The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-06-03
ON RoARn MORGAN CITY.

ALASKAN COAST, May 9th, 1898.
am writing this on my trip up the
coast of Alaska. We arrived at Junea
on the Both of April at 6 p. m. | went on
shore for an hour while ship was unload
ing. The town is built on the shore
close up against high mountains, popula-
tion about 5000. There are some good
stores. but it is a lawleSs town, more sa-
looms and gambling places than anything
else Prices of goods are not much more
r. than in Seattle and some things are low
er. especially Indian made goods
We left Junea at Sp. M, arriving at
Skaguay 9 a. N. next morning remain
ing all day. Population about 1000 IN,
Guiding squatters. Town is about all
new. half the buildings are of logs. 1t is
a valley surrounded by very high noun
tains and is the entrance to White pass.
Packing to top 10 cents per pound, to
Table Bennett IL more. l went over to
Dyea in a row boat, steamer not going i'll
on account of shallow water Tor about
four miles. About 80 passengers We're
flowed over on lighter from steamer to go
over the ChilcoOt pass. 1t was warm to-
day, but some of the people looked lit
tie blue and solemn when they saw the
trail for the first time. We could only
get near enough to see the top half. The
snow is deep and very dangerous at pres
,ent as slides are expected. Goods can DE
taken over on tramway but the price is
cents per pound at your risk.
A lady on board found on arriving that
her husband had been hung the day be-
fore he shot miner in dispute and the
''boys'' decided he did not have SUFFICIENT
proVocation. man from Chicago on
hoard was going to try to find the body of
his son who was in the great slide tins
spring | hear that about 80 have been
found so far.
We left Skaguay at E p. m. May LIST, ar
irving at Sitka at I. m. the 3rd. Had to
anchor over night in fog in narrow
place. most dangerous part OF the jour
new is now over. Left Sitka at g p. m. 4,
and heavy sea at O'Clock, and expected
to be sick but fortunately escaped though
half the people on board were. Sea so
rough could hardly stay in my, berth.
Have had two days and nights OF it now
and will all the rest of the day; no storm
but heavy ground swell. Boat is pretty
light and rolls easily.
Arrived at Gukatat at go May 4th.
This is an Indian mission; ran past 1t
some 30 miles and had to wait till fog lift
, ed and then go back. Indians came out
with fur goods for sale, very tlne goods
and cheap. Custom house officer came
on board looking for liquor, the captain
gave him a few bottles and he went back
satisfied We were the first vessel in for
three months, they only stop once IN
while for water. The officer wanted to
know if there was war, we gave MIN
our latest papers, date of April 10Th, and
he said he would be willing to pay 50
sapiece for each days issue since. They
are crazy for the latest papers every
Mace we stop. ] would like to know my
self the latest news though we may hear
before we leave Cooks Inlet on our boat
M the Suchetnay river if steamer
comes in, which | think is once month.
All the boats we meet yell Flows the
war and Ego back
Arrived at Copper City at o'clock.
This town was founded last fall by lew
men who camped there to await the COM
inc of snow to start for Copper river.
There are five or six buildings and 200
tents. We stayed all night as we got
caught on the falling tide; 1t was not
dark until nine o'clock and some of the
people came on board. What l learned
of Copper river is perfectly astonishing
and | wish that what | now know could
be known by hundreds OF people now
headed this way; it would save Jhem
ttheir money and great disappointment
have talked with miners who have spent
years in this region and the klOndike
and have met none who have been there
or who have seen any one who has ever
returned from there. They all say they
have heard of some one starting but new
ser saw any one who had got there. Ihey
all say they would like to go as they
think it rich. However, this year men
were determined to get in and the news
spread till 5000 had assembled at TINS
point. They came in small parties begin
ming about Feb. LIST, as soon as steamers
could force their way through the Ice
near shore. We still found thin ice near
shore. They had heard that a few men