The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-24
4 LETTER FROM ALASKA
Showed In on the Summit of
Valdes Glacier.
LAST GROWING OBSTACLE
Wood Ton Cents . Pound-Hauled by
Hand Thirty Miles Up Hin-An
Discomforts Vanish When the
Lake Is Reached.

Great Falls, May 23.-James s. Cor
don. brother of DIR. r. p. r. Gordon Of
this city. and himself formerly a resi-
dent here and at Neihart. but now on
his way to the Copper river. writes
home the following account of the ad-
ventures of himself and party:
Summit Valdes Glacier, Alaska,
May l.-Snowed in on the summit of
the glacier with wood running short.
A very few words, but jam full of
meaning to those of us who are In that
hx. The summit is the last browning
obstacle on the glacier, and only be-
cause it is the last and there is a large
belt Of timber some 20 miles on the
other side is 1t overcome. 1t has
blown and showed for three DAYS, and
all work has been totally suspended.
hundreds Of tents and stacks of goods
barely showing above the snow. Every
one Is lying low, in more ways than
one. Firstly. in order to put up your
tent securely you nave to dig down six
or eight feet in the snow so as to be
protected from the sweeping winds
that are liable to sweep down without
q moments warning. 1t is no uncom-
mon thing to be hauling your sled in
h blazing sun. clothed in an under
shirt and wearing now glasses. when
inside of two minutes a breeze sweeps
down on you that makes you hustle
out your mackinaws, fur cap. mittens
and pull for all you are worth to keep
warm. Secondly, my beloved brethren
We lay low when wood Is scarce-in
fact, 20 our meals and then go to
bed, as used to be done In the early
Dakota days. Wood at the camp at
the foot of the summit is worth 10
cents per pound, n the supply is al
most invisible. What wood there is has
been hauled by hand some 25 or 80
miles up hill, and as each one hauls
Just enough and not a pound more than
is necessary to get over the summit,
there is practically no wood for sale.
The advance guard of the 5000 TO
5000 men on the trail is now camped
on the timber of a large lake some
30 or 40 miles long by six to eight miles
wide. This lake has no name as yet,
but the river which flows out of ii and
into the Copper river is called the Tus-
nuna river. This lax is the first haven
or heaven, l might call it-that every
one is striving for. n the common
saying is. When we get to the lake
Wen wash up n get shave once
more or I'm going to bak some yeast
bread and make a good bed of spruce
boughs,' etc. All discomforts are to be
wiped away when we reach that far
away paradise. Then think of putting
over 1000 pounds on the sled at the
top of the summit and holding 1t back
instead of pulling ones vitals out get
ting SO pounds to the top.
What few provisions are for sale
sell rapidly. at SIG per 100 pounds for
-four. IS cents per can for condensed
milk, 30 cents per pound for bacon-10
miles from the summit. and increases
in price at the rate of / cent per pound
per mile. These provisions belong to
discouraged ones who are going back,
content to let the Copper river remain
UNEMPLOYED.
The last steamer at Valdes bay
brought a small company of soldiers,
under command of Lieutenant Aber-
crombie, for h purpose. 1t is said. OF
looking UP a route from Valdes to
Dawson City. Lieutenant Abercrombie
had at one time been in this country,
and 1t was fondly hoped that he would
take the lead, but so far they have only
made great efforts to max themselves
comfortable In camp at the beach.
Nothing can stop or head OF the men
who are on h trail but shortness OF
grub OF death, and 10 dependence will
be placed In Uncle Sans boys. Fully
one-third Of those on the trail are suf-
fering from snow-blindness and resort
to all ~ Of preventing 1t. Some
wear snow glasses. while others paint
their faces black and wear all kinds
Of masks. Bacon and ham, with dried
fruits and vegetables. comprise the
daily bill Of fare. This was once var
led by a lucky shot fred by the writer,
which brought down three ptarmigan.
On the other side of that cursed sum-