Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-09
AROUND THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
Observations Of an Omaha Man in
Northern Alaska.
JOURNEY TO THE GREAT YUKON RIVER
characteristics of the Country, the
Natives ana Settlers, Indus
tries and Climate aud
Its Possibilities.

RAMPANT CITY. Alaska, Jan. 1s.-ro
the Editor Of The Bee: / am sure some of
our Omaha citizens would wish to hear the
true facts concerning this country Of the
Midnight Sun. 1 left Omaha on the 18th
OF July. 1901. arrived In Seattle after four
days ride. After l had rested a few DAYS
there I boarded the steamship Roanoke on
the 9th Of August, was well provided with
pabin passage and we'll treated during the
whole voyage. After eight days sail on the
Pacific ocean. We called at Dutch Harbor.
or the Aleutian islands. Here we remained
Tor twenty-four hours. therefore l can
say something about these islands.
There are three trading posts there.
One mile westward is Unalaska island,
where stands the famous Greek church,
United States customs ONCE. United States
commissioner's ONCE and a few general
stores, making It the supply station for
Whalers and sealers of the Boring sea. A
grander country I never saw. with It's fer
tile and very rich land. The population.
SIS, are Russian and half-breeds--between
indian and Russian. Trapping. fishing and
bowling give them their mode OF living.
The climate y good. so l am informed.
As we passed into the Boring sea we
sighted many Of the Aleutian islands, viz;
Ehumagin, Unaga, Unimak. The other
islands in the Boring sea are called the
Pribiloff islands. st. Georges and st. Paul's.
The two latter are leased by the United
States to parties who follow the breeding
Of seals. and they are used for this pur-
pose. Still more islands are situated in
the Boring sea, viz: The Nunivac, st.
Mathew and 81. Lawrence.
In Sight of Cape Nome.
Russia is also sighted as we pull into
Cape Nome. 1t is a little rough, and we
cannot lam on account OF the poor harbor.
From here II is said the distance across
the straits TO Russia is thirty-hve miles.
We left Cape Nome to effect q landing at
Be. Michaels. a distance Of 125 miles. and
found a fine landing and right at the mouth
OF the Yukon river. Here is where all
trading posts on the Yukon have their
headquarters, and Uncle Sam has estab-
lished a military post, with General Randall
In command. Here are to be had the
eurios of the Eskimos; strangely carved
3vories, models OF boats. bows. arrows and
implements OF stone. The Russian infu-
ence Is still represented by a Greek church
and testified to by the Greek crosses over
the graves on the Tundra. / have visited
the different graveyards of both Eskimos
and Indians. They die standing up and
are buried on top of the ground with a
platform-like erection. wherein is placed
all the warriors bows. arrows. etc.
1 am now going to board Sarah. a
small steamboat, to 90 up the Yukon
This is not a very wide river, In parts not
wider than the Missouri. OF the several
Indians or mixed breed settlements along
this river. those most notable are PastaiIk.
Kutlik. Andreafska and Auyik. Here the
Episcopalians have a mission or school. The
next Of any note is the Russian mission.
The church In the distance appears to be
nicely decorated. The next, and. indeed
most notable. is the Holy Cross mission.
presided over by the Jesuit order. They
have several buildings as. schools for boys.
while the good sisters have also a large
school Tor girls ! These schools are Az
tended by Indians, and as the settlement
As large they have 175 pupils. Why l say
this is Of the most note is because the farm
7s SO wen cultivated and every vegetable I
remember seeing grows here-cauli1ower.
radishes. cabbage. potatoes. ETC.. all looking
Ane.
The next place Is Tanana, with several
trading posts, also a detachment OF Uncle
Sans force. The Koyukuk river empties
into the Yukon here; also the Tanana river.
eeveraI Indian camps are found along on
tue Dauho. DclWSGn ucEc ouu RhmpnNb tho
country looks well and there Is very heavy
timber through this section. I am now at
Rampant. 1t took me eight days to go up
the Yukon from the time l left st.
Mlchaeis, almost 1000 miles.
Around Rampant City.
Rampant City is situated In a graceful
bend Of the Yukon. which rolls down in q
majestic stream between the mountains. II
is a beautiful location for a city. This town
was once known as Msnook. The Yukon
is the principal gcid-bearing stream and
was worked for two or three years until the
Tanana country has now taken the lead.
1t is just about thirty miles from here and
this district has yet Al immense area to
prospect. We have today, according to
one Of the old miners. seen one OF the rich
est camps In Alaska. and as soon as there
can be machinery and a little capital
brought In We will have one Of the best
gold camps in the world. In some places
. man can pan out 500 per day: that is.
where there Is a good strike. One strike.
1t least, that ! know Of produces this