair
exposed. In lieu of coats we had short
reindeer tunIcs or ''parkes," which were
perfectly air-tight, and had TO be slipped
over the head in much the same manner
that Il night shirt is put on
when travelling grass was to be had
and the game which we found so abund-
antly around Sitka was entirely absent.
Most OF the members Of the eypedE-
ton had some experience at mining and
while we noticed no traces of gold, prob
ably because we were not prospecting.
there appeared traces everywhere of n
great mineral wealth and inexhaustible
fields OF coal. In the more salubrious
climate there We're untold thousands nf
spruce trees Of Il yig0I and size I have
seldom seen eoUaled. In the warmer
waters salmon abounded and in the Yukon
the finest specimens Of trout and game
fish aboUnded. These first were the
sweetest and largest I've ever caught.
We wore entire suits OF reindeer All
OF our travelling was Gone at night. Dur
ing the daytime the heat of the sun was
terrible thing and its reflection On
the show almost blinded u.s.
In the northern part OF the peninsula
we found most bleak and unpromising
land never sight OF even a blade OF
grass.
ne Alaska Indians did not afford any
trouble, although in some sections they
are 1lerce and troublesome race The in
hautantS at the coast ere an undersize,i.
flat-featured race, with but little grit and
no ambition. They were entirely differ.
ent from the Chilkats and Ingletts
These men We're magnificent looking saw.
ages, very tell and finely built They were
or fierce nature and the biggest thieves
l have ever known. As early as &c they
were splendidiy armed and adopts at the
use OF gun. Strange to say, we never en-
oounaered the slightest opposition from
them. although as a rule our travelling
was done In parties of two and three On
one occasion 1 made a Journey of two
months with no other eomnanions excone
my Indian guides. The women Of these
tribes are extremely handsome.
After g had been in the county LITTLE
over year news came to US by an Indian
runner that America had bought Alaska
"a " nFrp7 -, -
IN our little camp. We hoisted the glorious
Old stars and Stripes, and as the folds
formed and spread themselves a mstv
shout Simultaneous with the reports of our
guns reVefeerated over the icy wastes, and
IN inc name or the United States we TOOK
formal possession OF the country.
Not long after this event VIC were
saodened ley the sudden death of the most
distinguished member of our party. Mai
hennicott. We dug grave through the
icebound sol, which for the first three
feet was almost impenetrable, and which
afterwards became more workable. and left
him there among the SHOWS. Soon after this
we returned home.
Il am not surprised at the reports which
have heard OF the Klondike country. Nor
90 L think that the reports which have
been received are much exaggerated. Any
man with robust constitution can GO and
live there. and even il he does not strike
fortune, there are other chances for him
in the land
Unless parties leaving now manage to
reach the Yukon before September, I
would advise them to wait until spring.
In September the rivers freeze, and ex.
cept temporary thaw, which occurs about
February, they remain ice-locked until
May