The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-04-03
WITH HIS EYES OPEN
A HERALD CORRESPONDENT
TRAVELS TO sKAaUAY
The Copper River Fake IL Again
Exposed-The Meningitis
Outbreak

VERY interesting letter, dated March 10Th
= from T.. s. Russell, one of its special CORE
2 spondents in Alaska, now at Skaguay:
According to request, l will give my
t friends a few facts in regard to this coun'
try. l took passage on the steamer Geo. w
Elder from Portland, Ore, which sailec
March I'd, arriving here on the 9th. We hao
a very lucky trip. The steamship company
lis very anxious to have each passenger
lstop at Victoria to get his mining permit
. las we had passenger list of over 500, ano
fully 213 of those left $40 apiece there, it is
luute q boom for the Canadian govern
lment.
We left Victoria at 1920 p. m. of the 4th
and encountered very heavy fogs, and at
a. m. of the 9Th we were laying to, waiting
for tide. to go through Semores narrows
THE scenery at this point is simply beauti'
full Sunday, the 9th, as we came out from
behind an island, we sighted the steamer
islander, which was about five miles be-
hind us. Considerable excitement sprang UP
iamong our passengers, as we could see we
had race on hand. We watched the
isteamer as long as the weather permitted
when q heavy snowstorm shut off our view.
Later the storm abated, and just before
we stopped at Lewis island, where
the Corona went ashore. The Islander
passed us there. AS both steamers had
supplies for the wrecking outfit, our race
was discontinued for the time.
| We sailed from there at 4:30 p. M, and
left the Islander three miles astern. AT Q
La. M l was awakened by a slight shock
and a bump, and found my head we'll up
| to the end of my bunk, when discovered
that we came near having the same bad
/ = ,4aa hoI
had struck a rock. But the Waterman dis
covered it in time to put the engine in
back water, and so saved the steamer.
Very few knew or realized how close we
came to a cold bath or. perhaps. something
more serious. But, fortunately, no dam
lage was done. We arrived at Fort Wran-
lgel at II a. m. of the 18th. In place of find
ing the small village that left last Sep
TENDER, when on my way home from Alas
lSa, found large town, and it is increas-
ling rapidly. In talking with the miners
who are taking the Stickeen river route,
they say, with the exception of a few Who
are suffering with colds, that every one is
Ienjoying good health. But none are get
ting away from here.
COPPER RIVER FAKE
While here 1 met Messrs. Robinson and
Isdore of Los Angeles, who have returned
from the Copper river. They say there is
mo truth as to there being gold there, and,
Furthermore, say the farthest any prospec-
tor has gone up the river is 65 miles. They
say many will be on the back track as soon
as they can get away. These gentlemen
intend to go to Juneau and buy another
outfit and go in by the Dyea trail.
With good will cheers, we left Fort Wran-
gel at p. m, and two hours later entered
Wrangel narrows in a heavy snowstorm.
After steaming about four miles against a
gale, we had to drop one big anchor, and
for a minute we could see quite band of
deer. At this point the narrows are not
over 800 yards wide. but in a very short
time both shores were hidden by the heavy
snow that was falling.
On Tuesday, March Sth, we arrived at
Juneau. This city has not grown very
much since was here last. The merchants
have good stock of supplies for the Alas
kan trade, and the prices are very reason
able. After taking on % Indians for Ska
quay, we got under way once more and ar
rived at Skaguay, in a heavy gale from
the south, at 8 a. m After l had gone up
town, my surprise was complete. 1 ex-
pected to find many improvements, but not
to the extent they have been made. have
not been up the trail very far, but as far as
have been, it is built up solidly. have
made many inquiries as to the number of
deaths from spinal meningitis, and find the
reports have been greatly exaggerated.
There have been 26 deaths in the last 90
days; were murders, 1 suicide, and 90 from
various causes, 10 having died from spinal
meningitis. The cause of this disease Is from
taking cold and settling in the spinal cord.
1t generally causes death in about ten
hours.
There is no snow here, but plenty of mud
and slush. There are great many who
arrive here who never take their outfits off
the wharf, but sell them and return. A
warning to all that contemplate coming
here to go into business or find work. They
would better stay in Los Angeles, as every
thing is overdone. Until tonight the gam
pliers and saloon men ran the town, but all
places are closed and quiet now reigns. =.
POOR FACILITIES
There are at the different wharves nine
ships of various kinds unloading. The Pa
cific Coast Steamship company should have
the best docking facilities in Dyea of any
company here, but it still lands the people
on scows, and you have to scramble for
your goods. Those so unfortunate as to
have second-class passage fare badly, as
the meals they are served with are vile
But, by paying 25 cents, you can go in the
mess room and take the leavings from the
salon tables. 1t seems to be a game of
steal by the lower officers and employees,
There were several correspondents for
various papers on the Elder, and they were
very indignant at the treatment the pub
lie received, as were the passengers as we'll
From Portland to Dyea they give you a
price on freight of $13 per ton, but when
you land at Dyea they charge wharfage
and lighterage as well, which makes your
freight $3.50 per ton, instead of S13.
Most of our passengers were for Dyea.
but the captain refused to run his shin
over near Dyea, and the passengers were
landed, forty at a time on a small tugboat.
and, as it is five miles across, you can i'm
agine the wait Finally the captain gave
orders to clear the ship. But, after the
passengers demonstrated, he said he car
ried them as far as his ship went The next
day we were towed over to Dyea
Dyea has grown from a small Indian VIII |
lage to fair-sized town. 1t is nearly as
large as Skaguay, and will be a far healtls- |
Ter city, not near so muddy, and the water |
is fine here The buildings are either frame
or log, and l can count a number of three
and four story buildings. The town Is well |
laid out and the streets are nice and wide. |
All the teams and wagons are kept busy