Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-20
Eailp 4 ennebec 3ournal.
Local Matters.
ACROSS TIE MOUNTAIN GLACIER.
Bert HamIen Writes Of Journey in the Frozen
klOndke

\ letter received by Mrs Fred Ham
len Of this city. from her son. Bert
Hamlen, who is in the Klondke region.
gives some interesting points in regard
10 the trip across the great glacier tina
ne had to traverse on his way To the
town of Naldes, where he was stopping
at the time he wrote the letter. 1t -
we'll TO compare the situation of the
comforts Of this State to the dscom-
forts Of that section. when feeling IL
little out Of sorts with ones surround
ngs The following is the letter in
brief:
Hotel Naldes. Naldes, Alaska.
March Il. 1899.
! have no doubt that you will be sur
prisrd To- know that | am in Naldes
but here am just the same. Mr.. Nc
CIaIan IS coming in with horses ana
supplies, and as he is going to bring
II. ana T. horse. ! thought | would
come over ana help him. although
dreaded the trip Of Is miles across the
glacier. especially during the month Of
March. However. people have been
rushing 10 get out on account of 50
many having the scurVy, and | eX-
pected to have Il good trail all the
way. | left Quartz Creek, Monday. the
jth. with three other men who We're
going to the rapids. We had about 60
pounds apiece and had a good trail to
the rapids We made the trip Of 81
miles easily in two days. ! then in
tended Ia start alone and 90 To the
foot If The glacier ana wait for come
others to 20 over. as it is not Very
safe "trip for a man to make alone.
Luckily for me there was gentleman
with whom | was acquainted, VII"
wanted 10 go to Naldes. so he SAID h.
would go with me. OF course | was
very glad to have company. Since the
rush out restaurants have been put up
all along the trail 50 we did not nave
10 take any provisions with us.
We left the rapids. Thursday rura,
arm went tu the foot uf the lake.
After staying there all night We pushed
IN I'd the head Of the lake. a distance
Of Is miles. We made good time. hay
ing a good trail. At the head Of the
lake We overlook two men who Wero
on their way out and. Of course We
all travelled together. We staid all
night at the head Of the lake and then
pushed on to the foot Of the glacier. Is
miles farther. We had a very hard
time If it that day, as the trail was
very poor ana ii showed all day but
we reached our destination just about
, dark. Very tired and our clothes vet
through with perspiration. As soon as
We reached the restaurant they told us
there was no trail over the restaurant
at all. and that seven men had los
their lives on the place about thre+
! l. no
r0uraging news to wet. cold and hun
cry men. but We ate a good supper and
went ID bed on the snow with W.
blankets under ana very little over u.s..
.Or course NE did not sleep very much.
The next morning was fine and clear
ana We thought We would have a fine
day to 20 over. Just as We We're get
ting ready to start out, three hungry
looking men came limping off the
glacier and informed us they had been
lost there all the previous lay. ana
had travelled all night. Again this
was not very encouraging. hut never
theless Ne decided to try it all Nh.
same. We'll. W. started and ii WIS II
lovely day AS anyone would wish t'
eee. but when we got near the summit
the wind commenced 10 blow. ana
when we were right on tn" summit II
was blowing a gale and the snow was
! living i'm clouds. We We're obliged L"
| stop and put on our snow-shoAS ana
then shouidcrin@ our packs w made a
! fresh start.
| III would he impossible To- drSrrIb"
ntlr trim over that mountain n irr n
| thr binding snow and win our p1Jks
M our backs The snow under TN
feet Was i'll ridges ana holloWs lik"
Moved field. 50 | will not attempt ~
describe it. one Of the men turneb
hack ut the summit and would - NJ"
farther SO the three of us. with fnui
more whom we found waiting at me
foot of the glacier, pushed on. Four
or th. men stopped at the relief stat IN
which has been established by the J.
u : d. +. They could 90 no farther
,bat day. Three Of us left the relief
station III 1 o'clock. ana drew lon-
breath IF relief as we stepped or m
Glaciers about o'clock. Here we
dropped one more man at restaurant
He was played out. SO out OF the
aioht who started only two OF us,
man named Frank owen and myself
rn,cbed Valdes. We got out to the
hotel at about t.pV, Piet'S ''''N
the 30-mile tramp. 20 Of when we illaue
On show shoes. The rest Of the hrA
showed up all right the next day. -
here / am in good health ana spirltS'
ready to make another trip over the
Glacier as soon as Mae comes win
he horses. hut this time It VIII De
warm weather and there Will he Il"
danger.
Give my love to all the folks,
BERT.
Iaanrauemants al the Public Building.