Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-04-21
In the Land Of the Midnight Sun,
REV. j. A. HEADINGTON WRITES
FROM ALASKA TO MR.. j. W.
GREGORY, OF THIS CITY.
Mr.. Headington in Fine Health and
Is Surprised at His Climbing Qaul-
ities-Pleasant Weather in that
Far-off Country.

SHEEP CAMP, ALASKA, March 26.-
j. w. Gregory-My Dear Son: have
Just landed my outfit and baggage
here. / had my outfit hauled up the
canyon from Canyon City for So cents
per hundred--brought robe, baggage,
gun, etc., on the sled with my dogs.
The canyon is a narrow pass be-
tween two great mountains, Dyea
River running through it, which is
frozen and covered with snow from 1
to 10 feet deep. Where the water is
rapid and there is no ice, bridges are
made with poles. 1t is up hill from
Canyon City, a distance of 4 miles.
The condition of the road makes it a
dead drag with sieds. Thousands are
dragging and straining the last nerve,
many being entirely exhausted and
discouraged. Inever saw men work 80.
They hitch themselves to the sleds like
horses and pull a short distance and
rest, $50 pounds being all that a man
can pull. They take a rest at Sheep
Camp.
The next great pull, much sleeper,
of 3 miles Is to Scales. Ihave just en-
gagged a mar to haul my outfit at Ia
cents per pound. do my own con-
tracing and am getting along well.
We were lucky to get such low rates.
Scales puts us at the foot of the last
great ascent. To hire our goods taken
to the summit costs IL cents per
pound. 1t is said that block and tackle
a be used; this we expect to do and
save expense.
1t Is not so cold here as we expect
ed; not much colder than March
weather at home. l have just donned
my thick underwear and parkil.
Walking up the mountain and driving
my dogs kept me comfortable. 1t is
not much colder on the summit. We
will be here A or s days, as there is no
wood or water on the mountain.
When we start down we will use
brakes on the sleds.
Our next stop will be at Lake Lin
derman, 8 miles from the top. 1t is
said the trail is in fine condition and
we expect to make rapid Roadway.
There are some men who have no
money; they have to sled and pack
and they will not regain their strength
when most needed.
/ am well and am surprised at my
endurance and hope it will continue.
I had a hard pull from Dyea to Can
yon City-9 miles. With my dogs 1
landed my outfit and made two loads
extra. 1t was a good test of my en-
durance. The dogs helped me very
much and are now sleeping at my
feet. l have become attached to them.
They work like horses and are kind
and faithful. / call them Ben and Joe.
1t is said the duty will be off by the
first of April and that will save us
considerable money.
Tomorrow is Sunday and we will
rest and Monday We will To- to
Scales. Thousands r passing over
the trail, all kinds of people and all
nations are represented and are using
mules, horses, oxen, goats, jennets
and dogs. One OK is worked with a
collar and pulls a thousand pounds up
the mountain. / will have go much to
tell you when i get home. Claims are
staked up the canyon from Canyon
City to Sheep Camp. 1t is claimed
that there is gold quartz in the noun
tains.
Hope you are all well and happy;
you ought to be. Do not worry about
me. / have had no accidents nor hair
breadth escapes. l have received II
letters from home, n written bytwo
very dear friends, for which / am
thankful; also one from Mr.. White
and two copies of his spicy paper, the
LEDGER, for which we are under obli-
cations. We read them with intense
interest and the boys considered it a
feast in this far off land Of midnight
sun.
Write me at Dyea for two weeks, and
give my regards and best wishes to all
my friends, and may God bless you all
Is my prayer.
Affectionately yours,
j. A. HEADINGToN.