The herald., 1898-05-01

attended an Indian prayermeeting last
night, the services were in their native
language; they have printed language
now.
l met Chauncey Wright from Los An
geles today. While at Dawson l met
Messrs. Smith Hooper, Black and Green
ough. They had good outfit, a cabin
nearly completed some working on it, the
others working for good wages.
November l4th.--The thermometer went
down to 80 degrees below zero, and those
of us who slept on the ground in the cap
tain tent had to keep head and heels COW
cred. In the morning the top blankets
were stiff with frost 1t is too cold to write
any more.
November 2Gth.-After we had worked
several days on our cabin, we were told if
we would join forces with some others and
build a large log house, we could have it
all winter; we have been working on it,.
The thermometer went to AZ degrees below
zero last night, and we had to quit work
today. Yesterday / wished | might have
been at home ID eat Thanksgiving dinner
with you. We had sauerkraut, bacon and
beans for dinner. AS Il rule, we have rice,
beans, bacon and bread-enough of it so far.
Christmas at Yukon
Fort Yukon is nine miles north of the
, Arctic circle. The sun rises about 1890 and
sets at o'clock, but it is daylight an hour
| before the sun is in sight and continues
| light as long after sunset. There has been
some fine display of northern lights. The
thoughts of spending eight months in this
| dreary place make one heartsick and we'll
nigh discouraged. The North American
Trading and Transportation company S
store was robbed of $4,000 few nights ago.
A Mr.. Pendergast of Los Angeles is camp
ing In the cabin. Have heard nothing from
the outside world since last September.
| December 30th.-I am still in the cabin l
helped to build We have comfortable
place to sleep, though the surroundings are
not very pleasant. Eleven of us are in the
cabin. One man has his feet so badly
frozen that his toes and perhaps his feet
will have to be amputated The weather has
not been so cold this month, and "us min
ers'' have been cutting wood to pay $50 for
| a sheet-iron stove that would cost about 81
in Los Angeles Old Sol shows his face for
about an hour 1t gets light enough to
| work outdoors at 10 a. m. and lasts until
| 2 p. m. The moon was in sight for "a hours
| December 21st and 22d. The sun will be in
sight for the same time in the longest day
in summer. / helped decorate the church
| for Christmas, putting spruce wreaths and
putting letters on a couple of banners. The
Indians and white men have different hours
for service. led the singing with my cor
net The Indians are greatly pleased and
| puzzled over my cornet. So far as l can
learn, mine is the first cornet heard in this
far northern country. There are about 200
Indians here, a good many coming in lately
from what is called the Porcupine country
coming here to get something to eat. There
is nothing to do here now but cut cord
wood and only the hardest of men can dc
that; yet there are lawyers, doctors an6
clerks doing that, and a printer will be
added to the list as soon as my hands gel
well enough; at present ] can only use my
thumb and index finger of each hand. The
day after Christmas one of the boys and
had a narrow escape Right in front of oul
cabin Situated on the bank) the river has
not been frozen entirely over, and we go tC
ing the trouble of cutting a hole every day
The current is very swift. On the day
mentioned we had not left the ice five min
utes when a chunk of ice about 20 fee
square broke off and went rushing dowr
stream, SO you see my good fortune keeps