The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-02-01
Alaska.

Much is being said and written
about the iNlondike region, the ri@or~
of its climate, and the hardships and
privations which must be undergone
by all those who dare It's tcrrors, and
so little in comparison about the rest
Of the great Northwest. that people
are in the habit of confoundiog the
much With the little Not only is it
supposed by mang young folks that
Alaska is cold, inhospitable, wind
and storm-swepJ wilderness, almost
uninhabitaJle. and Inviting only to
those who are ready to risl, all for for!
tune, bat even among their fathers
and mothers this impression is more
or less general. Alaska means TIC
KondiEe, and the Klondiie means all
that is cold and terrible and desolate.
And yet it is long, long way from
the southern point Of Alaska to its
bitter northern extremity, farther
than the invalid from Maine has to 20
to reach the mild climate Of the South
Atlantic States, and the variations in
its climate are ready as marked.
The trip to Alaska from Tacoma
through Puget Sound and the thou
sand islands is very beautiful. There
are few excursions into the wilds Of
America, or into any parts Of the
world, in which so much fine, grand,
and novel scenery is unfolded to view.
The waters are blue and calm, and the
lovely islands arc clothed with ever
greens. The ordinary discomforts of
sea voyage, so formidable to some
travellers, are not felt; fer the way
lies through a network of sheltered
inland channels that are as free as
rivers are from the hcaving waves
that cause seasickness.
Along the way Indians may be seen
on the wharves and about the stores,
chiefly grim women and chubby ch:l-
dren with wild eyes. Most of them
have curiositics to sell when steamer
arrives, or basketfuls Of berries, red,
yellow and blue, which look woudrous
clean as compared with the people.
They are proud and comparatively
intelligent race, nevertheless. and
maintain an air of self-respect that no
amount of raggedness and squalor can
wholly subduc.
Many canoes may be seen along the
shore, all built alike, with long beaS-
like sterns and prows. What the
mustang is to the vaquero the ca'.'.e
is to the Indian Of the Ala kan '-ra-i.
Yonder you see Il whole family, .i4,.a-
parents and all, making Il direct contsc
for some island five or six miles A.
They are after berries, as Their
kcts strawberries, that powbcre,
north or south, are so laviShy -
dant. The woods and meade
full of Observation-Disclosures Of n.a
species. salmonbcrrics. ra~parr $.
blackberries, currants and GOO
rics, with strawberries and scrv'c r.
ries in the drier grounds, aud cram i
ries in the bogs, suflicien' fer -:
worm, bird, beast and human bcin4 u
the territory, and thousands of so''S
to spare. The Indians beat them i',iv
pulp, press the pulp into cakes ;to'ar
an inch thick, and dry them for .iu
ter use with their oily salmon.
Strange as il may appear, physiciaa,
are advising many who are locking to
Italy for health, to turn their eyes 20
Alaska. -An Alaskan midsummer day
is day without night. In the cx
trcme northern portion Of the terri
tory the sun does not set for weeks,
and even as far south us Sitka and
Fort Wrangel the rosy colors Of even
ing blend with those of the morning,
leaving no darkness between.
The coast climate is remarkably
bland and temperate. 1t is rainy,
however, but The rain is good Of its
kind-mild in temperature, gentle in
its fall, filling the fountains of the
streams. and keeping the whole land
fresh ana fertile; while anything more
delightful than the shining weather
after the rain = Che great round sun
days of June, July and August can
hardly be found elsewhere. You are
warmed and awakened into sympathy.
Through the midst Of the broodiag
silence the life and motion about you
comes to mind-thc weariless tides
swaying the dulsc over thousands Of
miles of sea-mcadows, the swift,
foaming rivers, the marvellous abun-
dance of fishes, the wild sheep and
goats on thousand grassy ridges
above the forests, bears fcasting in the