Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-03-31
Received Rough Treatment.
OUT in THE ALASKAN WEATHER
ALL DAY WITHOUT FOOD AND
WATER.
Blame Laid on the Steamship Com
pany-Exorbitant Charges to Get
Ashore-Letter From g. w.
Wylde at Dyea.

DYEA, ALASKA, March 10, 1s9s.-
We arrived here March II and were
landed on a seow at 9 a. m. and moved
out in the bay opposite Dyea and left
until p. m. for the tide to come In,
when We were landed. We we're out
In the cold all day without food and
water and treated very brutally by
the Washington and Alaska Steam
ship Company. OF course, some paid
exorbitant charges to boatmen and
were taken ashore, but the mass had
to stay aboard to guard our baggage.
About 100 outfits per day are passing
up the trail on the ice, which isgetting
soft. After waiting four days, we
succeeded in getting our freight, and
have commenced to move up the trail
in sleds, some with dog teams hitched
single file, others pulling by hand.
Occasionally we have to lay poles
over q hole and sbid over. The dogs
brought from Missouri don't take
kindly to work and much bother is
experienced by the men; sometimes
language is heard that would not be
tolerated in a civilized community.
The Purcell contract did not pan
out exactly as expected. We were
told when we purchased our tickets
that we should have two days at
juneau to outfit and the steamship
would carry outfits free to Dyea, our
destination. At Tacoma the steam
ship company offered to carry our
freight free from that place, saying
that they could not take time to stop
at juneau. We bought our provisions
and clothing and then were obliged to
pay exorbitant charges to get them at
Dyea, and nearly all are short a part
of their purchase. Many complaints
are heard about Mr.. Purcell, but /
cannot say who is to blame. My ad-
vice to anyone coming here is to buy
your ticket of a party authorized to
sell the same and then outfit in Tacoma
or Seattle and bill in your own name
and not in the care of another person.
1 hear of rich strikes on Walsh
Greek, in Canadian territory; also on
the American side.
Several have died here of spinal
meningitis, said to be caused by heavy
lifting, heavy loads, getting warm and
then getting cold too suddenly
Another thing, some 300 horses died
above here last fall and the water
coming down the gulch is poisonous
Everybody melts snow and boils the
water. The United States Health
Commission has forbidden anyone
throwing garbage in the Dyea river
Thomas See and John Cafferty, O
Montgomery county, died here thu
first week in March of spinal disease
Mr.. See was sick two weeks and Mr.
Cafferty but one day. Their remaln
are buried in one grave in the bury
ing ground near Dyea. Our party Il
in good health so far. The weather
is warm, with freezes at night, ant
the mountains are covered with snow
At Linderman, / learn, 1t is 20 below
DIR. HALEY, Rev. Headington and Mr.
Purcell are at the hotel here, but
think are intending to start over thu
trail soon.
Two men have been shot and killet
since our arrival, one gambler ant
the other a traveller, who fell on
with his partner, the latter killing
him. Many robberies are committed
Captain Devinney, of Moberly, CAM
near being robbed while in his tent
but his yells scared the highwaymel
off.
We are now full-fiedged argonauts
but not discouraged. Respectfully,
G. W. WYLDE.
P. 8. At postoffice line of mel
150 feet long extends down the stree
awaiting a chance to get mail. Tn
postmaster will not honor an orde
for mail, but each one must wait thre
or four hours in the cold. The ladies
few in number, are let through tn
line and to the window throug
courtesy. q. w. w.