The Florence tribune., 1898-07-16
Jack Smiths Letter from Copper River,
 Alaska.
COPPER RIVER, ALASKA, May 20.


 COPPER RIVER, ALASKA, May 20.
 FRIEND BILL: You must excuse me for not writing sooner as we have been very busy and have lost no time. We are now building our boats to go up the river. We are all well and healthy as bears, but have had lots of hard work and bad weather to get here. It is called twenty nine miles from Valdez Landing to the top of the summit or pass, which is 4,800 feet above sea level, and when you have to make on the average thirteen trips to take your outfit over it is slow work. About one third of the people who come here never get over the pass. They go back to curse the country. The most of them are young men, but there are men here 6S years old working like beavers, getting their outfit over the pass. Once over you can take 800 pounds on the sled, or all you can hold back, aud go right along. But the glacier is a son of gun. There is no wood for thirty-five miles, and you have to carry your wood with you.
 We had hard time at the foot of the pass. We had the worst snow storm that ever saw in my life. It lasted eleven days. It was not very cold, but never saw the wind blow harder or snow fall faster in my life. We ran short of wood and had to go to bed to keep warm. Then we had a big snow slide that buried thirty men and two women. We dug them all out alive but two men, who were smothered to death. l shall never forget that night as long as live. It came within thirty feet of taking our tent. It was hard job digging the people out, and think there are some more in there yet. Lots of people lost everything buried under thirty feet of snow. Our goods are all in good shape and we are very careful to keep them so. Our hardest work is over, and we have more faith than ever in this country. The snow is going away and the rocks are full of quartz streaks running through them and carry gold. We shall start to do some prospecting ss soon as we finish our boats. There are about 2,b00 people between here and the sea, but think half will not get over the pass, for you can not cross the glacier in the summer with goods, as there are too many large cracks. The only time to cross is from the first of March until the first of May when they are drifted full of snow. They claim that 1t is better than the Chilcoot Pass. The summit is the worst hill It is mile long and about as steep as the hill at the Reymert going from the mill to the mine. If I was going in again I should take horses, one for every three men. A good pony can pull 1000 pounds only on the hills. There is no place but horse can pull $50 pounds on sled.
 Well, Bill, want you to send me a good long letter as I have to pay 75 cents for letter. soon expect to send yon some good news for we are very confident of finding something good this summer. We are not here for our health, and if old Father Time will only spare me firmly believe we can go to Paris in style in 1900. Bill, the mosquitoes are coming around. They are the biggest ever saw, and I suppose we will catch fits, in few days from them. Well, Bill, think we have the best outfit that has come in over the pass. We have fish net and will lay in big stock of salmon when they run up the river. We have bought more grub from men going back, so that we will stay with it as long as possible. Should we get some thing extra good Joe Ward and may come out this fall to get things for big work. Give Jack Eraser my kind regards and best wishes and all the boys around Florence. Now, Bill, write, for we hear no news. I shall send one letter per month.
 JOHN H. SMITH,
 Valdez Landing, Alaska.
 In care of Copper River Mail carrier.