The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-29

Somewhere In the interior OF Alaska.
In the region Of what - known ~ the
Copper River country. there are eighty
men know Of who are probably dead. or
II net dead. via die In an EFFORT to reach
civilization
The speaker was T. p. Robinson, an
Oakland, Cal. man. who is returning home
from Copper river enfeebled and crippled
with the scurvy and many hundred dol
lars poorer In pocket than he was two
years ago.
Il presume your readers have had sur
felt OF hard luck stories from returning
miners from Alaska, 30 ! am not going
70 talk about the men who have returned,
but about those who viii never return.
And what Is the worst thing about il -
that you are not certain they are dead.
II living and in distress you don't know
whore they are. and IL you had al the
help IN the world at your command you
could not reach them in time to save.
Tho past winter In Alaska has been .
terrible ono In the Copper river country.
All nature seemed to make q dad set at
the men who ventured into the frozen SOL
itudes and those who did not perish in
the storms. or by the cold, were stricken,
as am. with disea0e- There has been no
spring and the summer Is q long way on.
Most OF the missing men went out IN
small parties with only provisions enough
to last than at best few months. unless
they found game. and the constant storms
drove the game 20 the innermest fastnesp
Of the mountains.
'As days and weeks and months went by
and the men did not return various rescue
parties were organized. only to ceme back
worn out and without news or trace Of the
men they sought. Then We hoped they
had gone out some other way. but when
We reached the coast we found that none
Of them had come In. II they are living
1t will be miracle. hut It Is a thousand
chances to one they are lying frozen still
and stark on some blind trail which they
hoped would lead them out Of the wilder
ness Of snow and Ice to their fellow men.
AS for the riches OF Alaska, none can
gainsay the wealth. but II the muster RON
could be called Of those who have died in
Alaska, or have died since coming from
that country from disease contracted
there, II would be found that human life
has paid for almost every ounce OF dust
You have no idea" said Mr. Robinson
with shudder "of the suffering one must
endure. You have no chance to work or
prospect except a few weeks during the
year, and the balance OF the time you
etarve and freeze. Storm after storm. day
after day. provisions getting scarcer and
scarcer. strong men growing weaker. ana
you finally give UP and start for home.
and lucky you are II you live to make the
trip.
What am telling you il no exaggera-
tion. In every postofYice In Alaska there
are hundreds Of letters uncaiied for. neve.
will be called for. Those to whom they
are addressed are beyond the reach OF
mail. and their fate viii ever remain q
mystery. or the poor boys I speak OF
from my own knowiedce feel SIRE mona
viii ever return from the frozen fastness
OF the UNEMPLOYED interior. When they
died, how they died. where they died. n
knowledge locked up In the frozen noun
ta;ns. the ice gorges, the snow covered
plains or the swift and Icy rivers OF that
deselate and unknown land. the unex-
plored Interior"