The Dickinson press., 1898-01-08
OUR ALASKA LETTER.


EDITOR PREss:-Believing that a
short letter from US may interest our
friends in Dickinson we will send a few
words before we depart for the far North.
First of all, we want to say that we are
sorry for you poor folks back there in
the snow and frost and ice. 1t will be
impossible t make you realize how soft
and mild and balmy the air is here, or
how wonderful it looks to us to see the
grass as green as in summer, vegetables
growing in the gardens, windows
wreathed in beautiful green ivy and
roses blooming in the lower-gardens.
To-day my brother-in-law brought a bou-
quet of English violets from a garden or
his run to Steilacoom. Despite the mild
climate, however, Klondyke is in the
air-the al%l-absorbing topic of converse
ton. Every two or three days a boat
comes in, laden with returning Klondyk-
ers, and every two or three days a boat
departs for the north laden. with adven-
furious souls "going to Klondyke!" there
is scarcely a business house in Tacoma
but has glazing advertisements of "Klon-,
dyke Goods" in its windows. When we
first arrived we found the excitement
catching, and rushed about, visiting all
the Quitting stores, determined to secure
our outfits at any cost. But a "batch"
of Juneau papers, received just then,
cooled our ardor, for we found that an
outfit that had just arrived there, pur-
chased in Seattle, had cost the purchas-
err about fifty dollars more than he would
have had to pay in Juneau. We have
had our tent and sleeping-bags made
here; and have purchased our blankets
and material for our Klondyke suits,
things that we can carry without paying
freight. The rest of our outfit we shall
purchase in Juneau and we would advise
any of our friends there, who intend 60
ing in this spring, to do the same.
Viewed from a nearer perspective the
far north loses many of its terrors; for
this winter has demonstrated that people
can and do travel in Alaska during win
ter with comparative comfort. Among
the latest party to come out was a Mrs.
Mckay, a delicate little woman from
Tacoma; and she made the trip out with
the rest in tw~enty-four days, walking
twenty miles a day, and on one day she
walked thirty miles. She is anything
but delicate now, and says that a few
months in Dawson City will make any
one strong and robust.
We have visited with a number Of
ex-D ickinsonians here-Mr. and Mrs
Shervin, Walt Richards, Fred Harris
J. Benedict, of Puyallup, and Ed. Davis
of .McNeill's island. Have yet to see
Mr.. and Mrs. Hanscom and Mrs. Coils
ter. Mr.. and Mrs. Granteer are well
and hearty and apparently enjoying
themselves hugely. Mr.. Granteer will
go north with us as far as Fl. Wrangel
on the City of Seattle, due to sail Janu'
airy II. The voyages between Tacoma
and Juneau have been very rough and
stormy this winter; and yours truly i.
looking forward to the trip with any
thing but ~pleasurable anticipation. W.
shall write of our experiences going in
as often as we have an opportunity tt
send a letter. Anything relating to thu
land of gold is of interest we know; anc
the history of our successes or failures
may be of help to some n else.
ELLA H. CUNNINGHAM.
Ills South K St, Tacoma, Wash