Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-10-31
PETRIFIED SHIPS.
THERE ARE TWOOF THEM IN THAT
WONDERLAND, ALASKA.

One Is Of Enormous Size. Being a Quarter
Mile in Length - Story Told by Indians Is
Corroberated by a White Man The Evil
dence Seems to Convince ". A. Reid. Gen.
sraI Secretary Of the Y. M. c. A. in Alaska
he Will Go on a Trip Of Exploration.
Toledo Blade.
There are petrified ships in Alaska.
Not one ship, but two ships.
At last a white man corroborates
the story told by the Indians. He also
shows plate taken from the larger
vessel.
During the early summer, before the
existence of petrifed ships was known
to the public, prospector, who had
mushed" in from the vicinity of Fort
Yukon, Alaska, called at the Lower
LaBarge.
While there he conversed with sew.
eral officers of the White Pass Com
pany's steamers, with whom he had
dinner. He told them strange story
of ships on the mountain side, and
when he mentioned the size they
laughed. Although he carried heavy
gray plate, Clipped and broken, they
regarded him as one of the many
prospectors who have been rendered
"queer" by hardships.
His stay was brief, and no one
thought of asking his name.
According to Captain Rupert Cox,
the story told was as follows:
"While coming across the country
the Porcupine river he ran into ra-
vine on the mountain side, in which
rose two enormous ships-one much
larger than the other. They were par
TALLY covered with debris, all OF which
indicated q tropical growth. Leaves
resembling a palm were especially
mentioned.
"The small ship is in an upright
position, but the other rests on its side.
In size, they far outclass all modern
vessels, the larger being more than q
quarter of mile in length" He en-
tered it through . hole in its side.
Petrified timbers and plants prevented
thorough investigation. No human
bodies were seen. Seemingly every
thing had turned to solid stone, max.
ing it impossible for him to dislocate
or carry away anything but a dish.
This was originally of wood. He kept
it carefully wrapped, as he said it
crumbled. Nor is this unreasonable,
as he already packed a heavy prospect
or's outfit"
w. A. Reid, General Secretary for
the Y. NJ. G. A. in Alaska and Yukon
Territory, during his recent trip
through the United States, gave the
public the story, as told by the Indi-
ans.
He is now in Dawson, and while dis
cussing the subject he showed much
interest in the prospector's discoveries
He says the Indians are sincere in
their statements, and as they come
from many sources he does not doubt
their truthfulnees.
To him the fact of there being two
ships was important, as he said that
many with whom he talked regarded
the ship as only curiously formed
rock. That it Was hollow and con.
tanned dishes and probably other relics
was most interesting. So strong is his
faith that he will endeavor to reach
the locality as soon as the climate will
warrant the attempt.
The Indians tell story Of q great
food. similar TO that mentioned in the
Bible. They believe that the great
water deposited the ship (they mention
only one) in its present position, so far
inland. They say that everything
about it is of solid stone and according
to gestures it is more than 1900 feet
long. Their traditions say that it has
lain there for thousands OF years.
They took from it a large box, but be.
cause of its wonderful weight they
were unable to carry it away.
Archaeologists would do we'll to in
vestigate the story. Should it prove
less than anticipated they would be
more than rewarded by visit to the
country. The entire Yukon valley is
rich in deposits that tell plainly the
story of past age. Many things in.
dicate a once tropical climate.
Bones and petrified remains of man,
moths and other as yet unclassi6ed
creatures are common in all localities.
Nearly every excavation made brings
to light some specimen. Scarcely q
business place in Dawson but has some
relic. As I write 1 have before me q
fossil weighing eight pounds. 1t is
said to be the petrified tongue OF some
great animal that seemingly, at one
time, roamed in large numbers over
the entire northwest.
According to various reports the
ships lie in the Arctic circle, northeast
of Fort Yukon, about one hundred
miles. They are near creek that
fews into Porcupine river.
The route to them is difficult, owing
to many creeks or rivers that have
their source in the mountains. These
are too cold and deep to swim and
flow too rapid to pole a canoe along