Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-04-07
R sITKA, A 8
Mr.. G. @. Baker. Of the Copper River
Party, Writes to His Family in
Laddonia, Mo.-Some Of His
Experiences.
From the Laddonia Herald.

From the LaddoEia Herald.
SITKA, ALASKA, March 19.-Dear
wife and children: Will write you
few lines. / am perfectly well, out
side of the sea sickness I have en-
eountered this week. We left Airing
ton dock, in Seattle, last Saturday, the
18th, at 7:15 p, m. and arrived in Sitka
at 4 p. m. to-day, and will lay over
here until tomorrow afternoon.
There n s5 prospectors on our boat
bound for the mouth Of Copper River.
I will 60 back to our weeks journey
on the ocean. Our boat made O mis-
take in coming the outside route. II
they had gone up the sound to juneau
and then come across they would have
had smooth water all the way. What
they call the Outside route lie the open
sea. / was never on the sea before
and my fret ride was a rough intro
duction. Old sailors in our crowd say
1t was the roughest voyage they ever
made. We had no storm at all, the
sun shone every day, but there was Q
strong gale blowing from the north
west. Talk about being sicki i was
never sick before in my life. Think
of It'll ate a hearty supper last Sat-
urday evening in Seattle; the next /
ate was this evening at 8 O'Clock In
Sitka. Well, il You think I didn't do
it justice you are mistaken. Soon %
we got eff the. ship and took a little
exercise we felt all right.
/ believe this is one Of the finest
climates I was ever in. When / left
Seattle the blue grass was six inches
high and fine vegetables growing In
the gardens, and here at Sitka the
grass is green in yards and lawns. The
grandest natural scenery in the world
is in and around Sitka. They say 1t
never has been colder than 8 above
zero, and never gets any hotter than
rs above, and they say there has never
been a mosquito seen in the city. The
peaks are covered with snow and
there is plenty of game here.
We are ali ir q large room at the
hotel enjoying ourselves eating apples
and oranges and writing letters home.
We are going out to q fisn fry at $3.50.
Some of the boys bought a string OF
fresh fish and got a restaurant to fry
them for us.
s:30-Just returned from the fish
fry. Got one fish fried at q Chinese
restaurant. The Chinese are the best
cooks in the world, except our good
wives and q core of other good
women In Missouri and other places.
Well, to say the least, 1t was out of
sighti No one can realize what ~s
poor w%ayfarers have enjoyed tonight
except those who have had q days
outing on Salt River with plenty Of
fish and lots OF other good things. II
only cost rs 20 cents each all told.
Well, to the point in view. Tho
geld fields are further on. II 10 only q
four days. voyage from here to our
destination. We will land at Port
Valdes and move up the river and
prospect as we 60. We have received
very encouraging reports from the
Copper River country since we got
here; but / shall not exaggerate nor
give You any gold wind. i shall Await
developments and give you facts In
the future. / feel better encouraged
now than ever before.
I will send you a copy OF the paper
published here. This is o nice little
town and is 100 years old. Icalled on
the Governor this evening, but failed
to Q him as he had gone to juneau q
few days ago. The government ofic-
ials here are very courteous and take
pans in giving us all the Information
at hand in regard to the country and
other points of interest, and In place
Of charging III q heavy duty on every
thing we take In, as the Canadian
officials do on the other route, they
received us with a salute under the
American flag and told US to make
ourselves at home In town during ouI
stay. VIII write you again on arrival
al Port Valdes. Love to all.
@. @. BAKER.