Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-06-10
4 W0man's Experience in Alaska.

y letter written by Alice Wanless
to relatives in Portland and this city,
dated at Lake TaggiSh, May 81, gives
some idea OF woman'S existence
while roughing it" on the frontiers
al civilization.
She writes: am alone most OF the
time, all the men having gone several
miles down the lake to cut timber for
our boat. While there is plenty near
er, the sawmill men claim it and will
allow nobody to take stick, no mat
ter how badly they need it. Our party
have to haul the logs in and whip.
saw the lumber they Use. The wealth
er is mild and extremely warm, but we
have Il little breeze occasionally. The
lake is right in front oi our tent door,
and Notwithstanding the high temper
allure now, is frozen over, and it is Il
fine sight to see the dog teams hauling
slcdS OF goods over its smooth surface.
When there is much wind the packers
sometimes rig sails which greatly less
en- the labor OF the dogs.
There is sawmill close by and it
makes a fearful racket nearly all the
time. We are quite ut home i'll our
two tents, one of which is my kitchen,
dining-room and parlor, and another
the store-room and quarters for the
men. We have nice clean carpet OF
sawdust laid every day, and for beds
the men have brought in evergreen
boughs and after stuiling them into
canvas ticks they make bed good
enough for a princess-after passing
through the experience have.
Our diet consists of biscuits or light
bread, bacon and pork and beans, and
at rare intervale wild game. We have
the finest of soups, brought in with
our supplies. You cut off Il small
piece, pour water upon it and heat it
to boil, and you have II soup fit for a
king. For dessert we have canned or
dried fruits. The other day l made n
rasin cake and the boys fairly went
wild over it. We use n big drygoods
box for a table, and the boys have
nailed up some shelves for cupboard,
and it is easy to consider them all that
is required when one wants to adapt
conditions to circumstances.
While am willing to cook, as my
share to the common labor, draw the
line on wash-day, and when it comes
everybody must look out for himself.
| do my share in cooking for half n
dozen men with furnishing appetites.
Occasionally we have visitors, and l
often think what a grotesque appear
ance we must present to eyes that are
not as accustomed as ours have be-
come to backwoods habits and attire.
rwear boomers, and find q great de.
gree of comfort in this escape from
fashions tyranny. | am treated with
the greatest consideration and civility.
I am absolute mistress of my domain,
and my slightest wish is obeyed-
probably on account of lingering
memory of the good meals l serve!
One of the most wonderful things
connected with this country is the
length of the days-only three hours
of night. Darkness does not close
around till ii o'clock at night and
daylight begins at . in the morning.
Only think of it!
We expect to get our boat finished
about the first of June, the time that
the ice breaks up, and then-on to
Dawson!
enclose for the girls some Alaska
violets, which grow in profusion here,
the only tribute my loving heart can
now offer. When we get into the gold
regions, | will send you souvenirs in
the shape of Alaskan nuggets.