The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-27

Her Complete Outfit.
One earnest little Allegheny woman
Is going to brave the rigors and dangers
of Alaska all alone during the year, and
| she is now at work on her outfit for the
expedition. Mrs. Thalia Sipe, seam
stress, residing in Allegheny, will leave
for Seattle the last week in February,
and from there sail for Alaska, where
she will take the trail overland for the
gold diggings
Mrs Sipe's husband died IS years
ago, aud she Is supporting 14-year-old
| daughter with her needle. She Is not
going to the Klondike to sew. cook,
wash or perform any other feminine
duty, but to prospect and dig for gold.
Mrs. Sipe is not more than 80 years
old and is handsome woman. She has
hair as black as the ravens wing and
large gray eyes. She is not much over
feet in height and will probably
weigh about ITO pounds. Her appear
ance would not indicate that she will
be physically able to Withstand all the
hardships she is about to attempt. The
earnest mannar in which she talks
( about it, however, proves she has
stout heart and will not quail from the
danger.
~ had hoped to slip away without
any one knowing of my departure, said
Mrs. Sipe, "for dread publicity in the
matter. know 1t is an unusual thing
for woman to make such trip alone,
but women have accomplished great
things before, and why should not l?
Yes, suppose / have the gold fever,
but it is not that alone which impels
me to take the trip. / do not want to be
seamstress all my life, and when am
called away want to leave something
behind for my little daughter. That is
my principal reason for going. Of
course / will not take the little girl
with me. I'll leave her here with my
relatives, and hope, some day, to come
back and make great lady of her.
II will have decided advantage in
going to the new goldfelds over most
women was born and raised on farm
in Missouri and have spent days and
days at time in the saddle, rounding
up the cattle and doing other out Of
door work that the daughters of west
ern rancher take such delight in. A ten
mile climb up the mountain side was
only execrise for me in those days, and
I.Ithink wouid be able to do it all over
sagain and undergo the other trials that
/ a "trip to the Klondike will necessitate.
I II have not definitely decided what
route shall travel. will purchase a
ticket in Pittsburg for Seattle and de-
eide after reaching there ON the remain
der of the trip. think, though, from
! what know now. will go by way of
( the Chilkoot pass and thence to Daw-
son City. hope at Seattle to fall in
with some party in which there are
women going with their husbands
which will make the trip much more
agreeable. But in case do not ! shall
| continue on alone.
1.-THE first boats, ! understand, will
leave for Alaska about the Ist of March.
It is my intention to get away from Se-
attic ON the first Of these boats, if.possi-
BILE, and. IL not then, as soon thereafter
as can. / will remain in Dawson City
only as long as Is actually necessary and
will then proceed at once up one Of the
L
to stake my claim and work IL alone. or
with members of the party ! may fall
in with in. Seattle. i will take along
enough provisions for one year and will
not return until have fortune or am
satisfied that there is no gold in the
country. have no fear of the severe
climate, and think that man, no mat
ter where you may find him, Is gallant
enough to help, rather than harm, an
unprotected woman"
I Mrs. Sipe already has part Of her out
fit completed. She has made all her
own wearing apparel for the trip. Her
outfit consists of two costumes, both
made of waterproof goods. In appear
ance they resemble o woman bicycle
riders costume. She has made tight
waist and short skirt which extends
Just below the knee, also q pair Of
bloomers which she will tuck into her
boots; the top boots will meet the skirt
at the knee. In addition to woolen
hosiery she has made several pairs Of
heavy wooden bootees for winter wear,
insuring warmth for her feet She has
heavy waterproof cloak. with hood
attached, and wooden lined underwear,
also for winter wear. In summer, while
at work, Mrs. Sipe will wear water
proof skirts and bloomers and shirt
waists, made Of dark material She
will also take along rubber boots and
rubber gloves towear while digging and
panning the gravel.
Mrs. Sipe said she would purchase
the remainder of her outfit. sIch as
picks. shoyels. tent and provisions, at
Seattle, and has made long list of
necessary articles.
Mrs Sipe said she had the utmost
confidence in her ability and endurance
and believes she will return 20 Pitts
burg a wealthy woman. She says she
will leave Pittsburg with as light a
heart as any prospsctor. = Pittsburs
Dispatch. -