, 1898-07-21

company with Thomas Dugan and
James Coughlin, will be of interest to
many Albany county people:
st. Michael, Alaska, June %. 1898.
Editor Republican:
Thinking that some of your people
be wondering how We are get
ting along and guessing we are suf-
fering the tortures of the lower re-
gions, | will write and let you know
that you are all guessing wrong.
We left San Fancisco at 3 p. IN. on
the 18th. On the 18th and 14th the sea
was very rough. The water dashed all
over the ship and we had to stay in
our state rooms most of the time for
hours or else run the risk
of getting a good wetting. which sew
eral of the passengers did. We had
the pleasure of seeing whales, sharks
and %porpOise, but did no sight any
ships. We reached Unalaska on the
evening of the 10Th. Unalaska is moth
ing more than a coaling station, where
they are building several small river
boats for the Yukon trade. We stayed
there two days, taking on $50 tons of
coal. We left Unalaska at A O'Clock on
the morning of the 22nd. The second
day out we ran through several miles
OF floating ice and drift wood, which
had come down the river. The cap
tain was very careful and some of the
time ran much slower than a man
would naturally walk. We arrived here
on the evening OF the 25th. The crew
is now unloading 1000 tons of freight.
St. Michael has only two stores and
two hotels, anu the shores are lined
with Indians and EsIuimarx. and I be-
lieve they are the most filthy class Of
people | ever saw. There are now
anchored in this harbor eight sailing
vessels. four large steamers and six
river boats. Among them is the reve-
nue. cutter Bear, Captain futile in COM
mand. We are anchored about a mile
from the wharf. All we have to do is
to eat. sleep and get or to a small light
er and go ashore and enjoy ourselves
the best we an. The lighter is kept
running all the time for the pleasure
of the passengers. 1t don't make any
difference what time we go to bed or
what time we get up, as long as We
don't miss our meals, as it is just as
light at u at night as it is at - at
noon; so whenever we get sleepy we
roll in. The sun sets now at ID minutes
Of II. but we have not been able to get
up early enough to see it rise. Some
of the passengers say it rises before 2.
The st. Paul. which is our boat, brought
ninety-eisht passengers. Their ages
ranged from a baby 4 months old to a
man and his wife who are rs years old.
They are going to Dawson to open up
a restaurant, and l suppose they are
taking the baby up to grow up with the
country. The country around here is a
perfect picture of the Laramie plains on
the south. east and west. We would
almost swear we were on the Laramie
plains. The north is open sea as far
as the eye can reach. Mr.. Liveruast,
reporter for the San Francisco .Ex-
aminer, is one of our passengers. going
up TO Dawson. l have had several long
talks with him and we are more than
pleased with what he has told lis. There
has been one small river boat down
from Dawson. and several have come
down in row boats. making the trip
from Dawson to ST. Michaels in four
teen days. They all have dust and
none of them speak very well of the
country. but they are all going back
this fall.
Just before We left Laramie I weigh
ed ia: this forenoon, while on shore
I weighed and tipped the scales at ISL:
Tom made it 1888 and Jim IT'S. We Of
ten look at ourselves and wonder what
will next be in store for us. Two sup
pers in n night and then hurry to bed
again. There are thirty ladies on board
some are good looking, some medi-
and some Indifferent. The most
fun we had was to see the passengers
They would take turn about (women
.included) hanging onto each others
tails so they would not fall over
was the only n that was not
sick. 1t was a great mystery to all how
| should escape. l finally told them
the secret. that | had taken a lose OF
law and it had so thoroughly
me that I had nothing to
throw up. We are enjoying ourselves
immensely, with plenty OF the best to
eat, a good place to sleep and a mighty
nice crowd. All the People on board
are pleasant and courteous. The head
baker on the ship is an old Laramie
boy by the lame OF Bill Schroeder. We
are expecting to be transferred to the
boat at any time now and expect |
10 be in Dawson between the 18th and !
he 18th of July. We have heard more |
good, sound truth about Dawson since
We have been here tnan we ever knew
'efore and We are perfectly satisfied.
st. Michael. July 4th-Since COM
my letter there have been
bout thirty sail and steam ships come