The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-06-03

who knew the trail were wintering there
Some 1000 had already started before we
arrived, on good hard snow; but those
left. about 1000, have two feet OF soft
snow which fell the day before we
arrived, and are in sad plight. 1t is not
likely it will harden enough to travel over
so they can't make start, and they can
not travel without snow on account of
swamps over which they can't pack their
goods even if it was safe to cross the
plaZier on the edge of which they now
are, 1t is beginning to crash. now and
men are liable to fall into cracks in the
soft snow. One man came on board who
was caught in slide and was buried Tor
an hour; it was mere luck he got out as IL
does not often happen that they do. A
slide covered a cabin a few days ago and
two of the four men persisted. The man
| smoke of had their addresses and had a
letter to their friends in Chicago. l
doubt if | have made plain all the diff
culties of getting into Copper river You
cannot ascend from the mouth as 80
miles up it has canon in which is per-
netual glazier. There is also hundred
it. falls either above or below. mountains
on either side for several miles and no
possible trail over them. The only way
10 get in to Alaska from the coast above
a certain point where IL may pe warm,
YOU must enter over a glazier, as 1T is the
only comparatively level place to travel
on. So to get to Copper River above the
glacier and falls the glacier at Naldiz bay
so miles away is the nearest level point
of entrance. 1t is then 80 miles of glacier
and 40 miles over two mountains. Old
miners tell me that the Chilcoot Pass to
Dawson is easy compared to this. Many
of the men now in have not the neceSSa-
nv supplies to last till they can get out,
and they can't possibly take enough with
them to last over the trip. | cannot help
but believe that there is to be sad histo-
nv written of Alaska i'll the near future,
ard that Copper River will furnish large
share.
We get into Cooks Inlet tomorrow,
There is no wharf and we must land in
the mud and snow. Our boiler weighs
ton and | am afraid we shall have some
trouble in getting it safely ashore as there
is a y fit. tide. Since writing the above
a Mr. Ladd who has tracing post there
has offered us the use of a warehouse,
one-half mile from were we land, to live
in and get our boat together We think
this great luck. Have just discovered
that one trunk is missing containing my
rubber and leather boots, all my tobacco,
and most of our cooking utensils and 9th
er things costing about 500. This IS
tough as we cannot renew our supplies at
this place.
May 9th. | have few minutes to spare
to get this on the Morgan City on her re-
turn trip. Don't know when | shall get
chance to send another letter. Did not
land at Toyonok, met a trader on boat
who gave us permission to land at his
place five miles above and use his store
house.
Arrived Sunday morning at low tide.
Landed on beach three-fourths of mile
away and had to work hard to keep our
stuff out of the water as the tide com
menced to rise. 1t was hard work getting
it to store-house, some twelve tons in all.
Monday morning landed our boiler and
engine at high tide, this time right at
stOre-hOuse. Lucky TO have so high tide.
Am feeling first-rate. Yours,
II. NJ. WIsWALL.