The Dickinson press., 1898-06-04
Our Alaska Letter.

arc uolnS. we are Caught at Lake
along with hundreds of
others; and though We regarded it as a
great misfortune at first, it is probably
the best thing that could have happened
to us. We had intended going on to
Lake Bennett, as we had always been led
to believe there was no timber suitable
for bodybuilding around Linderman.
BY the time we got our outfit down from
the summit the canyon between here
and Bennett had become impossible, SO
we decided to remain here and build our
boat, as many others were doing. W.
had to go up on the mountain a mile and
a half to get our logs, and sledded them
down after they were u and trimmed.
Willis and l got out our own logs, built a
saw-pit and had them half sawed before
the boys anne over. By the "boys" l
NEAR Messrs Lane, Crowley and Kilmar-
tin. Willis is helping them get out their
logs now and they will help him saw
ours and we shall build our boats to-
gether. So, like Othello, l find my &C.
cupation gone. Privately, between you
and me, l am not sorry, for whip-sawing
is awfully hard work, although wouldn't
admit it while l was working at it. In
fact it is all hard work on this side of the
summit, but old-timers tell US that our
hardest work is right here and that we
shall find it easier after we get inside.
The men who have dragged their outfits
from Dyea to the summit, and then down
here, are about worn out and in a poor
condition to tackle" getting out logs
and whip-sawing. We had all our stuff
packed to the summit while we were on
the other side, so were fresh and strong
to begin the struggle on this side. Dur
ing the time we we're getting our outfit
down, we arose every morning at two
o'clock and Willis started for the sum-
NIT at three. Then l did up the work,
baked bread if necessary, made prepar-
atoms for dinner and about eight o'clock
started out to meet him. l fell into the
long line Of men and sleds going up, and
if the morning happened to be fine | en-
joyed the beauty and grandeur Of the
canyon exceedingly. If it was stormy |
just bent my head against the storm and
plodded on up the steep ascents. usu-
ally met Willis about six miles up the
trail. l would fasten my rope to the
sled and help pull the load until we
reached the canyon. Then l would tie
my rope on the back of the sled and act
as a drag as we went down. got to be
such an expert that l could slide down
on my feet just like the men. usually
asked the mar just behind us to wait
until we got down, as l was always in
mortal terror of the "gee-pole," and he
always obligingly did so. A woman
meets with unfailing kindness and cour-
tesy on the trail and need not be afraid
to go anywhere. By getting such an
early start we reached home about noon
each day and thus avoided the blockade
in the canyon later in the day. We had
a hearty dinner, then a light lunch be-
fore we went to bed at six o'clock. en-
joyed all this thoroughly and did not be-
come tired at all after the first few trips.
l believe that to the reasonably healthy
mar or woman this is the ideal life, and
l grow more and more in love with it as
we continue our journey. Willis, | am
sorry to say, does not enjoy it as much as
l do; and sometimes when l con BEAM
ing in, after wading up to my knees in
the snow and slush along the lake shore,
he looks at me with a look that says
plainly that no one but a natAfa
idiot would grin so y9daa1a
ing circumstaRa
F. - { :! :! 4! !!