Connecticut western news., 1898-07-21
BEYOND THE GLACIER.
MT Emmons Writes Us Concerning His Progress to the Alaskan Gold Fields.

HIS EEesfess 10 the AIaskan 1oiu | Fields.
 | June 18th, 1898. MT EiRitor:
 It may be of interest to the readers of the NEWS to learn something accurate of this q st ut Ian of snow slides and their courses. Ary one will naturally say snow slide is simply snow tOking slide; true, but the topography of this portion of our country is such that when snow goes on a slide it slides tre- mendously fast and iu few moments does its deadly work. Ia the first place the valleys are parrov while the mountains on both sides are high and almost, if not entirely free from any and all shrubbery. No trees, no bush es, nothing but rock; l. T and steep, al most perpendicular. And in the sec ond place snow fllls are heavy. Today we hauled OUT l. load of freight from the summit of Vsldees glacier over whose ice fields We have been climbing since April 20 last-almost two months and upon the summit we camped one night, the 9th inst, it being onr 9th e mp since starting. The elevation is 4900 feet above the level of the sea, our fcst camp. On this summit of ice there is % feet of snow today while the srn is so hot in the day time we could not work and 1t is customary for this rel son to commence working at 6 o'clock D. ID. and work until 1 m the following morning then sleep through the middle of the day, which arrange meut gives good sledding on the crust. while in the day time the hot sun melts the snow and turns it into slush. | As a matter of fact we have daylight all the time; the san sets about 10 o'clock p. m. and rises here about a. m. One can see to read all the time.
 Because of this heavy snow fall there naturslly is large body of snow upon these steep rocky mountains and the hot sun melts the edges sad the whole ma7s comes sliding down, covering up all in it's path. There have been sever- al camps with whole outfits, consisting of stores, tents, horses and camp equip ments and in several instances while the camps were asleep they, with their whole contents, have been buried 25 feet before they were aware of any dan ger. The cases in the immediate vicin- ity of my travels have been rare but about ten persons fell victims to snow slides in my path; all of them victims of their own carelessness in rushing into questionable places to camp. A little forethought would have saved them from their fate. Kind hsnds have in- variably dug up these unfortunates and given them Christain burisI in moth CT earth.
 At this writing am at the foot of the Glacier on the Copper River side of Valdees Glacier; tomorrow we com mence to build our boats and go down to Copp River aud up that stream to the gold fields. It is about GO miles to Copper River 'om here and when We arrive there we sha'l be about l90 some game where we gre but more far ther on. We have seen mountain goats or sheep and one of our villagers killed one yesterday. They are white and re- semble eastern sheep. A party mlles farther on shot If beavers, moose and 2 deer. Our turn W; come little later.
 We are certainly very glad to get our feet on dirt again. Three months eat. ing, sleeping, cl mbing and toilirg on ice and snow is lite enough to make one long for the green fields again and ss we rounded hili over the Glacier and came ia view of this green valley with its charming sunrise, no words of mine can convey to you the pleasure it gave me. I stopped in the path and efzed in admiration at the golden splen- dor that lighted up this farawsy valley where man seldom comes, yet nature shines forth n all her beauty, wild flowers are in bloom everywhere and the hill sides gre covered with their new green robes. Everything reminds us of spring at home ia our New Eng land homes.
 I am very glad to be able 10 write you that our entire company are in good health and having fine time. I hope by the next letter to be able to tell you of our success in the undertak- ing that has induced us to make this long hard journey. Gold has been found right here and 25 miles farther on are pretty good diggings, so it is safe to say we shall soon get into line, while at the same time we must not jump at conclusions. When we find anything that will pay we shall tie up and get into l1e and get move on us.
 We appointed e1 our president and general director, O. l.. Abbott, Ia son of of Mir Abbott, formerly proprietor of the Red Mills at Ashley Falls one of our company and he is go ahead fel- low and an experienced miner. Arthur Gles son another member of our party is good carpenter and handy man all around, willing, strong, good worker, a good hunter sad a useful man and we appreciate him. I must close ps the postmsl is writing. Yours Truly
 FRANK EAnIoNs.