The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-01
WAY OUT IN ALASKA.
Letter From Capt. SchIegeImiIch.
Formerly of Beaufort County.

Formerly OF beaufort County.
Capt. Fred W. Schlegelmiich, formerly
OF Beaufort county, South Carolina, who
left this section some three years ago to
take charge of a mine in Montana, is now
in Alaska, ana expects to 90 some pros
pecting in that country He has written
an interesting letter TO a friend in sa-
vannah about his trip and the conditions
there
Enclosed in the letter were some queer
flowers and vegetation which Capt Schleg-
elmilch says were plucked at the side OF
a snow drift, and they give the appear
anee of being more luxurious than one
would imagine.
Capt. Sehlegelmilch landed in Alaska
Sept Is, 1897. He started out on the steam
er Bristol, which had a river steamer in
tow. The river steamer become unsea-
worthy and had to be lowed into Victoria
B. c. The Bristol went no further, and
the company not being responsible the
passengers for Alaska lost ali their pass
age money and expenses, amounting to
some 800 each. He got a chance later
on, however, TO make the trip with a com
pany which was preparing to build a river
steamer to go up the Yukon. This steamer
recently finished, he says, is something
on the order of the Savannah river steam
Il have put in one winter here" Capt
Schlegelmilch says, land [ know about
what TO expect 1t certainly is no sum
mer day picnic, and many a man will be
sorry he ever came to this country. From
all have been able to learn, l think this
VIII be a fine mineral country, perhaps
as good as any that has ever been found;
but it needs more prospecting, and there
Is where the trouble comes in, for the min
ers have to contend with terrible cond-
lions and great many of them. 1t will
be years before the country is fully pros
pected, and 1t is almost impossible to travel
an summer on account of the condition of
the country, therefore, the travelling must
be done in winter, and one acquainted
with Arctic winters can easily Judge of
the disadvantages travellers have 10 put
up with
In order to do any work in this coun-
try a man must carry his whole outfit
with him, including a full supply Of pro-
visions, for he cannot rely on finding
game or anything else in the country. The
rivers can be depended upon for travel
ing only about three months out of the
twelve. | have supplies for about three
years with me, and will make an effort
to see what can be done. At the same
time I stand a good chance of having my
bones embalmed in this frozen country
before being able to get out Of it, The
5iOutlu llldWS lot q ueDtu OF MDOuE TWO
feet. Our cook was drowned about a
week ago and we buried him several feet
below The ground. From the nature of
things l think he will be as well preserved
within twenty years as he Is now.
Il would advise no one to come to this
cold country as there are untold hard
ships to be encountered. On May Is We
got our first news from the outside world,
and my surprise may be imagined when
1 got hold of the first newspaper after
waiting nine months. I hope the Span
iards will set all they deserve and I have
no doubt but that they will. The Yukon
has been higher this season than at any
time IN the last fifty years, but is now
very low. Mosquitoes are plentiful and are
one Of the worst pests"
Capt Schlegelmilch sends regards to his
friends here. He writes from st. Mich
aels Alaska, but is at present in Dawson
CITY