The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-06-03
Letter From the Gold Fields.

1t was not long ago that news from
'Sthe Klondike gold fields filled go0d
part of the papers and people eagerly
read it. War news now fills the papers
and the Klondike is almost forgotten,
but the following letters from ii. M.
Wiswall. who left this place some
weeks ago for the Copper river IN
search of gold, will be read with inter
est by all as they tell of the dltflcultles
and dangers one meets with IN under
taking such trip:
STEAMER MORGAN CITY, Apr. 80, 1898
We left Seattle Tuesday the, Goth, two
DAYS later than we expected. Rate OF
freight on steamer eXhorbitant.
This is certainly the grandest ana most
sforiorn country on the lace OF the eafUh'
This is slow boat, making ten miles an
hour and Junea is 1000 miles from Seattle,
half the distance to Cooks Inlet, winch
will take us six or seven days longer
Freight will have to be llghtened at seV-
eral places as the boat draws 20to "A 1T.
OF water. Our next stop is at Skaguay,
then Dyea and Sitka, and then thlnK
straight on to Cooks Inlet. This is the
inside passage and is much shorter out
more dangerous. ,-..--o,,,
Island and it grows deeper as we advance
The hills are covered now nearly to the
waters edge and on some only the tops
of the trees can be seen. 1t looks as
though we would have to land IN the
snow, but | don't think 1t VIII De cold
and another week will make big diner
ence in the climate on the coast. Have
NOT been more than mile or two from
land ON either side. Coast is all noun
tains. not a hundred yards OF level GROUND
AFT anv one place. Last night we anchored
in narrow channel, Wrangle MET 700
narrow place TO pass IN Sa1euy IN Ihe
NIGHT. II is warm enough when the sun
shines in spite of the snow. We passed
a glacier this a, m. 1t is an aWiul colq
and desoate sight, some 200 feet hlgn ana
as wide. This must be some OF Uhe nnesU
scenery in the world to the tourist.
There is nothing like it in New England
it is very Grand but looks hard and desc
late TO any one who is about TO land.
There are great quantities OF uuChS,
geese and smaller birds on the water, you
can see them all the time by the lLouSah"'
1t is a hunters paradise
There are ali kinds of people among
the $50 on board, some are miners return
inc to claims in Cook inlet, some to CLAIMS
in the Klondile via Chilcoot, Pass.
About 100 are going over the Pass Tor the
first time and they don't joke about 1t as
much as they did further back, as they
gaze at the tops of the mountains ana
hear the experienced miners tell OF their
privationS and the uncertainties and dan
gers of the Klondike.
One young fellow on OOdFu Is perhaps
the happiest as he located rich claim
last summer, came out over the fasS tniS
spring with $4,000, but minus some OF MS
toes Which were frozen and had to be am
putated. and is now returning with his
bride. Another man is returning a sad
der and wiser man. He sold claim last
year for $4,000, has lost and spent 1t all
and is now going back to look for more;
There are some gamblers on board, and
at night every one seems to be playing
cards, the dining tables are cleared and
the National game" is general from one
end to the other. Am feeling first rate
and have enjoyed the trip so far.