The record-union., 1899-09-13
NO MORE HOPE REMAINS.
WHITMORE WRITES TO HIS
LODGE IN THIS CITY.
The Only Survivor of the Amsden
Party Tells His Story Of
Disease and Death.

E. D. WhitmOre, the surviving mem
Der of the Amsden party, has written
from the hospital in Circle City, where
he is at present, to Capitol Lodge No.
81, L o. O. F., of which he is a member.
Following is his letter:
Grace Hospital, Circle City, Alaska.
August L. 1899.
Officers and members of Capitol,
81: AS I am much improved and able
to sit up in bed and write, thought I
would drop you d note in connection
with the doctors.
I knew you would hear of my condi-
ton when the news of the others
death would reach Sacramento You
will hardly be able to realize it when
you hear that | am the only surviving
one Of a party of four. / have had a
pretty hard time of it previous to COM
ing here, but am o. K now This is
a nice little hospital, neat, clean and
comfortable; a trained lady nurse and a
good doctor in attendance. AS soon as
1 am able to walk on crutches 1 will
leave for California. I know / will
soon pick up there when 1 get fresh
vegetables and fruit I would not go
out, but if 1 staid in would not be able
doctor says 1 must go out [ do not
want to get caught again this winter.
/ don't want any more scurvy in mine.
You would not know me now if you
We're to see me; nothing but skin, bones
and whiskers. l have not been able to
walk since the middle of May, but now
| am getting along nicely and can eat
three square meals a day, and also a
big raw potato before each meal. also
eat lots of lettuce and turnip tops, as
that is all they can raise here; in fact.
I eat any kind of COW fodder they bring
me, as my teeth have got in quite good
shape. When / came here on the Sd,
they were all loose and my mouth was
In dreadful shape, but I am improv-
ing every day. You could not kill me
with a stick now.
I would only have to put a little
flower on my whiskers to make a good
Worden forget-it-not I set up to get
a hair cut on the 10th, and like
Sampson, when they cut my locks I
tainted in the middle of the operation.
I expect to leave here the fore part
of next month, walk or no walk; will
have to in order to get out. I would
like to go byg way of Dawson, but in
my condition there are too many trans
fers, SO will have to go out by the
Berrining, the way I came in. Now I
must not try to do too much at once.
With best regards to all. Yours fra
ternally, c. D. WHITMORE
Accompanying the letter is one from
the physician in charge of the hospital,
as follows:
Circle, Alaska, August II, 1899.
This is to certify that Campbell D.
Whitmore has been and is under my
care. He was brought into Grace Hos
pital, Circle, August 3, 1899, off the
steamer Victoria, from Fort Yukon,
which is so miles below us, on the
Yukon.
His history is that he has been sick
since March, 1899, being taken sick on
the Black River, about 140 miles from
Fort Yukon
His present condition is such that
am quite certain that he has been i'll
for that time.
He is suffering from scurvy; just now
his principal trouble is aenemia. AS
soon as possible will have him taken
to Frisco.
JAMES L. WATT, M. D.
PnySlclan IN cnarge trace doSplldi,
Circle, Alaska
The party consisted of E. F. Amsden,
H. B. Earl, B. Mcdonald and Whit
more. All stout, hearty men and who,
it was thought, were well calculated to
stand the rigors of the climate, but
they succumbed to scurvy. Mrs. Ans
den has received a letter from Whit
more, written from the Circle City Hos
pital, in which he gives her the par
ticulars of their deaths. Amsden died
on April Goth, and Earl on the follow
ing day, while Mcdonald did not sue
cumb until June 1st Thus the sad
tale is verified and no more doubt re-
mains of the fate Of the party.