Stikeen River journal., 1899-08-26
AMONG THE
 IGE-BERCS An Interesting Trip on The Steamer Alaska. Many Grand and Awe.inspiring Sights Were Witnessed.

On board the stanch steamer Alaska at night, surrounded by huge moun- ts.ins of floating ice, some anchored hard and fast to the bottom. and others in motion, tearing and grinding as they
 were driven by strong currents, and threatening every moment to make kindling wood out of the steamer, and angels out of all on board. Such was the experience of the editor of the JOURNAL on Sunday night last, in Le Conte Bay. It was grand and awe inspiring sight, and one that will never be forgotten. The trip was made for the purpose of securing ice to cool the palates of Wrangel's citizens. Le Conte Bay is situated about 25 miles north of Wrangel, and to reach it the steamer is compelled to cross what is known as the mud flats; or take the circuitous route through Wrangel nar- rows. The former route is impossible except at high water; and it was under such conditions that the passage over the flats was made. The Alaska steam ed into Le Conte Bay at noon on Sun day; the tide was high and the ice, for the most part, was stationary. There was no difficulity experienced in wind ing through the mountains of ice, al- though at places it would have been possible to stey onto an iceberg on either side of the ship. The steamer proceedhd as far into the bay as was practicable, before Capt. Crook order ed her to be made fast to huge mass of ice and proceeded with the work of taking on cargo. There were three persons on board in addition to the crew; tthey were Fred T. Willson, Frank Gooderich and the editor They conceived the idea of getting in prac- tice for trip to the North Pole and accordingly set out in small boat in search of a passage through the float ing ice to Le Conte glacier which is situated at the head of the bay. It soon became apparent that the feat was next to impossible on account of the ice which was like solid mass. and grinding as It was moved by the tide and the force of the ice from be- hind. Accordingly, after having fore ed passage to within half mile of the glacier, the attempt was abandon ed after six hours hard labor. If there woc opv ovc;tomont ottoobo1 <o lo;nr caught in the ice in small boat it was lost sight of later when the Alaska was leaving the Bay. It was nearly mid- night with full moon and the scene was beautiful beyond description. An chored across the mouth of the bay was six huge ice-bergs almost barring the passage. The tide was flooding very strong, and the water was coming through the small openings between the icebergs with great force forming whirlpools, and carrying with it im- times the size of the steamer. It was into this chaos that the steamer was forced to go in order to gain the open
 water ahead; and if she were not the stanch ship which she is she could not have lived through it. The noise of the rushing water and the crushing ice was deafening. Once. when the ship had almost gained the passage, she, was caught squarely on the stem by an ice. berg and carried hack as though she was but mere toy. Sklllful hand; ling on the part of the captain and his crew, again brought the ship in posi- tion to make another effort, which, aft CT two hours hard work, was success full. No artist could paint and no poet