Mesa free press., 1899-04-21
IN PARKWAY ALASKA.

Last week we received the follow
ING letter from j. FL. Bush and j..
Wiley, who left Mesa for Alaska two
mouths ago The letter is dated at
Haines Mission, Alaska.
EDS. FREE PREss.-Leaying Mesa,
we had a pleasant run to San Fran
cisco, and after spending a few days
there buying supplies, heavy clothing,
etc., we took passage on the steamer
Queen" for Seattle. Our first en-
coun ter with the ocean was stormy
one and it was with sigh of relief
that we stepped on the wharf three
days later. Seattle is a busy town,
built up principally by the Alaska
trade, and we found the streets and
wharves and wharves thropged with
passengers and freight booked for the
Yukon or Atlin fields. We espent two
days in Seattle and then started north
on the steamer City Of Topeka, our
destination being Skagway.
This trip will long be remembered
with pleasure. Leaving Seattle the
course taken is what is known as the
inside passage and for the whole dis
tance OF about 900 miles we had land
on both sides and consequ entity smooth
water. The scenery is beautiful beyond
description, the channel being studded
with small islands while in the distance
towers the SUNNI its of the snow capped
hills.
Calling first at Wrangle, we visited
the Indian village and met for the first
time the natives of Alaska. who resemble
in features the Japanese.
Our next stop was at Juneau, a qaiet
kut thriving towr which depends for its
support on the numerous prosperous
mines in the vicinity. Across the bay
couple of miles away is the great
Treadwell mine owned by the Roths-
childs. and haying the largest stamp
mill in the world, We were only few
hours at Juneau and ten hours later we
arrived at Skagway. the gateway of the
north, our time from Seattle being six
days.
A little oyer year ago not house
marked the spot where Skagway now
stands, an example of the wonderful en-
ergy of the American people. There are
three wharves over half mile long; a
spl ndid water service piped down from
lake on a neighboriug hill, and an
efficient electric light system. Tho
White Pass and Yukon railway now
furnish through transportation to Daw-
son, making the trip. when river opens,
in seven days The railway is now
completed over the White Pass after an
expenditure of over $4,000, 900, and how
much further the line will exten de-
pends on developments in the Yukon
basin.
Our plans were changed on arrival at
skagway by the news of the strike made
in the Porcupine district, and we deter
| mined to lose no time in striking out for
the new eldorado.
Leaving Skagway we took passage on a
small steamer to Haines. a distance OF
l3 miles, where our tents and outfits
were landed by email boat on the
beach, and a. ter packing our goods above
high water mark, we started back for
the timber to find a camping place.
TIE first work after finding suitable
/ spot is to level off the snow, and lay a
mating ofsmall brush. which prevents
the cold and damp from coming through
in all other respects camping out is SIM
liar to what is in other districts.
Every one uses sleeping bags in this
part of the world as blankets, DO matter
how thick, are not suitable for the Sc
we're cold. After stay of two days at
Haines we start on the ice up the
Chilkat river hauling our sleds and out
fits which weighed about 400 pounds,
| Any man who wants to experience
hard work should try hauling sled for
few days over ice and snoY, and facing
bitter ccld ard having great chunks Of
ice hanging down from his mouataches
and beard, and if he he does not long
to get back to the genial warmth and
sunny skies of Arizona, we are much
mistaken. We travelled in this manner
for four days. passing and bling passed
by all kinds and conditions Of men from
the shrewd speculator on the way tc