The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1899-09-29

what strength and endurance there is il
him till he roughs it as he has to in thi
, country. One time | was forced to rul
eight miles over smooth ice to keep from
freezing, through the carIessness Of a ma
tive who forgot my furs, We were al
frozen in spots.
A few days rest and plenty of "kow
kow" prepares us for the "trip through the
mountains. had 200 pounds on my yu
kon sled and no dog. The second day we
enter the mountain pass. The wind was
bad indeed, at times actually blowing
us backwards. Travelling was out of the
question. In snow bank we shoveled
out place the size of our tent aid made
camp. We were quite comfortable with
agOod yukon stove and plenty of frewood
The storm ragged for two days and part OF
the third and in it Hugh was lost The
right and reached Anvil City. 1t was the
latter part Cf May. Behring sea was clear
of ice and in three days three whaling
ships hove in sight. Anvil City was a
perfect pandomonium. Men yelled like
mad, guns popped and there was great
rejoicing. We knew the boats would
bring news from the states, many not
having received any since landing on
Alaskan soil. We were sure of something
good to eat, too. We went aboard, were
royalty welcomed by the captain and at
once taken to the dining room. For an
hour was terribly busy with knife and
fork. Imagine it, ten months with bacon,
beans and flour your chief food and then
to sit down before those things you most
like and have always been accustomed.
l bought the food necessary for my
health and some clothing and started for
| the mountains to do prospecting but the
ice in the creek made this impossible. 1t
took many days to make the trip as pro-
visions and bedding had to be packed on
my back and travelling was bad. Reach
ing Anvil City it was necessary to return
to Kooz-gOo :ma-pa to bring around the bal
ance of my outfit by boat.
-Four of us decided to go by boat to Port
| Clarence. We pack to SinoOk and hire a
2S foot boat fitted with sails, We start
out with fair wind, sailing all day and
night. Early in the morning, between
Cape Rodney and Cape Douglass, fog
came around us and we could not see
shore. Reaching Cape Douglass we found
floating ice between US and shore. The
wind was getting stronger every minute.
For several miles we could not find an
opening in the ice by which WE could
reach the beach. Ahead of us was APPOINT
so far to the wiudward that we could not
pass it, the boat having no keel or center
board We must get through the ice or
''crack" and so selected the most favor
able snot and headed the boat into it.
/ we eacn too.A'a DlankNt In our arms and
reached shore. But the ice smashed the
boat to smithereens' and we lost every
thing except the blankets taken with .us
In a driving, pouring rain we walked three
miles to some Eskimo tents. The true
spirit of hospitality reigns supreme in the
EskimOs breast. They did everything
for our comfort even giving us their bed
of furs. Before we were asleep woman
brought us in a steaming pot of seal meat.
As rule do rot fancy their cooking but
| ATE tlH seal meat and RIGHT U0Od II
tasted.
The storm was the worst of the season.
1t rained for thee days and the wind was
fearful. We lived with the natives, eat
ing their food. Finally it cleared and we
started for Port Clarence. There were
several camps on the way and at them all
the same kindness and hospitality was
shown us. 1t was an instance of bread
cast upon the waters" for at some time
during the winter these natives had been
to my cabin and were never refused shell
ter and food.
We reached Port Clarence in two days
and found six whaling ships there. We
went aboard the Jeanette. The captain
OF this boat Outtitted George and Nick. |
told him my name and that | knew the
above boys and he invited me to stay on
board till they came. Next Cay the boys
came. NV acquaintance with the captain
was pleasant one and he furnished me
Will a COlIpIelt OullG IOI lIt COllluS
year. He gave me a fine outfit, plenty of
food, % deer skins, six seal skins to make
sleeping bags, clothes and winter boots
and summer clothes and boots. For this
| give him half of what may stake dur
ing the year. What have already staked
is mine.
The captain brought us here (Anvil
City on his ship and we have been full of
business ever since Our cabin is just
completed and feel now as if | had a few
moments in which to take long breath"
not many though for in ten days we start
for the mountains. This brings my story
to the present. Much has been omitted
but have endeavored to tell the most
important things. We have large log
The captain gave us good cooking range
so there will be no more "mOnkeying
around" with a sheet-iron affair.
The newspapers call this the most DESC
late place on earth. 1t may be, but it is
also one of the richest The working sea-
son Is short, it freezing in October and
there is no timber with which to thaw
the ground. From one claim on Snow
Gulch over 100000 has been taken. An
vii Creek is so enormously rich that it is
to estimate how much has been
taken from it and there are other rich
creeks not yet much developed.
Anvil Creek and Anvil City get their
names from rock upon the point of a
mountain, which has the shape of black
smiths anvil.
People have flocked to Anvil City from
all points in Alaska and the population is
now about 5000. 1t is a city of tents. |
call it 'the White City of the North"
There are wooden structures, stores, res
taurants, saloons and dance halls, but most
of the people live in tents. The female
element is what you would expect, women
having come down from Dawson and the
Yukon.
There is not a rod of ground left in the
district for new comers, over 5000 claims
having been staked out. A company of
u. ). soldiers are here and doing good
work Peace is kept to the letter. Gamb |
ling and drunkenness are rife but brawls |
are few and there have been no shooting
affairs. The city is divided by Snake riv- |
er. one side being high sandy point be- |
tween the river and the sea. This is /
where we built our cabin. There are no |
public places on this side, one might call |
il the resident portion.
Prospecting in Alaska is hard work, |
dreadfully hard, and one earns all the |
money he takes out, even though 1t be a /
million. The chances of making money /
here are much better than in the states. |
A good man can get $500 day and board. |
In looking over my diary | ind that, |
since Christmas, l have slept in my kOOz- /
goo-ma-pa cabin only twelve nights and /
have actually travelled on foot 1855 miles ]