Williams news., 1904-08-27
GOING TO ALASKA
iBY NELLIE ]. DoDGE.l

lBY NELLIE J. DoDGE.I
 The life that most of the men led on the trail while crossing Valdes glacier, going over into the interior of Alaska, seemed to change their very beings and make them irrita- ble and cross with themselves. This was especially so as the days grew longer and the sun began to soften the snow. for the men knew all chance of getting their outfits off the glacier was gone if the crevasses opened up, so it meant nothing but feii until they were over on dry land.
 Many days were lost by the men having trouble with their eyes; it was called snow blindness, but it seemed a question just what the trouble really was. for those who worked only at night, when there was no sun shining, suffered just as se verely as those who worked in the day time. It made no difference what kind of protection was used for the eyes, sooner or later all fell victims to that torture.
 Nearly every man had differ ent covering for rlhis eyes, each hop ing that he might find a safeguard There were blue and green glasses, and goggles of all colors, colored 'niea a4.d smoked glasses, and some wore /wooden tubes, but all failed in the end. Many could not use the covering over the eyes at all. as it heated them too much. In ad- dition to the glasses covering over the hat was used, such as a blue, green or red handkerchief or veil. A large black silk handkerchief was the best covering found. For nine days laid in our tent blind and suffering intensely all the time until I feared 1 would lose my mind; eating or sleeping was out of the arestion. Five miles further up on the glacier a doctor was camped, so my husband walked up there to get some remedy for me. The doctor gave him some medi- cine to drop in the eyes; also half of potato (the only one in camp) to scrape and put on to draw out the inflammation. This soon re- lieved me, but ten miles was quite walk for few drops of medicine and half potato.
 Snow slides were another source of worry, for we never felt quite sure when we were safe. Sometimes the snow would come down the steep mountain sides and push snow that lay on level for half a mile, covering tents and caches and in two instances we know of burying men and animals. This may seem impossible, but it is a fact. Some of the men who were caught in their sleeping bags were dead when found by their compan- ions. A dog was found alive after being buried forty-eight hours un- der fifteen feet of snow. Many of the men lost their money as well as their outfits. After this accident some lost hope, and sick at heart after all their toll, turned their backs on the country and came away. Those who had no money were brought out by the govern ment.
 After getting to the summit of the glacier, going down the other side was almost as hard work as it was going up from this side, for the trail is so steep that the sled can not be held back unless the run ners are bound around with rope or canvass, beside the use of the guide pole; even then if you have on heavy load the sled will push you out of the way and run past. The foot covering is no small prob lem to solve while making an over land trip on foot. It looks easy to go into store and buy variety of footgear. You may have bought everything that seemed of use c,,oh oc Jiob bootS lou hOOtc naO-