Connecticut western news., 1898-06-30
UP ON THE GLACIER.
MT. Emmons Writes Us During his As- cent of the Yuldees Glacier.
 May 9 h, 1898.

May 9 h. 1898. liI' E,Htor:
 It may interest the readers of the NEWS to learn tue whereabouts of our party and it's progress in the Alaskan gold fields. My last letter closed with our departure from the steamship Va lencia on the beach in Port Vuldces. or as it is sometimes called, Copper City; both names mean one place, though the proper name is Port Valdees, deriving it's name from the Valdees Glacier over which steep incline the prospootor gains the Copper River and at .he same time the gold fields adjacent thereto. at the distance of l50 miles from its mouth. | It is not possible to travel mp the river from it's mouth owing to mud flats, shallow water and the presence of the Miles Glacier set in deep canyou where large blocks of ice often fall as large as locomotive and larger, swamp everything in its path.
 Commencing where we left the steam ship we made camp on the beach, having ten duck tents, 10.l2 feet with three foot wall and fly and 400 feet of lumber for our boats. planed on both sides which we find very convenient for floors. We camped week at our first camping ground upon six feet of snow under the scorching rays of the sun by day and cold nights. At first it was odd to wrap ourselves up in our fur robes and sleeping bags and sleep on the floor, but our tents are far better quarters than the soldiers who put on their nigLt robes and crawled into their bags with only the sky for a tent and such a beautiful covering as Alaskan skies afford. Were I an artist would send you Q sketch that would enchant you.
 Ynldees bay, the sea front of Port Val dees, is an arm of Prince William sound, nestled here among the hills and tue entrance is so oircuitous that when at anchor in tbe bay you cannot tell where it is. It is oval in shape to the north east corner of Vsldees Gla- cier. The settlement is called and in- corporated as Port Valiees and is spring ' ing up like a mushroom. Are adv it's quite place. Hotels. two drug stores, six grocery stores, two hardware stores, and about 100 other buildings, while when I last wrote you there were only two or three houses.
 Prices are quite high. An oil stove that would cost us East 75 cts, is Sl0 kerosene oil in 2qt. pails SI. co each and everything else in proportion. Whis- key is 25 cents a drink, but to the credit of our government but little is sold as the territorial laws are enforced and all liquors found coming in are coufscated. lot was seized a few days ago. The laws are strictly obeyed, no police officers are required. Tons of groceries, hardware and clothing piled in sacks of 90 pounds each for convenience of handling, all the way from Canaan to Pittsfeld, 35 miles Each man CT company have theirs iu their own separate pile and the piles all the way from 10 feet to one-half mile apart and all feeling the same security and even more than you do iu your quiet New England village, and you form some conception of the situation here.
 We wrap our robes about us and feel as secure as you, for to steal a side of bacon meaus shooting on the spot and our military captain does not interfere. Thus far no necessity has occurred !; every one knows what theft means and fear keeps them honest.
 Leaving our camp on the beach we drew our six tons of freight five miles to the foot of the Glacier tValdeesl aud made camp. This is su elevation of 150 feet from the beach. At this camp the water came in on us and we had to break camp and hustle our goods upon the glacier one mile distant, wadeing meanwhile through water up to aud above the knees, but at this writing our goods are all landed on the top of the third bench blocks. or hill of the gla- cier, and having pulled them the last mile by tackle and blocks.
 Today we will commence to haul 
 them miles to Five Mile camp. We use the ordinary Alaskan sled. capable of holding up ono-half a ton, but we seldom take on over three hundred pounds as the heavy grades will not permit of more. Our geologist of the Government corps tells us the summit is 4900 feet above our first camp on the beach or 245 feet on an average to the mile lbeing 20 from beach to summiD 50 you see it is up hill all the time
 Many are getting discouraged and going home; few will enter the prom ised land and our party hopes to be smiles upon us. kiud Heaven sends us good weather and we are pressing on over hundreds of feet of ice and snow We have inst akfasted aud had good one, ss Ralph Taylor is our cook now. Old Saturn locked horns with the moon on the 7th, and gave us cool weather, which means good truils, as we work nights and sleep days, the sun is so hot and affects the eyes.
 Truly Yours,
 FRANK EMMoNs.
 sHEFEIELD.
 Mrs Pamelis s. Callendar, widow of