River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-12-20
En- Route to Cape Nome.

transport 'LdWL0n, w MARI -. ";
Sept. 10, 1900.--Dear Father and
Mother:--As we are away up here In
her majesty's dominion with nothing
to do but take on few tons Of coal
will improve the time by telling you
about our trip as far as we have trip.
ped: We left Frisco" last Tuesday
and arrived here this afternoon. The
weather has been good but we had
two days OF very rough water, and as
we have no load to speak OF, the old
boat rolled and tossed terribly and the
whole outfit of us were about as sick
as person could imagine. / did not
miss meal that is, was at the
table every time meals we're served,
but I'll admit did leave rather sud
denly a couple of times and did not
feel at all hungry-but there were
others.
We have the whole transport to
ourselves and have no duties whatever
to perform till we reach Cape Nome.
We have fine staterooms and board
as well as we would at first-class
hotel. / tell you, it does seem funny
to travel on a transport and not be
packed in like sardines in box. We
are now at a small coaling station 1855
miles northwest OF Seattle on Van
couver Island, and after we take on
what coal we need we shall go back to
seattle and stay five or six days taking
on supplies, after which we shall con-
tinue ON our journey to the ''Frozen
North" This country here reminds
me somewhat of Wisconsin, and / tell
you the snow-capped mountains do
look cold The country here is very
heavily timb with fir and cedar
and everything looks very green and
pretty. Tomorrow is Sunday, and as
we shall be here all day and perhaps
two or three days yet, we are all going
to take trip across the bay s or 10
miles to another town that is more
interesting than this. The lieuten-
ant in charge of us planned the trip
and / suppose we shall have all kinds
of fun. The steam launch from the
transport will pull us over in one Of
the life boats and will come after us
when we get ready to come home.
We are all anxious to go hunting here
as there is plenty of game, but you
know we are American soldiers and
of course are not allowed to carry our
guns ashore on British territory. This
town is something like Beldenville,
only smaller, 80 you can imagine
about how much sport we can have
here. All there is to see is coal docks
and miners cabins and trees; but
there is one thing about it, we can
roam through the woods to our hearts
content and we don't have to dodge
any bullets, either. The last boat to
leave Seattle for Cape Nome is sup
posed to leave on Sept. 10, but if we
get away from there by the 22d we
shall be doing well, So, if you read Of
the "Lawton" being froze In at Cape
Nome don't be at all surprised and
don't look for letter before next
June.
Sept. 17.-Well. we are still here
and will not get away before the 10th.
Had fine time Sunday; went up the
sound 6 miles to a little town and
walked 3 miles into the country to
another little burg, so you see we are
taking in the whole thing. Been fish
ing all day and will do the same to-
morrow. The streams are full of sal
mon trout, but hard to catch. /
caught three this afternoon and had
them for my supper; weighing about
three quarters of pound each. They
look almost like a mountain trout.
Made me think OF home to dig worms
and fish for trout. Weather is beau
tiful, and this trip beats a furlough
all hollow, anly fellow can't get
home. It's the trip of a lifetime and
am well pleased with the country and
climate here. More from Seattle. . =
Seattle, Sept. 22.--Arrived here all
o. K. on the goth. Have all the sup.
plies nearly loaded and will leave In a
couple OF hours. The last day we
were at Union Wharf, B. c., we took
the steam launch and went 10 miles
down the coast to trout stream. We
caught $50 pounds Of trout in 5
hours, and one OF the boys killed a
deer while we were fishing None Of
the trout weighed less than 81 pounds,
and one fine salmon weighed o..
They had run up the stream to spawn
and we caught them off the spawning
beds. I never saw so many trout In
my life. The stream was literally
crowded with them. l wish we could
stop up In that country about a
month when we come back. I guess
we could get all the fishing and hunt
ing we wanted In that time. It looks
now as though we would have to make
two trips to Alaska, as there are over
1000 persons that have taken the
"pauper OATH and are awaiting gov
eminent transportation. 1t takes 9
days OF good weather to go to Nome
from here, so you will not hear from
me again for some time. Will write
from Nome If can get the letter off
on boat that comes ahead Of US.
Seattle is good town for business,
but like Frisco, 1t is too billy to suit
me. I nave got to walk two blocks
from the boat to the postofflce and
it is about straight up. Good bye,
Love to all. Yours,
ROD.
Many persons have had the exper-
fence of Mr.. Peter Sherman. of North