The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-28
On the Valdez Glacier in the
Copper River Region.
Five Men Known to Have Per
ished From Cold.
MANY BADLY FROZEN
Some Lie Down in the Snow
and Die Alone.
Others Reach Camp With Limbs
Turned to Ice.

Seattle. Wn., Jan. 2S.-The steamer
Cottage City from Alaska brings news
that a number of Copper River pros
pectors perished in Valdez glacier. The
following are known to have been lost:
Charles Khron, New York city.
c. P. Smith, Chicago.
Ole Evjen, Baldwin, Wis.
- Henderson, Wisconsin.
George Sweeney, New York city.
Among the many badly frozen miners
are:
George Poalowitz, New York city.
Sylvester Greg, st. Joseph, Mo.
HoIver E2vjen, Baldwin, Wis
There are six men at Valdez suffering
from frozen feet, hands and face. A
hospital has been established at Twelve
Mile camp, on the other side of the glac-
aer and Is men are suffering there from
the same cause. All were frozen try
ing to cross the glacier, but managed to
get back into camp.
The freezing of the EVjenS, father and
son is particularly sad. They started
for Valdez, but on getting well toward
the summit of the glacier found their
feet freezing. Both started back. The
son gave his father some extra wrap
pings for his feet and as a result frOze
both legs in a few minutes and was
unable to proceed. He bade his father
goodbye and compelled him to move on
without him. Then the boy lay down in
the snow to die. His body will probably
never be recovered. The father reached
Twelve Mile camp very badly frozen
and is not expected to live.
Smith and KhrOn were members of
the same party, in company with Geo.
Poalowitz Sylvester Greg and several
others. They started across the glacier
early in December. Smith was the first
to freeze his feet. After they had cross
ed the summit and were going down the
long stretch toward Valdez his strength
began to fail him. At last he could
No (N1l or man
ions around him he told them he was
doomed even if they got him into camp
and they must try and save themselves.
Telling them to tell his wife and chill
dren back in Chicago where he died he
lay down in the snow and was soon
lulled into a last sleep by the deadly
frost. He was a jeweler by trade.
Charles Khron wanted to lie down
when the trip was almost at an
end. His comrades forced him to keep
moving in spite of pain of his badly fro
zen feet and at last got him into Val
dez. His toes were so badly frozen
that they fell off when his boots were
cut away. Blood poisoning set in soon
after and in ten days the miners buried
him in a rough grave He was MEM
Der of the Manhattan Mining company
of New York, q German and leaves
widow and family in that city.
The third man of the party to lose
his life was a miner named Henderson
from some small town in Wisconsin. He
started out with the party but was fro
zen before they reached the summit of
the glacier. He decided his only hope
was to turn back. Soon after he left
the party a terrible blizzard swept over
the glacier, Obliterating all trails and
making travel impossible, He proba bly,
lost his way then and perished. At any
rate he never reached Twelve Mile
camp, the only place of refuge for
miles around.
George Poa1owitz, of the Manhattan
Mining company of New York was the
IFfh 1acp 70 Io hu7I
returned on the Cottage City in charge
the greater part of both feet and is in
danger of losing his life from blood
poisoning. He would not let Dr. Lewis
amputate his feet in the north He
said: 1T was bitter cold and for four
days we wandered about the glacier
trying to find our way down. We had
little food, as were going out for
supplies The other four members of
the Manhattan company were waiting
on short rations at the foot of the lake
1 don't know what will become of them
now that Khron is dead and am hera
IN almost as bad fix. do not want
my wife to know of my condition so 1
will not tell you my New York ad-
dress"
Geo Sweesey, also of New York, was
a blacksmith at Valdez for a long time
He started across the glacier early in
the winter drawing a heavy sled The
details of mis- death are unknown for he
was alone. He never reached the other
side.
The miners who arrivd on tn Cottage