River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-08-11
From Alaska.

w t1As ~ AtildIlHs > AAAe lVs AA1H-Ss t'~'S -
weeks have elapsed since we were I'M
tremendously dumped on Illinlink
Beach at Unalaska. No one dreamed
at the time we would be delayed more
than two or three weeks at most but
as the daysrolled by one difficulty after
another presented itself, each tending
to delay our departure until nearly
two months have elapsed since the
snow-capped mountains encircling
Unalaska were sighted.
While we fretted and chafed at the
delay we cannot but look back and re-
member many pleasant days spent on
the waters and beach of Unalaska
Harbor. The process of building ship
is always an interesting sight and
from the laying of the keel on the
ways until the final launching we
watched the growth of the Michigan"
and New York" Here we also found
a st. Paul and New Richmond party
constructing their river boat the Ia
mana Chief" Several of the members
of this party we had met at home and
it was delightful surprise to meet
old acquaintance away up here.
We had work of our own to do. Our
launch, "Potlatch, was set up and
tried on the waters Of the bay to be
sure that everything was all right.
We constructed scow as a tender for
our launch on the river. A number of
days were spent in helping the st.
Paul boys with their boat. These, TO-
gether with numerous excursions on
the mountains in studying the botany
and geology of the land, helped to pass
away the time very quickly
Socially we were royalty entertained
| by the ladies at the Jessie Lee Home,
a mission for orphan Indian girls.
The young ladies at the head of the
institution very kindly gave a series of
entertainments, showing ability and
skill of their pupils, that were mar
vel to us who had been skeptical as to
the Indians ability to acquire civil
| lied methods and manners. At one
of these entertainments | had the
pleasure of renewing my acquaintance
with DR.. Sheldon Jackson who is en-
his way north to purchase reindeer to
stock the government stations along
the Yukon.
The native population of Aleute In
dams have now been in contact with
the Russian Catholic church for over
one hundred years and as conse-
quence we fnd that nearly all of them
are communicates of that church. 1t
was not until lately that our govern
ment introduced the school system
The conflict of authority which at
first ensued with the Russian church
seems to have been amicably settled
and we now find the Indian boys and
girls attending school as regularly as
our own white children in the states,
Divine services were held every Sab
bath in the Home with a song service
Wednesday evenings. All are we'll at
| tended and will be long remembered
by the waiting passengers on Illinlink
beach.
On the 18th day Of July we helped
the st. Paul boys launch the "Tanana
Chief" and that same evening the
| "BriXham" came steaming into port
with bundles of letters and papers
from home. For a few hours we for
got all about our expected departure,
| then we learned that the "BriXham =
had brought neither money nor sup
plies and that our departure must be
delayed until the arrival of the "Lau-
rada" which would be along ten days
later. The "Brixham" was loaded
with passengers whose Indignation at
the b. A. T. Co. was no less than ours
for they too must be held awaiting the
arrival Of the supply ship.
Steamer after steamer came in and
then departed foe the north. The
Witcher party from Massachusetts
| made us a pleasant call then left on the
Rival for st. Michaels. Mr.. and Mrs.
| Pepper from Minneapolis departed for
| Kotzebue Sound. Mr.. and Mrs. Weber
sailed for the mission at Bethel on the
Knokoquino River Old Tim Spellacy
and his party came and cheered US up,
then left on the "Lakme" promising
to stake some good claims for US on
the Tanana River Judge Woodward
and his wife invited us to dinner at
their cosy home, and the young ladies
at the mission gave little evening re-
ceptions for us, but still the Laurada
came not. Many reports of the found
ering of tows were brought in by late
| boats and added to our anxiety. FL
nally in desperation the B. A. t. Co.
decided to send US all on to st. Mich
aels and there await the arrival of the
Laurada or in case of her loss leave US
to shift for ourselves. To-day, the
| fourth day out, we are over half way
across having had fine weather so far
though the fog renders 1t impossible
to see far. The Brixham in the lead
is loaded down with freight and a
heavy passenger list. Next comes the
Gov. Pingree towing three hundred
and fifty TT. astern. On this Conrad
and myself elected to take passage as
being more commodious if not so safe
as the Brixham. We are towing the
Michigan, one of the river barges. 1t
in turn tows the Tanana Chief which
also has a line to the little Athol the
last boat in the string. 1t alone has
no passengers and we can see it sheer
ing back and forth in an aimless man
ner there being no one at its helm to
hold it on the course.
Our own launch was hoisted aboa I'd
the Michigan, our supplies on the Coy.
Pingree and part Of the baggage on
the Brixham. Something GU ght TO be
left to tell the tale, no matter what
happens.
Sixth day Have just dropped an
chor in st. Michaels' harbor. 1t is a
beautiful evening and the sun is flood
ing the bay, the neighboring hills and
the shipping with golden light, and al
though our watches point to ten
o'clock it is yet some time before sun
set Indeed last evening when we