The Portland daily press., 1899-07-11
Letter From Mr.. Harry Nevens Of
WOOdfOrds.
All But Three Of Party
Are Returning.
Writer VIII Push On Remain
ing Until Fall.

The friends OF Mr. Harry A. Nevens
Spring street. Woodfords, who left his
home some over year ago to go to th Q
Klondike with party, will be glad to
learn that he has been heard from again
since his letter written last Novem Der.
The last letter known to have been re-
oeived Is In the hands Of his mother, Mrs.
II. II. Nevens, Woodfords. The letter was
sent BY young Nevens BY some of the par
ty who left the frozen north early In the
winter and mailed the letter on their ar
rival at Edmunton, Canada. The letter
is dated Winter Camp. March 8, 1899, and
was received at Woodfords few days ago
by Mrs. Nevens The letter was brief,
but interesting. In the opening of the
letter he speaks Of disappointment be-
cause the boys of the party could not
reach Graham, and had to return because
OF the severe weather and wait until
later in the season. The letter then goes
on to say,
well, myself, have been very fortu-
nate and am enjoying good health. Out
Of eight men in the party three OF them
have had that terrible disease, the scurvy
SO bad that we did really expect they
would die inside of week. There was
one of the other men who had touch
OF IL and he would have been very sick II
things had not turned as they did. We
can all calliit God send and nothing
less. When the men got SO weak that
they would faint II they tried to move,
We said something must be done, so one
man volunteered to start for Graham
with two others for doctor or help of
some kind. SO Volunteered next and an
other man said he would go too, SO we
three started February 9th. +
1--WE had to travel on. snowshoes and
drag our food and small camp outfit
with us. We had to take enough for Is
days to take us to Graham. You can
imagine what the trip was, to dig holes
in tho snow at night and lay down rolled
up in your blanket and canvas with no
other shelter in the coolest of weather.
We worked with all our strength for
five long days and found we were run
ming behind on our mileage by consid-
cradle.
1--WE were about exhausted and knew
the only thing to do was turn back, (al-
though we hated to-, when we struck a
small herd of moose. We snot two and
skinned them, while they were warm and
hung the meat up in the trees and car
ried some back to the men as we knew II
anything would help them that would.
We could come back easier than we could
60 ahead because we had our trail to run
back in and when we did get back I tell
you, the men looked like death itself !;
but from that day they have improved
right along. The only thing that troubles
them is their legs. they can't straighten
them. They have to limp around with
cane.
"Five men are going back from here.
Philip McCloud and myself are going
ahead, although we offered to assist the
men If they needed 1t, but they are i'm
proving and feel sure they will be all
right with the help of two well men.
"They have got to wait here about a
month and half for the creeks to open
and we three start tomorrow to break
trail ahead. We are going over the SUM-
NIT to the Black river and build a boat
and float down the river. AS long as I
have any food left / want to stay In and
sse II can't get something. Our chances
will be better after we get over the di.
vide ] should hate to turn back without
getting anything although would NOT
sell my experience for what 1t has cost me.
at Ne strike anything we will stay in
through the summer months and come
out by the coast in the fall, and IL there
lie nothing found or any good reports,
we will come out as soon as we get over
to Sylvester. shall then strike for San
Francisco. shall come out next fall
anyway. OF course IL strike anything
good 1 may go back again. but DON'T
want to winter in this country another
winter.
"One of the men going out Ia going tc
get my mail at Graham and sendit tc
Glvnora so shall hear from you when ]
arrive there. l send this out with him
along with the one wrote in the early
| winter.
1--WE are having some great feeds now
ON moose meat. On one of our trips dowr
after moose meat We shot another, SO We
have had three In all. and they are fine
eating.
Carl (he Is onel of the partyl
started to Graham with me, travelled
over 100 miles on snow shoes in tive
weeks and half, counting what mileag,
we made ON the trial trip. and made af
ter moose meat.
"The snow is abont five feet deep or
a level here and fellow has to have OF
lots of clothes to keep warm.
81 have felt line all winter and the mel
call me the latest of the lot. They Otter
tell me Their Wish they were as healthy
as I am. l wish they were, myself.
have looked after myself pretty well and
kept clean and that is great thing, ans