The Redwood gazette., 1897-01-07
TWINS FROM YUKON.
The Remarkable Journey OF Moth.
er1eSS Babies.

WlIulu lu0 DOIQ0TS OI lduU OWu0u Dy
the United States, and yet further
| away from the centre of their own
country civilization than any other
child or children, is the distinction
which will follow Joseph and Bernard
Day through life. They are two-year
old twins and arrived in Seattle on the
steamer Willapa direct from Alaska,
and the place of their birth is not the
only thing remarkable thus far in their
lives. for, with the aid of their father,
they made, in order to reach Juneau
and make connections with the Villa
pa, trip of many days, coming from
the Yukon mining district and cross
ing the grand but dangerous summit
by the Chilcat pass. Others many
years their senior have attempted to
make that same trip and were never
heard of again, but the babies are alive
and we'll, and, while they cannot talk,
they hope to some day be able to dis
cuss the trip as it comes to them from
the lips of their father, U. Day.
The story of their birth, of their re-
markable trip, and other facts con-
nected with them is one that does not
find it's way into print very often. U.
Day is miner. He is a big, fine
looking man, and for 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 look at the country he
made up his mind that he would come
back to the United States and get a
wife, 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-
tives in a suburb of Minneapolis,
Mimi, consented to return with him
to Alaska. 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 a great event
among the miners. But one or two
women had eyer been among them,
and those had held aloof from the
common miners. Mrs. Day took an
interest in them and endeavored to
bring happiness to their lives.
Just two years ago she gave birth to
twin boys. They we're big and healthy,
and had eyes that we're black as coal
and cheeks that we're red as apples.
The exact date of their birth was Oct.
l3, 1894, and the place Sky Mile
Creek. Never did the coming of any
one, not even of the hardy men who
carry the mail, create such a furore in
the Yukon district. Miners who came
down recently say that for three
months after the birth of the twins
Mr.. and Mrs. Day received presents
from miners far away who heard of
the new arrivals.
! They we're the first children ever
born in the Yukon district, and they
we're petted and caressed and humor-
ed as though they we're the children
of some great king.
| On June 3, this year, Mrs. Day, who
had not been we'll since the birth of
the children, died, and there was a
general mourning in the camp.
Everybody wondered what would
become 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 impos-
sible for him to make the trip until
the babies were old enough to walk.
Two months ago Day decided to
leave the Yukon with his little ones
The miners generally were of the
opinion that it would mean death TO,
the children, and probably for the
father, if he undertook the trip. Day
,, was determined. He said that to keeI
the children at Sixty Mile would near
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 mer
+. shed tears and prayed for the children
Day said that if they died he woulc
die with them.
They we're dressed in clothes of heavy