The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-25

the snow almost at our very feet. M
companion blazed away at one, bu
missed
Then came my turn. for one of tn
birds alighted not two rods from wher
we were. In fact ptarmigans seldom II,
far when started up by man. Whethe
it is through lack of actual fear OF be
cause OF its .unacquaintance with tn,
human species l know not, but one wa
killed with club or pole the other day
and in another case | know of mar
who shot one with revolver.
/ took what considered good ain
and fired, but the bird never moved.
lyon didn't hit him. Let him have
another" said my friend. So went uI
few feet nearer, and this time sue.
ceeded in killing the bird.
After tramping over several miles we
that is, my companion-succeede
in shooting three more, which | have
since learned is quite good days work
in the shooting line.
The ptarmigan reminds me very much
OF white pigeon, except that it is n
little more stockily built and is slightly
heavier. AT this season its flesh tastes
somewhat of the resinous buds which it
eats. Books on the fauna of Alaska
speak of the ptarmigan being most
abundant, but from my own observation
and inquiry among the Indians this
statement cannot be verified.
Bpt enough of this. This great army
that is coming into Alaska spectacle
the world has never witnessed before,
and one that in human interest approx
mates the flight of Mohammed from
Mecca or the retreat of the French from
Moscow-is of far more consequence.
From my tent as far as vision can pene-
trate moving line of people winds its
way northward. for the day is fine and
all desire TO take advantage of it, though
there is very little to be gained by the
advance at present There are all sorts
Of sleds and loads and motive power.
but man himself predominates as a
draft animal and his best friend, the
dog comes next. In some cases sails are
spread as auxiliaries, but the wind is
not frequently in the right quarter OF of
the right force TO be of much service
From 200 TO 800 pounds is a good
load for an average man on the lake,
where the snow is packed hard and the
rail is worn smooth. With the aid of |
'ails this amount may often be doubled. |
n going across country where there are |
grades man can drag but about half |
is much.
Gold Seeker at Sixty.
And the gold seekers themselves,
What about them? AS study them more
loosely am amazed at their cosmopoli-
an character, their persistence and
heir earnestness There is greater per
ent of experienced miners than there
vas year ago and in some of their
ives there is material for the most
romances. l have one such in
tance in my mind. 1t is the case of
outh Carolinian aged about go years.
lie Is tall and slender and as straight as
he towering pine of his own beloved
)ixle There is refinement ia his face
bat the lines of struggle and hardship
annot obliterate and gentle breeding in
is voice. he had been prospecting in
ne States for the past ten years, but
'ithout success. He finally managed to
ct enough money for an outfit and he
now among the throng bound for the
reat north country. Not Immediately,
ut after some days of rather close ac-
was enabled to get an in
ght into his career. His mother was "a
ave owner. He entered the Confeder-
10 army and served through the war.
{ its close enough was left of prince
estate for bare subsistence for his
Iother. himself and his sister. This he