Evening journal., 1900-07-26
LIKE MESSAGE
FROM THE DEAD
After Ten Years. Absence Man
Writes From Alaska
AFTER FORTUNE IN GOLD FIELDS
Message Came to Elmer Persons
Father, Whose Death Long Lost
Son Knew Not OF
AFTER FORTUNE IN GOLD FIELDS

Like a message from the dead comes
a letter from Elmer PiersOn, a brother
of Courtland e. Pierson, insurance
agent at No. 91S Market street, to his
relatives here yesterday. The message
comes from the far, distant city OF
Nome, Alaska, where, for several
months, after unaccounted for for
years, the long lost brother has been
hunting for a fortunte in the famous
gold fields
While the letter brings joy to the
hearts of the Pierson family here, it
tinges with pathos, having been ad-
dressed by the boy far from home to
his father, John L. Pierson. who. un-
known to the son, died on June 20,
1899 So the letter was received by c..
E. Pierson. who promptly took it to
his aged mother, whose delight at hear
ing from the boy she doubtless never
expected to meet again, brought tears
to her eyes.
The letter bears date Of Cape Nome,
Alaska, June 2S, and that portion of it
which is of public interest is
Il expect you have wondered where
next l would turn up, and l dare say
you will not be in the least surprised
to learn that / am in Alaska, in the
city where the streets are paved with
gold. You have read much about this
city and the crowds that came up here
this Summer, about 5000 people. 1t IS
a great city of tents although new
frame buildings are going up every
day one. two and three-story struc-
lures. Every day go up town / hard
ly know where l am, for there are
many changes ] went TO e restaurant
one day for my dinner. The building
was one story. Two days
afterward it was a two-story building.
One week later it was a three-stOry
building. From the ships in the sea
you can see tents Just as far north and
south as one can see. and that is from
ten to twenty miles.
This is going to be a great gold
producing country, but / am afraid
Nome City will be a city for a few
years only, because there is no harb0r
here. But about sixty miles, either
north or south. are bodies of water
one Calvin bay the other Port Clar-
eDce, which offer good harbors for
snips. So. l believe, one or botn places
will become hig cities. All passengers
and freight have to be landed by light
ers. Ships do not get in any closer
tina ma mile. 1t is a beautiful sight 10
see from forty to fifty steamships and
dozens of sailing craft and otter boats
in front CT the city, which give it the
appearance of a New YORK harbOr
There are hundreds of people who came
up here only a few weeks ago going
home again disgusted, claiming there is
no gold here. But those people never
stuck a shovel in the ground.
This is no place for peo 'le who can
not undergo some hardships Some
people expect to pick up gold without
any work The gold is here. but il
takes work, and plenty of It, 20 get il
out, of course The beach has been
worked over and over again. l would
not advise anyone to come here. fol
there are thousands here who can't tint
employment of any kind, and wages ar'
coming down. Carpenters formerly goI
S1.50 an hour; other workmen 81 al
hour, and as it is daylight full twenty
four hours, they can work just as Ions
as they wish But wages are being Gu
down TO 81 and seventy-five cents al
hour. Men working for mining com
panies get only S. a day and board
and work only half the time on accoun
of the frozen ground. We have haC
fair weather for about two weeks, bu
it will soon commence to rain, and /
viii rain almost every day, / suppose
There has been many men kllles
since | have been here. -Four mel
were quarreling over a loaf of breal
day before yesterday. Two of them go
the bread; the other two will b.
buried tomorrow"