The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1902-01-08


The following letter is handed us BY
Mr. W. s. widrig of West Hickory,
written from Alaska by his son. who is
one Of Uncle SANS troops stationed there
at present.:
UNALAKLIK. ALASKA, Oct. "A, 1901.
Dear Fdther.-
will now endeavor TO write you few
lines again to let you know that 1 am
still alive and we'll and hope that you are
all the same. I am still atthe same place
was when wrote last and expect to
stay here until next summer, but it is
hard to tell one day where one will be
the next.
1t is all frozen up here again the last
boat left st. Michael on the 18th of Oc.
tober, so now that leaves us cut off from
the rest of the world again for period of
uine or ten months during which time
the mail will have to go over the over
land route to Skagway, Alaska, the same
as 1t did last winter. 1t will undoubtedly
be long time before you will get this
letter, probably the latter part Of January.
The river Is frozen over solid which
makes nice skating and which we i'm
prove nearly every day. We also cut
holes through the ice and fish for Tom
Cod. They make very nice eating. Day
before yesterday went down and got
hundred and twenty. eight in little over
an hour.
l haven't heard from you or any body
else in long time, but will keep on
writing once wonth any way, and you
will get them some time or other. We
have got dog team here now to be used
for patrolling the line which makes it
much easier, as now we can get on and
ride where we used to have to walk and
carry our gruo and blanket to sleep in,
and take three days to make the trip in,
and now we can make II in day and a
half, a trip OF twenty miles and back, that
is the distance each side of the station we
have togo.
tell you have great time with the
dog team when have them hitched up
keeping them from fighting. They are
native dogs and il is impossible to keep
Them from fighting while thet are
hitched up and wrking. Every time
they get to fighting they get the harness
all tangled up. Some times we have to
unharness them all to get them straight
ened out. One day not long ago they ran.
away from me and it took me nearly an
hour to get them Strengthened out after |
caught them. There is about three inches |
NJ snow here and over foot ifty miles |
north of here. The dog teams and rein
deers are beginning to make their APP
again and things are beginning
o look as though it would be quite lively
his winter. There are several gold
mines about sixty miles northeast of
lere. and coal mine down the line
bout twelve miles south of here, so you
zee we are all surrounded by people and
mines, and winter time is when they do
he most of their work. 1t gels dark
low about four p. NJ. and in little
while it will BE- dark at three. We don't
,et up until after nine o'clock, so we
ant tell what time it does get daylight,
'ut some where about seven o'clock l
hink.
Well, l have ten months to serve yet
nd then will be through patrolling
elegraph lines, although had rather be
loiGg that than he back in st. Michael
With the company. as from what l hear
hey are having rather tough time in
here as there is so much crooked work
DING on that the private soldier fares
ather slim. People who go through the
ountry here with dog teams carrying |
nail and freight and stuff are called
think if follow our team
II winter / will be typical "musher''
myself. "Mush" is what you yell at the
ogs when you want to start. 1t is an
indian word. Most everybody here \
'ears, in place of au oyercoat, what is
nown as a Parky, an Indian word.
ome are made of furand others are made
fheavy cloth. l have one made Ofcloth.
he nearest thing could compare them
} would he shirt with a hood on it.
here are no buttons on them and they
ang loose around the body, with the a
ord on the head or down the back, ac-
ording to the weather. They are only
sed TO break the wind and are nice and q
ght to ''mush" in. c
Writing paper and stamps are both get
ng rather scarce up here, don't know
hat l will do before spring, guess I'll 9
ave to stop writing il can't get chance a
send to 1T. Michel to get some. 1 can
1t along without the paper for can use U
le kind Pm using now, but the stamps
will have to have. III were in your
lace / wouldn't write after the first of
ext May, as letter written after that =,
ate would not get here until after ;,
ould leave here for the States.
Well as it is most twelve o'clock 1
i'll bring my letter to an end. With my I
'st regards to all and hoping to hear A
ON you soon, remain affectionate t
N, SANFORD b. WIDRIa @
Co. |. 9TH Infantry,
st. Michael, Alaska.
Eraat Storias hv Hroof aufl,ors II