The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-24

from a weather standpoint that have ever spent. Even old-timers' say they have never seen anything like it in Alaska. Though they are always bragging about the fine weather in this country of the far north.
 "St. Miehaels is an interesting little place of about 1000 people, the majority of whom arrive in June and leave October 15 each year. We have quite a settlement here of Eskimos with their funny dogs and sleighs,s Three old forts built by Russia in 1s44 are still standing. At first sight l thought they were dog houses. So you can imagine he size
 "The only mode of overland travel is by reindeer and dog sleighsI Wagons, bug gies and the like, to say nothing Of the automobile will look queer l suspect when l get back to the states.
 This is headquarters for all the steam. ship companies who run their river boats up the Yukon river. They go as far as Dawson, 1890 miles from here. It is in- teresting to stand on the docks and watch the great ocean steamers unload their car goes to see from where 1t all comes and then watch the river steamers load up to see where it's destination will finally be- Practically everything used in Alaska comes from the outside And every state and section is represented with one item or another The south sends her sugar. rice cotton. steel and iron, even far away Tampa chimes in with her cigars. Surely every state should be interested in Alaska In return she sends her pure fish and mineral.
 Our fine summer lasted till noon Sep tember 19, only four bad days up to that time And even then there had not been cool nights enough to suggest winter. But in the afternoon of that day a rapid change took place and before night snow was falling thick. The next morning we looked out on a new world. It has showed nearly every day since, and here it will remain till next summer The long sunny days have long since deserted us and in short while the nights will be as long as the days were last sum- mer But l am enjoying these cold days for the air is dry and bracing. I have not started to wearing an overcoat. but will have to do so in few days for the tenn perature is gradually falling-15 above to- day.
 q spoke of our voyage last summer as the Ohio's last great voyage. I suppose you know that she has since gone to her watery grave off the coast of southeast ern Alaska.
 During the past week we have been able to account for our fine summer LID here, as we have received news of Cook ana 'Peary' blowing about the north poles Well. I am too late to dis cover it first. So, heartbroken, I will re- turn to the states and prepare for my flight to Mars I will leave here Oc- tober 15 on the steamship Umatilla, which Is due to leave Seattle tonight. Each steamer leaving here now Is crowded. While there is a steamer due to sail this week, and many of our men will go out on 1t, I can't get away till the last steam er And I am afraid I will have a. rough time of 1t. All old-timers are pre- dieting rapid changes of weather now to intense cold with a solid freeze-up before the 18th. In that case we who are the last to go out (and there are lot of us) will have to go out over the ice till we can reach the steamer in open water So I may be in for another thrilling ex- perience ere write again.