Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-03-24
f@tEseEs4 %=S N-HE%NG
Letter From Cooks Inlet.
FIVE HUNDRED STRANDED PROS
PECToRS ON THE SUNRISE
CITY TRAIL.
W. L. Frost, Formerly Of Mexico, No.,
Describes Winter Life in Alaska
Prospecting In the Copper
River Country Reported
Hazardous.

and Mrs. Frost, of Mexico, from then
son, W. L. Frost, who, with his wife
and brother, Alba, and brother-in-
law, is spending the winter in Sunrise
City, Cooks Inlet, Alaska:
"SUNRIsE CITY, ALASKA, Feb. TO-
1t is with much pleasure that / have
this unexpected opportunity to write
You. I did not think it possible to gel
a letter of before June /.
"You have no doubt seen in the
papers that the Copper River country
is being doomed. Steamers have beer
running from Puget Sound points to
Balez in Prince Williams Sound, the
nearest point to Copper River, every
two weeks, carrying passengers and
freight, bound up Copper River. We
were greatly surprised last week when
three weary travellers from Fort Bal
DEE came struggling into Sunrise.
They stated that 500 men are stranded
there, a neither get forward nor
back, rs it is almost impossible to get
up the river, and that a great many
are coming over the mountains to this
place. Three more came into Sunrise
City yesterday from Baldez, a distance
from here of 80 miles overland, with
snowshoes and dog teams. They were
compelled to leave their provisions,
etc., a considerable distance behind,
and a relief party from here went out
and brought them in.
HAZARDOUS PROSPECTING.
81 think people IN the States have
certainly gone stark mad to come to
this country in such droves. The Cop
per River has never been prospected
and it Is q hazardous undertaking to
go there this season of the year. The
party brought very little news from
the outside world, as they had been ia
Baldez for several months. These
men say there will be 250,0ooe people
60 into the Yukon, and that they are
now going and coming all the time.
"One of the men brought me a let
ter from Mr.. Wheeler, whose cargo of
goods I have in charge here. One
does not realize how isolated he is
until month after month passes and
you 9 none but the same faces day
after day. All the news we have
heard 10 that Durrant was hanged
some time in January and all those
who were not hanged are going to the
Yukon. Knowing what I do about
the country I feel sure there will be
much suffering and thousands upon
disappointed.
We bavea quiet mining district here,
not very rich as yet, but all of us are
full of hope and think that when they
get through with the Yukon they will
give this place some attention. 1 feel
as I am sure / have some
good ground, and, IL worked right,
will yield well. l have bonded it for
s5o, 900 until May L.
ALASKA WINTER LIFE.
"John and Alba are now up in the
with a party of prospectors
examining a quartz ledge, in which we
Ill have an interest and which we
believe Will bring us some money.
Nell (Wife) is well and hearty and
TO be perfectly contented. We
nave all enjoyed ourselves this winter.
Il has not been 20 very cold. The
,oldest day this winter the thermome-
'er registered IS, February IS, and I
twenty miles. An old miner
had been found dead in mis- cabin and
had been appointed as one of the
administrators and was up there that
lay to look after his effects. Snow Is
rom three to five feet deep on the
evel in the mountains and about Is |
inches in the valley at this place.
"We have been sleighing provisions
lp to our camp in the mountains for
lse next summer, and use dogs in
lace of horses. 1t is a novel sight to
ee the dogs work. They are about
he only domestic animal one wants
n this country.
"We have a literary society and
lramatic club and give an entertain
nent once each week and all enjoy
hem. We had a Christmas tree and
present for every one In camp. A
upper and dance followed. We have
v~iolinists, an accordeon player,
everal guitars and nv banjo. SOL
on see, we have not been so badly off
9 the outside world might think.
We number about 100 souls and one is
9 good as his neighbor. There are
nree white women and four natives
nd they all dance and visit each
Their.
"As to our welfare, I assure you we
re doing we'll, and I have lots of
nth In our prospects. W. L. FROST"
Mrs, ). r. Marshall. of this CITY.