The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-05-21

caldwell Tribune.l

0HEEP CAMP, ALASKA, April 4, 1898.
To the Worshipful Master, Officers an,
Brethren Of Essene Lodge, No. 20, A. +
i A. M.-Dear Brethren: After har.
days work, day which will never b,
forgotten, AMI sitting in my tent to WRIT
few lines to those l left behind. VIVA
| have to write to you is interesting {.
men as we'll as masOns. About 3 O'CLOCK
yesterday afternoon one Of the most ter
rible and heart-rending catastrophes eyel
recorded took place here and was Ill
eye witness. It had rained and showed
/; for four days and yesterday an avalanche
came down Chilkuot pass and to night
forty KlOndikcrs are lying dead here IN q
tent. and sixty more are lying dead under
the snow. We worked since yesterday to
recover the bodies. We dug out 90 to
! day from under 20 to 30 feet OF snow.
| helped dig out and carry in six men my
self. Cod only knows how many more
are buried there. The canyon was full OF
people, aud slowly and continuously men
are coming up i0quiring for lost partners
The Yukon Tramway company lost its
entire Crew Of IS men, and have been
helping dig them out to-day. A cOntln
ued line Ut hand sleds was coming from
the pass, and on every one was y corpse
taken from the snow. We found one
Knight Templar, j. A. Morgan Of Empo-
ria, Kansas. The MasOns made a call,
aud IN less than NO time 100 Masons were
assembled. We elected q president and q
committee Of i've to take care of all dead
MasOus, their ysluables and effects. Bro.
Morgan had 500, one gold watch, one
diamond ring and a knight TempIar
charm, also travelling pass from his
lodge, asking all MasOns to take care OF
him. The president made q call for funds
and, brethren, right here l saw, a. did
the world, what Masonry is and means.
Every one stepped forward aud in less
than five minutes there WAS big sun. OF
money piled 10 gunny sack. You could
see many tear ON the weather beaten
faces gathered around. 1t was q touching
sight to see these masters Of the square
obey the teachings received in their hume
lodges. The impression made In the
gathered throng was profound. l heard
one say: "lf live to get home will
try to become Mason" We have found
two MasOns so far. We will take them
to morrow to Dyea to bury. and from
there we will inform their lodges and
relatives. We had rough coffins made,
and ON top Is painted IN rude form the
old emblem-square and compass. A.
emblems OF mourning we used crepe, not
Of fine silk or of satin, but an old white
and the back sleeve OF an
Did overshirt.
Brethren, wish my pen were ready
enough to give you tine description Ol
what have seen and went through.
Death reigns supreme to- night. Wherever
you 60 you see bodies lying ON sheds or in
The snow. To each body is attached .
little tag telling you the name Of the
dead one and his home address. There
q one, Clark, from Idaho. Who he IL l |
lon't knew. l will try and find out
shout him. The sight 10 sickenin2. All
strong, young men, cut down in the prime |
If lite. | will never, never forget what
have seen and went through since left |
Caldwell, and, il God will, will be With |
IOu next winter.
One woman lost her life-after being
escued twice the same day. Thousands
# tons of provisions, tents and outfits |
re buried under the snow never to lie
ound. Que OK was found alive and we'll,
md within ten feet of him lay three
'oung mcn dead. The papers will give
NIL descriptions but doEr think any
'aper IN 81 the world could give accurate
'etsils. We found men lying in oil shapes
nd positions. We found three embraced
a. l