The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-31
ALASKAN WONDERS
E. SPAETH AND w. T. JOHN
SON MADE TOUR.
Met Judge Scott, of Paterson, and the
Three Jerseymen Returned
Greatly Gratifed.

alaska is a wonderful land OF ice and
snow and forests of bright green trees at
the base of enormous glaciers. and on the
voyage from Seattle to Sitka. far north in
the new gold country. the steamer passed
through miles Of floating ,ce. between
many islands, and we saw snow-capped
mountains from 1000 to over 10000 feet
high said Edward Spaeth, PRESIDENT Of
the Security Savings Bank, to an EVEN
ING STAR reporter.
"A visit to Alaska is a greater treat,
in my opinion, than a trip to Europe. for
in Alaska and on the voyage to that land
of the Midnight Sun from Seattle one sees
Nature IN all her frozen grandeur. We
sailed from Seattle on the steamer Spo-
kane. Captain James Carroll, and after
passing through miles of floating ice we
went within 800 feet of the great Muir
glacier, which rises from twenty-five to
sixty feet above the water in Glacier Bay,
which is 400 feet deep and several miles
wide. 1t was the first time since the
earthquake. nine years ago. that a steamer
got so near the glacier because of the ice
in the BAY. We did not land. for Captain
Carroll was afraid great masses of float
ing ice might hem us in. We saw another
big glacier. named for Captain Carroll"
Mr.. Spaeth and Walter II. Johnson, presi-
dent Of the Johnson-Mandeville Company,
started from Newark on July 10 and after
a visit to the Yellowstone Park sailed from
Seattle on July 26 and made the round trip
on water to Sitka and return. They travel
ed 10000 miles In all. On the steamer
Spokane they met Judge Francis Scott, of
Paterson, and the three Jerseymen kept
together. There were about $50 passengers
on the steamer. Because of the courtesy
of Captain Carroll, the passengers pre-
scented him with a solid silver set on the
return Of the steamer to Seattle after the
two weeks trip.
Mr.. Spaeth brought home many photo
graphic views Of Alaska and life in the
settlements there. and also OF the Indians
at Sltka and other places in the far north.
He Is enthusiastic about the great snow
and ice-clad mountains which rise thou
sands of feet cloudward, while green trees
are seen at their base.
Because of the clear, atmosphere we
from the East were deceived In estimating
the size of objects seen from the steamer.
One day we were enjoying a view of
Mount ~Fairweather, which is over Is, 1000
feet high. Some estimated that it was five
miles distant and others guessed it was ten
miles, and were were amazed when the
captain said 1t was more than 100 miles.
When we were passing Davidson
glacier | remarked that l would like to
go ashore and walk through a grove l
saw at the base of the glacier.
AN officer Of the steamer asked how
long | thought it would take to walk
through what / called a little grove. L
said less than five minutes. He then told
me that what | called a little grove was
over a mile and a half deep from the shore
of the bay
uHry. $50 80 tGf-.-... - "
ride on the White Pass and Yukon Rail-
road to a mountain summit twenty miles
from the town. The view from the sum
init was grand.
ION the voyage we passed through inlets
and narrows and passages among 10000
pine-clad islands, more or less, and front
shores lined with towering snow-capped
mountains. When we landed at a town or
settlement we saw gold mines, Indians, big
fish and the Indian totem poles, some Of
them fifty feet tall, made of trunks of
trees and erected in honor of dead In
dams. Many Of these poles are nicely
carved, with a figure of the dead Indian
near the base and an animal at the top.
We saw most of the totem poles near
Sltka, the capital of Alaska, in front of
the Indian hats and cabins.
Mr.. Spaeth said that every Indian
village has totem poles. Ihe indian pot
LASH is an odd feature of life among the
people. The man who holds a potash"
makes gifts to his relatives of furs and
other articles, and there is f~easting and
dancing. A feature in Sitka is the Greek
Church. with its quaint architecture and a
$25, 900 painting OF the Madonna and child,
with a $1,000 frame OF beaten gold. sent to
Alaska by the RUSSIANS "A century ago.
Mi. Spaeth said that everything in
Alaska is colossal-the rivers, the noun
tains, the bays. the glaciers and the fields
of floating ice.
The sun In summer sets from 10 o'clock
TO midnight, and rises at 2 or 3 O'Clock in
the morning. After sunset and before sun
rise there is a long twilight, and one can
read ordinary print in the clear twilight.
Night is so brief and day so long that If a
person could do without sleep the wild and
grand scenery could be viewed all the
time.
Russian log buildings, the old Indian
towns and Indian River Park are features
of Sltka. and at Treadwell gold mines 1000
stamps work day and night. These are
the largest gold mines and quartz crushers
in the world. Juneau is the centre OF gold
fields and mines.