The Republican journal., 1898-06-02
CALIFORNIA FIG SYRUP co.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal
LOUISVILLE. Ky. NEW YORK. Nv
Letter from Alaska

! LANE DENNEII, ALA ShA, Ihdy y, 1870.
Dear folks at home: AT ter long silence l
have again found time to think of you at
home. We have passed through long
siege on the trail and are now at the place
of embarkation, ready to go down the river
as soon as the ice goes out. We will not
start until it is safe to go down the river,
as it is feared that many will be drowned
in the ice jams. 1t is common occur
renee for men to be drowned and killed
otherwise, and scarcely day passes with
out several horses being lost through the
ice. | have not heard from home since
the 18th of February and have been anx-
ious to hear. | feared you would be I'M
easy about us after hearing of the Sheep
Camp snow slide and other disasters, but
we have steered clear of all dangers and
our health is good [ have not missed
meal since have been in this country, ex-
cept when l could not get where there
was grub, Charley, my brother, has not
been so lucky, having been confined to the
tent a week with the German measles,
which are quite common here. There
have been many deaths also from spinal
meningitis. | was much worried about
Charley and called the doctor, but he assur-
ed me there was no danger if he was taken
| good care of.
All the others of the party have had
their sick spells, but l am very robust com
! pared with what | was at home. We have
worked hard since February Sd in getting
our outfit over the mountains. Charley
and | have 5000 lbs. Of solid food We
bought horse and have moved about six
| tons or freight over the trail, and lumber
tor boat. Yesterday | took a job of
hauling three boats up from the west arm
Of the lake. | left camp at a. m. to get
one of them. The distance was u miles.
At + a. m. l was within one mile of them,
when | found the ice was not safe The
! man who was with me proposed that we
| take the sledge to the boat and push it
out by hand and we went until the ice be-
! gan TO crack and sink under our feet.
when we gave it up. He went on and |
started back. Before | got half mile my
horse broke through the ice, and all |
then had Is miles to walk and haul my
sledge. l reached camp about p. M,
having had no breakfast or dinner. Such
| is life in the wilds of Alaska Our party
| lie l. IL. IN
E. Martin. A. A. Goddard, F. B. Hadley
and Mr. and Mrs. Nida. We intend
to go down the river in ten ton scow
direct to Lawson City Mr.. Nida has three
claims in the Klondike gold field and
wants us to take lay on one of them. We
will consider the matter when we get
there. He says he gets 25 cents per pan
two feet below the surface IA pan holds two
large shovelsful of dirty and he wants half
the gold taken out for his share. If we
do not take up with this we will 60 down
to Forty Mile creek or Circle City and go
prospecting or American territory. We
do not know just how soon we will get
away, but certainly by the first of June, so
my address will be Dawson City, N. w.
T., until further notice.
We have not been to Skagway or Dyea
for six weeks. l fear some of my letters
have gone to the dead letter Office will
conclude my remarks on Alaska by saying
that it is over-done. Too many people
have come here, and many man will go
home sadder, poorer and wiser, myself,
perhaps, among the rest; but shall have
gained some knowledge and learned to APP
preciate life among friends and civiliza-
ton. SO here goes for the finish.
AT present | would not advise any of my
friends to come here There would be
more excitement in the army, fighting
with Spain. That high flying nation will
soon find out that the United States will
fight, some times. There is much excite
til it is ten days old. l have exhausted
my store of news and would like to eat a
few meals with my friends in Kansas.
Some of their fresh meat and vegetables
| anu ou1IeI anu eggs WOulu De very accept
able. | think l would rob hens nest or
roost either. 1t does not seem possible
that everything is green and advancing
toward maturity in Kansas, while here the
ground is covered with snow four feet
deep and the lakes are covered with ice;
but by the first of June the country will
be green with grass and wild berries.
| | hope you will not consider my frame
of mind while writing this letter and not
think am having the blues. for do not
allow myself such luxuries.
| WILL GOODWIN.