Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-07-16
Il LETTER FROM ALASKA.
account In Detail of Trying
Trip in Search of Copper
RiVcr Gold.

KOmery we are permitted TO publish
the following interesting letter from
Ed Montgomery, who is now seeking
gold near Copper River, Alaska:
1--WE are we'll and hearty and work.
ing like beavers to get to the head
waters Of Copper River and II anyone
gets there / think we will, but
1t is the hardest Job ever undertook
and We meet with SO many difficulties
that 1t takes all OF mans grit and |
nerve TO overcome them, but we are |
determined to go through and see what
there IL there. don't think there |
win be 800 out OF the 1900 people on |
this trail ever get to Copper River.
They are giving up and going back |
every day.
| 81 will give you description OF what
we have had TO go through so far and
what we can see ahead. In the first
place we had two or three very excit-
ing experiences on the ocean In the
boat we came In as | have already de-
scribed 10 you, then after leaving the
boat II, Valdez, we had TO pull our out
ht FOR five miles through seven feet OF
snow 10 the foot OF the glacier, which
Is solid mass OF lee and snow for %
miles without stick OF wood or drop
of water ON it. We had 10 have all OF
our wood and melt snow for water for 30
days, as IL took US that time To get our
outfit over, and We worked like Turks
every day, and now and then there were
such awful billiards and storms that
we could not face them. After getting
over the summit To wood and water on
this side, we had 10 go back for part OF
our stuff, and there came up such u
storm tina. we couldn't make ii back
for five days, and when we did go II
was something awful TO face. When
we got there We found things in bad
shape. There had been a snowslide
that they said killed ten people, but !
have learned since that there were
only two killed. We could not find our
cache OF goods until we had prospected
and then We dug them out from under
seven feet OF fresh SNOW. After we
cot everything on this side OF the sum
NIT the snow began 10 break up and
snow and slush was awful. We were
over our gum boots In It half the time.
{ Before we reached the lake nj the head
: of this river. We had 10 pull through
P wafer running over the Ice 10 inches
I deep. When we got on the lake, which
IL Is miles long, we had the only mic.
4 travelling that we have had yet IL
!. was frozen over and the trail on the
q Ice across IL was fine. One trip pulled
y ao1 pounds over IL for 10 miles. The
|. loads We pulled varied according 10
!. the trail. We could pull only 100
pound. In some places and In several
places on the glacier we had to pull 1t
all up with block and tackle. When
we struck the head OF this river we
u bull, boats and started down, bat when
: We got down seven miles we found II
: almost impossible To navigate. as 1t Il
Z one continual string of rapids for over
20 miles. or all the way 10 Copper
y River. We are now down this river
within IL or 10 miles of Copper River
working our way slowly, letting the
/, boats down with lines. There are eight
v OF us travelling together with thess
T. boats. SO far we have had pretty good
u luck compared with what some Others
q are having. We have only had one acct
l. dent. and that WAS not very bad. w,
n turned one boat over bu, only lost foul
l. boxes. The balance OF the stun We
saved. Some OF the poor devils hers
are losing most everything they have
y We are are going to leave the most o
y our stuff here now, and have one OF th'
~ party stay and take care Of II, whil'
" the balance OF us go up the Coppe
," River with about three months sup
," ply and see II we cannot locate some
" thing and then We come back In tn
10 fall and take the balance OF our stui
up on the leo. This Is the only thini
g. we or anyone else can do, AS hav
h. been down to Copper river and find
70 Is so swift that no one can get up
liz with a light boat and light load. !
a. is getting SO late now that we mus
hurry all we can, or the season will b
gone before we get any prospecting
h. done. We are finding colors OF gol
TX now, but nothing In paying quantitie
10 yet. We are having fine weather
nd The flowers are in bloom on the mour
o. tain side now, and the mosquitoes are
st full bloom, also. They are almost ea
en- ing me up now. II is now 10 p. m. an
'c' | am sitting on, in front of our ter
IL writing without light. 1t does nc
get dark at all here now.
-, "The mail carrier got In all rigl
49, this trip but the Lord only knows whe