The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-09-29
Returned From Alaska.

ASIuFUSu FTOm nIdSkds
One evening last week there was knock on
the door of the modest home of Mrs. Ella Mace,
near town. Mrs. Mace answered the call herself
and saw gentleman with grip and umbrella in
his hand standing on the stoop.
.sCan secure accommodations for the night?
"Sorry, SIR" answered Mrs. Mace, "but the
house is flled.'
THANK you, Miss" said the stranger and
departed. He walked into town and engaged
quarters for the night at the Maryland House,
Next morning he journeyed back to Mrs. Mace's
and again raped on the door. Mrs. Mace again
answered the CALL
'Pm the gentleman who wanted accommoda-
lions last night Do you know me?"
| mo, can't say that do :"
swell, I'm your brother Ellwood." And then
there was happy meeting.
Ellwood Riley who is well known in this sec.
ton, and who was working for James NJ. Tosh
four years ago, packed his grip and departed
| from thence to new fields of labor. He went to
Pittsburgh and from there west. visiting every
| city of any prominence from Maryland to Cali
fornia. He and six others made trip across
Death Valley, 100 miles wide and 800 feet below
the sea level; where in the summer birds that
attempt to cross. die in the air from the heat.
Bleached white, in the hot sand lay thousands of
bones of both man and beast, that persisted from
the terrible heat. The only living creatures
noticed were few reptiles and horned tOads
They passed the Dead Mans Well, a sup from
which means certain death. He crossed noun
tains alone, following the trail. strewn with the
bones of those who attempted to cross before him.
He travelled on trains that traversed the
mountain sides, that two feet beyond the ties
were pits OF space thousands of feet deep; grades
that trains drawn by three engines would go no
faster than a walk; taking day and a night to
cross them.
But last spring he went to Dawson City, Alaska,
to dig gold Below we give some extracts of
most pleasant interview.
Dawson City is 600 miles, by the Yukon River,
from Seattle Washington. The total expenses of
through round-trip from Philadelphia are about
$500. Siberia is directly across the Strait from
Dawson City. The temperature isabout 400 below
zero, but on account Of the dry atmosphere one
does not feel it as much as when it is 100 below
here. Mr.. Riley has become so accustomed to the
climate there that he has felt the heat consider.
abysince:his return east For months In the
year the sun shines all day. sets at II p. m. and
rises at a. m. Then there are three months OF
winter when the sun never shines. The Yukon
freezes over and Dawson City is entirely shut off
from the world, except by telegraph. There is
absolutely no navigation whatever, the only way
of travelling being by the overland TRAIL over the
bodies of hundreds who have persisted in the seek
ing of gold. The cry of Alaska is money, money,
money This trail is most dangerous and few
ever take it. There are no Sundays all days being
alike. Alaska is about now to enter the winter
season. The ground then is frozen solid to q
depth of one hundred feet. In summer it thaws
to depth of two feet below the surface. The
ground is sandy and in digging for gold they dig
pretty much as you would for shells on a beach.
hollow shaft or pile is driven into the ground
and in this is forced steam which soon melts the
snow and ice. That is the beginning of q shaft.
In winter the gold is thrown into piles on the
ground and left there until the good weather
comes when it is washed. Then it is taken to the
National Bank in Dawson, weighed and assayed
and exchanged for gold coin in American money.
One mine in which sixteen men are working at an
average pay of 81 day each has an output OF
$4,000 worth of gold weekly. Twenty-Five cents
is the smallest piece of money in circulation.
There are no towns. all Cities if only hundred
inhabitants. When gold is discovered they call
it an Excitement" and when there is one, the
people just flock from the ''cities" and leave
everything Denluu, drinking wafer IL melteQ
snow from the mountains There is plenty Of
work for those that will. The travelling is done
by means of sleds and huskies perhaps that's
where Ellwood got his husky voice), large and
muscular dogs, really native wolves.
If the Indians or Esquimeaux find claim gold
mine) they will not work it. but sell 1t. The
Government gets 81 year rent for every claim.
The soil is light. Along the waters edge trees
grow, in the sand washed down from the mountain
side, but they soon fall over. few cabbages are
raised blue berries OF exceedingly large size and
raspberries of immense size. Mr.. Riley brought
some with him preserved in alcohol.
He has crossed the bridge between the snow
covered mountains, 800 feet above water. and
passed through the White Horse Rapids. He has
only met with one slight accident during his
travels and has never carried firearms.
For the past week he has been visiting the fam.
lily Of Mr.. James NJ. Tosh. Mr.. Riley will be given
hearty welcome by his relatives and friends be-
fore his return to Dawson City. A. P.