The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-09-12
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discover scenes made familiar to you
through a study of Dante's Inferno,
and you are not surprised when you
reach the ninth circle and find your
dear friend with the forked tail wait
ing to extend you a warm welcome.
ALASKA-kLONDYKE
Alter escaping from this torrid
climate, a strong desire possessed me
to travel north, so | crossed over to
the other street, and secured admis-
sion to an odd-loOking building,
with ancient Indian gods done in re-
lief about the entrance. Further
than this, there was a sign over the
door informing the passer-by that
this structure housed reproduction
of the Alaska -Klondyke. | was first
ushered into a little theatre where |
listened to a rather instructive Illus
trated lecture on the klondyke coun-
try and really the pictures of the
frozen north were most refreshing.
Following the lecture, everybody
went out in an open space to see a
placer mine in operation. The min
ners were very busy sitting real gold
at least | was told that $4,000
worth of the genuine article was used
in this performance so true to life
and to me it looked much like the
real thing. However, | prefer not to
place myself on record as vouching
for it's genuineness, for my personal
experience with the precious metal
is rather limited.
Most OF the lOOkrs-On seemed to be
strongly attracted by a goodly num-
Der of Alaskan wolves and dogs
sturdy, shaggy and uncouth animals
dragging about the same snow sled
that they have hauled so many
thousands of miles Indeed, all the
way from Nome to the Jamestown
Exposition. Now, OF course, that
doesn't sound just right-hauling
SNOW sled through Virginia, but
nevertheless the statement stands.
You see when the snow gave out,
away out West somewhere, Eli
Smith, the eccentric driver, and
owner of the team, put wheels on the
sled and thereby transformed it into
a buggy, and continued to ride be-
bind his own thoroughbred team.
DEEP SEA DIVERS.
On leaving the Klondyke, | was at
tracted by building, the front Of
which was made to represent ship
with all sails set. Here | found an
exhibition of deep sea diving-that
mysterious and hazardous occupa-
ton.
| The exhibition was conducted by a
man upon whom the title OF the
worlds champion deep sea diver has
been bestowed, Captain Louis Sorcho,
| and his experience OF recovering the
bodies from the wreck of the Maine
in the harbor of Havana justly en-
titles him to that distinction.
Captain Sorcho donned in the pres
ence OF the audience a sweater. d
heavy pair OF wooden trousers, two
pairs of heavy wooden stockings, ex-
tending to the knees, then another
| pair OF short WOODEN trousers, follow
ed by the rubber suit, made all in one
piece. A copper breast plate .ts
then adjusted on his shoulders ID
then came the chatting gear and iron
soled shoes, followed by the snap
tubing that makes the watertight
! joint at the sleeve or cuff OF the dress.
Next came the receivers of the tele-
phone one on each ear, and the belt
of lead weights. The helmet, equip
ped with telephone and connections,
air hose and life lines, was then placed
over his head. The air pumps were
started, the face plate was placed on
the top ofthe helmet, given to signify
all is well, and with plunge and a
splash down he went in tank filled
with water, and made OF glass SO
that his operations under water
could all be plainly observed. This
exhibition affords one an excellent
idea of how treasures are recovered
and foundered ships are raised, and
how the bodies of the dead are
brought forth from watery graves
really an uncanny sight which you
watch with breathless interest.
WILD ANIMAL ARENA.
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