Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-08-27
Mrs. R. W. Thrills Description of a
Trip to Alaska.

ScoGGiCs SuAooys Au6Nos ~ AvoS'
The evening of the date above men
Toned found us at o'clock p. M. j, at the o.
Ter ready to sail on the City of Seattle .,
Or Alaska. !.
After some preliminaries we were al i,
owed to board the ship. 1t seemed I
Ike toy when compared with the =
cean steamers, but all looked clean and
comfortable and when order was re- ,
tored from the addition of many new
passengers with varied packs and
bundles the situation looked quite
The waters of the sound are calm and
With hurried orders, and deafening
whistles, the ship loosened her moorings
and the journey began over the dimp-
ling water under the dark heaven with
Its old moon and lesser orbs.
The great city by the sound now
partially hushed from its daily rush and
care, looked toward us with its thou
sand electric eyes and without emotion
witnessed our commitment to the
mercy of the elements and the clemency |
Of the officers of this ark, "The City of |
cattle"
Thus at the close of day begins this
perhaps eventful journey, and thus
also we put out the light and turn away
to sleep, to dream of green hills and
frosted mountains, blue skies and
glistening glaciers.
The morning of August 4 finds us at
Vancouver, B. C..and we 60 ashore to
see II the town has any new interests.
We find large city with good business
blocks, comfortable and luxurious
homes, and few foreign marks, save an
occasional sign on business house.
A drive through the city and suburbs
gave us ideas of the general style of the
average home and their ideas Of lawns
and grounds, many here are patterns of
order and beauty, but some way it
seems 80 far away; yes, from our own
home. but near and dear to those whose
lot is to dwell therein. Oh the light of
home is q glamour that Eliminates the
world.
As the afternoon wore on, our way
seemed bounded by mountains. In the
distance they were like q blue haze,
others were nearer and reached the
waters. AS the day waned, they were
outlined against the sky, and what
shapes they assumed, peaks, pinnaclet
and gilded domes, polished pyramids
and profiles, not works of art but thost
of nature, but darkness comes too soo1
and hides them with its mantle, snt
the stars come again and take their OLE
places, and look down on the restless
waters, the same as when they addet
light to that first Eden with its lionel,
Adam. How the scene has changed TO
Adam of today is not content witt
what gardens furnish, but is looking t.
the ends of the earth for new fields t,
garner.
Tuesday, August S.
The temperature is somewhat lower
but the morning is pleasant and thu
sky cloudless. Our first view showed
low hills near, covered with pines, ant
further away are mountains with scan
verdure among It's ledgy sides. HOY
nature piled high her rocks in this col
ner of the globe as she finished it Of
and then king frost retouched its tol
most height, silvering it with wan
that tells from afar of his visit.
The water seems one mass of liqui
green in swaying motion, and writes 1t
name in feathery foam and losses
from wave to wave, to nothingness
Towards noon we passed small vii
lage where the people live by hunting
and fishing. The sight of q dwellin
assures us that we are yet in the worl6
although for the time being we seen
out of sight and hearing of it; yes, her
is true solitude, miles of it; here one cal
commune with nature and not mucl
else.
We see some traces of forest fires, ye
there appears to be timber enough i
sight to furnish fuel and lumber fo
the west for q century.
ter's edge, and away through gaps an
clefts we have views of distant noun
tains. How chilly they look, so covere'
with snow. One looks like might.
fortress and gray cloud, just over l
appears like smoke from hidden fires
One passenger On not call names
exclaimed with chattering teeth ant
looks of indigo and lowering brow
"I'll get enough of this next winter, VIII
need / freeze just now? I'll HE
dining room or kitchen range and thrus
aside the cook and walters, and THAI
my chilling limbs and dream of sum
mer in the valley of the Mississippi
Good bye to western waters and chill
ing mountains, snow and arctic breezel
welcome sweet thoughts of summer
copgenial climes."
Towards noon new scenes appeare,
in place of q few snow capped moul
tains, miles of them appear, and Q
several what seems like snow are gil
ciers, and these though seeming net
are 2Omiles away. Oh! what an ARA
ofwinter sights in summer time. II
glad they are no more, for they send l
chilling winds, slight foretaste {
January weather.
This afternoon we were on Quee
Charlotte Sounds calm waters. at
o'clock we nearing the open sea an
later the waters were little rough an
some of the passengers were sick. a
r this time We pass small ielands wit
rock bound shores and always moul
tains are in the distance. Clouds al
above, long lines of them, some gra
and others like silver. Those islanc
make q fine picture in the midst of tt
dark waters that now seem disturbe
and wave after wave seem to follow or