The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-05-24
A Descriptive Letter of Things Seen in a
Journey to Seattle.


Sunday morning, May 13, at 2.33 for
Cape Nome, Alaska. Wewere accom-
panied by Messrs. Harry West, w. S.
Dunlap, r. S. Browning, Michael
Nathan and Clarence Compton.
We arrived at Chicago in the even
ing at 8 o'clock. Waiting 50 minutes,
we took the C. NJ. & st. P. r. r. to st.
Paul, arriving at the latter place Mon
day at 8 a. IN.
The city was visited by a cyclone
during the night and four of its in
habitants were killed.
After waiting an hour here we were
joined by Senator Ravenscroft, who
had started from his home at Acct
dent, Md.
From st. Paul we took passage on
the Great Northern railway for Seat
tie, Washington.
While passing through Minnesota
we saw hundreds of lakes, whose wat
ers were clear as crystal and said to
be teeming with fish.
After crossing Minnesota we came
to North Dakota, the most beautiful
section of country ever saw, especial
ly that part known as the Red River
Valley.
AS far as the eye could see, until
the earth and sky seemed to meet,
there was but one wide expanse of
land as level as floor.
On Tuesday morning we were in
Montana. Hundreds of Indian "tepesn
(tents) dotted their reservations, and
herding and rearing of ponies and
cattle seemed to be their only occupa-
tion.
AT Malta, Montana, a famous In
dian chief of the Black Hawk tribe
entered the car. He was on his way
to join chiefs of all other tribes who
believe in worshiping the Sun. He
said they were to meet Beyond the
Hill." where the great "Sun Dance
was to take place. The chief who
could endure dancing longest was to
be the greatest worshiper of the Sun.
He carried a A caliber Winchester,
and attracted our attention for the
following wearing apparel: A cape of
fine ermine fur, decorated with pearls;
a robe of bright colors, large perfor-
ated breast-pin of pearl; pearl earrings,
beads, feathers, buck-skin moccasins
and leather bracelets. The largest
chief | ever saw met him at Havre.
Montana, and conducted him to the
place of worship.
On Tuesday evening, just before
sunset, we came to the lofty Rock
les" The scenery here was beautiful
beyond description. Thousands of
cone-shaped mountain peaks, point
ing heavenwards, covered with snow
and rejecting the beautiful rays of
the setting sun, afforded US grand
sight, yet the base of these peaks were
literally covered with flowers of all
kinds.
We crossed two long bridges span
ming deep canyons; one of them1 Sc it.
high and the other 21S it. high.
On Wednesday morning at 7.20 we
struck Idaho. This whole section of
country is covered with red cedar
trees of immense height, some of them
being 200 it. high, and not more than
n foot fIialy
At 11.30 a. IN. we were at Spokane,
Washington.
Crossing large sage plain we came
to the great Cascade Mountain, at
$50 p. IN. Here two more engines
were attached to our train, making
three engines to eight coaches. We
assembled this mountain by way of
switch backs, that is we would go up
for while, then back several miles,
bearing upward into the mountain
all the while, then pulling forward
again and so continue until we reach
ed the summit, thousands of feet high.
We decended the mountain the same
way.
All the high peaks were covered
with snow, and on some peaks the
snow must have been very deep, for
we could only see the tops of many
small trees project above the snow.
On Wednesday at midnight we
reached Seattle, Washington. Here
we were met by Messrs. John Shartzer
and j. w. Ivy.
All are in excellent health and eager
to sail on the Geronne, Sunday morn
ing, May Goth.
You may expect to hear from me
again when we reach Cape Nome.
J. S. GNEGY.