Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-07-06
FROM ALASKA.
Mrs. DR.. Brigham Narrates Journey TO
Alaska, and Her Husbands Death.
Golovin, Ala ska, Jan. 4, 1893.


Editor Free Press.
I write from Alaska to my friends in
Northern Vermont, through the columns
OF your paper which was our family vlsi-
tor for many years.
NJ husband. DR.. c. O. Brigham and I
lived in Westford most of our lives. until
thirteen years ago. when we went to Rut-
land county, where he practiced medicine
Until last spring.
He began TO desire rest and change, gust
as the Alaska excitement was AT its height
one year ago. and decided to take a long
vacation in this land of ice and snow. he
arranged with a Vermont company to go
a their physician on an ocean voyage, and
we left Our home in Rutland the last of
March for New York city. The threaten
ing Cuban war changed the entire plans
OF the party, and an overland journey to
Seattle, Wash, was the result OF the
change. From there to this place We err
countercd such long delays at Unaaska
and St. Michaels that the summer was
gone before we reached here. Our party
had intended going up the Yukon as far
as the Yurana river but the region north
of Merton Sound was decided on offer
ing best inducements.
This point, called Golovin Bay Mission
was the central stopping place between
the several mining districts then in pros
pect. Some of the company Ci'Ossed tho
sound from St. Mchaels in little sail boats
ana some in a little steamer End after
various mishaps and narrow escapes, all
reached this shore in safety after many
days. Eight of us, including my husband
and myself, took passage on the schooner
Mizrah, and after a delightful sail of il
hours anchored in this bay. We planned
to stop here for the winter and wax until
spring before locating any mining claims.
while the others went on further. The
principal strikes" or finds" were to the
north on the Fish river and its branches
at that time; but about November list tho
discovery of gold at Cape Nome, ON the
northwest coast caused great stampede
of miners from that region.
| l took but little interest in all this, for
my husband was Frustrated on a bed OF
| sic kness early in October and nothing
stayed the hand of disease, unN after ter
weary, sad weeks he passed beyond my
care He lonsed at times to return to his
home but gave it up with Christian resig-
nation and passed peacefully away. Al
who knew him remember his arden, love
of music The last Sabbath he spent or
earth, he asked me to sing Nearer My
God to Thee" which l did, to the accom-
pAniment OF an autoharp while he family
hummed the tune with me. l felt then i
was our last song on earth together anc
1t proved so to be.
this bleak land of ice and snow and i'm
prisoned by 1t for months TO come. ye
God liz good to me. The missionary. j. II
Andersen, of this place. the miners ans
EsQumax all have kind hearts ard sym
patty to grey haired woman bowed IL
grief over the grave Of the husband of lie
youth, afar from home and fricnGs.
This letter will travel a long distance he
fore it reaches you Of il ever does, Firs
from here to St. Miohaels then by regu
lar mail route of dog or deer teams acres
the forest to Nulato on the Yukon. thei
following the river to Dawson. Thence /
will be taken over one of the trails u SOM
port on the North Pacific, from whence !
will be conveyed to the States. DIS they sa.
here Before that time the spring sun
shine will doubtless have awakened tn
10y ely arbutus from its winter sleep, an
you can hardly realize that on the shOr
of Behrng Sea the sun shone just a5ov
the horizon only three short hours AT III
time Of my great sorrow.
l shall remain at the mission, teachinI
In the school until spring and hope hetor
the shcrt days come again to see home an
friends once more.
Sadly yours,
SARAH 4 BRIGHAM.