Douglas Island news., 1901-12-11

wealthy resident of Boston, Mass, has returned to Seattle. With face tanned by exposure and surrounded by tro- phies of the chase, Mir. Blake explained that the trip in every way had been complete success. He was more than satisfied with the great variety of game abound1ng in the practically unknown countries he penetrated, accompanied by white and native guides. In March MT. Blake and J. H. Kidder, also of Boston. left for Kadiak Island on a hunting trip. In October Mir. Kidder returned to Seattle and is now at his home in the East. Mir. Blake, however, remained behind to secure additional specimens which he wanted to com plete his collection. Being.at last suc- cessful, and winter coming on, he re- turned. The party shot many fine specimens of bear, moose, mountain sheep, etc. The skins, which were in good condition, were preserved and brought back. They will be stuffed and mounted by expert taxidermists in the East and many will be placed in the Boston museum. A few selected spec imens will be retained to decorate the homes of the hunters. Immured for months in the vast wilderness of the Kadiak Island and Kenia Peninsula country, the hunters met with many mishaps, none of a very serious nature, however, and had very enjoyable time. Game was abundant and of ev- cry description and the chase often led the hunters into regions of unequaled grandeur of scenery. The nimble- footed mountain sheep were only to be found in the most inaccessible and precipitous fastnesses and seemed to take delight in rounding out days pursuit by vanishing among the crags and chasms of the Rockies. In the foothills of the mountains, where the bear were most plentiful, the hunters had several encounters with the beasts. Once, following a bear into ravine which ended abruptly at the face of a cliff, the hunted animal turned on his pursuers and before being killed came near bringing Mir. Kidder down. The animals sudden turn was not expected. The silence of the woods was broken by terrible growl. The bear launched himself at the unsuspecting hunter. He had almost reached the man when a bullet from Mir. Blake's gun ended his career. Outside of the pleasure of their hunting adventures the two men penetrated portions of the country which never before had been visited by white men. Even the guides were at a loss sometimes. In general char acteristics the districts were found to be not much different from the better known country.
 Six of the new sleighs to be used by the White Pass S Yukon Royal Mail service between White Horse and Daw- son arrived this week, says the Star. They were built under the personal su- perintendence of Supt. Geo. E. Pullman and are models of beauty and comfort. Each sleigh has seating capacity for nine passengers and Q driver, and the seats are all upholstered with corduroy and leather. The sleighs just received are numbered consecutively from one to six, and are the first consignment of the order placed by Supt. Pullman. The words, "Royal Mail Service" appear above the numbers on each sleigh i'm mediately under the drivers seat. In a painted panel on each side of the box of the sleigh are the words, "White Pass & Yukon Route" In front of the dri ver's seat there is leather boot for the reception of mail matter and on the rear another and larger one in which to store baggage. The sleighs are large and roomy and passengers will suffer none of the discomforts of being crowded on the long, and at best, tedi- ous trip.
 This year they have one hydraulic plant and a large force of men at work in the Chesna district, says a Valdez correspondent of the Skagway Alaskan. On discovery claim they have got over s3.5o to the yard. Their best claims at the head of the river, however, have been tied up in litigation and were not worked. Had they been able to work them it is believed by many miners in the district that they would have taken out as much as the entire district pro-