The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-03-27

NrEO12J Qren, IS the dis
tinction which will
follow Joseph and
Bernard Day through life, says Seat
tie correspondent of San Francisco Call.
They are two-year-old twins and ar
rived in this city on the steamer Will
lapa, direct from Alaska, and the place
of their birth is not the only thing re-
markable thus far in their lives, for,
with the aid Of their father, they made.
in order to reach Juneau and make con-,
nections with the Willapa, a trip of
many days, coming from the Yukon
mining district and crossing the grand,
but dangerous summit by the Chilcat
pass. Others, many years their seniors,
have attempted to make that same
trip, and were never heard of again,
but the babes are alive and well, and,
while they cannot talk, they hope to
some day be able to discuss the trip
as it comes to them from the lips of
their father, u: Day. g.=**s
The story of their birth of their
remarkable trip and Other facts con-
nected with them is one that does not
lind it's way into print very often. u.
Day is miner. He is a big, fine look
ing man, and for many years before he
decided to go to Alaska he worked in
the silver mines Of the east He was
experienced in his business, and when
he made trip to Alaska four years
ago and took a look at the country he
made up his mind, that he would come
back to the United States and get his
wife, a bride of a few months, and re-
turn to the land of gold. He came
back and his wife, who was at that
time living with some well-to-do rela-
I tives in suburb Of Minneapolis, MINI. !.
consented to return with him to Alas
ka. She was not very strong, but had
plenty of nerve, and in the spring, with
the aid Of her husband, she reached the
Yukon mining district in safety.
Her coming was great event among
the miners. But one or two women
had ever been among them, and those
had held aloof from the common
miners. Mrs. Day took an interest in
them and endeavored to bring happi-
ness to their lives.
Just two years ago she gave birth to
twin boys. They were big and healthy
and had eyes that were black as coal
and cheeks as red as apples. The ex-
act date of their birth was October
1S, 1894, and the place Sixty-Mile
Creek. Never did the coming Of any
one, not even of the hardy men who
carry the mail, create such fervor in
the Yukon district. Miners who came
down recently say that three months
after the birth of the twins Mr.. and
Mrs. Day received presents from min
ers far away who heard of the new ar
rivals. They were the first children
ever born in the Yukon district. and
they We're petted and caressed and hui
mored as though they were the chill
dren of some great king. -
On June 3, this year, Mrs. Day. who
had not been well since the birth of the
children, died, and there was general
mourning in the camp. Es
8 Everybody wondered what would be-
come of the twins. Day told his friends
that in the fall he would take them to
the United States and place them with
their mothers relatives at Minneapolis.
The miners laughed at him and said
that it would be impossible for him to
make the trip until the babies were old
enough to walk "a. ...
Two months ago Day decided to
leave the Yukon with his little ones.
The miners generally were of the opin-
ion that it would mean death for the
children and probably for the father if
he undertook the trip. Day was de-
3 termined. He said that to keep the
children at Sixty-Mile would mean a
life of ignorance and suffering. So.
early in July, Day started for Juneau
with the prides Of the Yukon. Before
his departure old and hardened miners
shed tears and prayed for the safety of
the children. Day said that If they
died he would die with them.
They we're dressed in clothes Of
heavy Woolen cloth, and, strange as it
may seem, made the trip the greater
part of the way strapped on the shoul-
ders of their father. He carried them
similarly to the way Indian women
pack their pappooses about. They
were great burden, when the length
Of the trip is taken into conside
and the further fact that Day had a
pack Of provisions and blankets to car
ry with him. Day says that at times
the weather was very colo, and when
4 his babies would not;even cry he would
think that probably they were benumb-
sed BY the cold. Then he would take a