The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-08-20

laughed and said they had ordered
dinner
After dinner we climbed 800 feet
higher where a bridge spans the
stream, just over the falls and we
could look down on the town and sur
rounding mountains. We descended
in 40 minutes, taking different trail.
! In the party of twelve eleven
states were represented, none having
met until we boarded the Santa Clara
My escort was young prospector
from the interior, but he had the pol
ished manners of the fashionable
drawing room.
We left the pier at $3.50 p. m. feel
/ ing that the day at Skagway had been
one of the most pleasant Of the jour
ney, altho it was with regret that we
left eighteen of our number waving
us goodbye from the wharf, hav-
| ing come to Alaska to seek their fort
unes.
At O'Clock Monday evening we
landed at the quaint old town of
Sitka, three torpedo boats and Jap
enese vessel were lying in harbor.
The vessel had been siezed with its
crew, who had been securing furs il
legally. The crew was taken on to
Valdez where they are now in Jail.
The harbor is beautifully enclosed
with wooded hills and dotted with
lovely islands. We were met by what
they called tallyhoes, but in reality
was only three old spring wagons,
each having three seats. To one was
hitched an old mule, judging from his
appearance, might have been one Of
Noah's pets. The other two were
drawn by decrepit old horses. A
few of the older passengers awaited
themselves Of these conveyances but
most Of us walked.
i There is a very picturesque walk
leading through the pine grove down
by the sea to the Indian river park.
/ 1t is called Lovers Lane, but + think
should be called Totem Ploe avenue,
as these relics of barbarism are scat
tered all along the way at close inter
walls. The walk ends where Indian
creek is spanned by suspension
bridge.
The Museum and st. Michael's
Cathedral were closed but we went
and got the janitor at the Museum to
/, let us in. All kind of Indian and
Eskimo relics are preserved here. 1t
is wonderful the ingenuity that these
people possessed An old organ
, brought here in 1926 is still in an ex-
cellent state Of preservation. The
mate from the Santa Clara worked
/, the bellows, the matron from the
mission school played and we all sang
America.
In the meantime the Captain had
gone to the keepers of st. Michael's
and persuaded him to open the
church for us altho it was an unusual
thing to do. We each paid so cents
and went in. It is large building
with right wing, the front is beauti-
fully decorated with sacred pictures
overlaid with silver and gold. The
faces, feet and hands are painted.
Over the large double doors is the
last supper and the doors are deco
rated with pictures of the disciples.
In the center part of the room is
a diaz for the bishop over this is the
place where the choir of twelve boys
stand. In front of the diaz the floor
Is polished back of 1t is linoleum.
The congregation stand, PROSTATE
themselves or kneel during service,
there being no seats except for visi-
tors. The head dress Of the first bish-
op Is being preserved under a globe
of glass. We were shown the crowns
the bride and grooms wear during the
marriage ceremony. On Easter the
Bishop wears robe embroidered
in silver thread, on Christmas one
embroidered in gold l judged from
lifting it. 1t weighed about Is pounds.
In the right wing Of the building
are pictures, one of the overlaid ones
Of the Madonna and child is perfectly
beautiful, we were told they had re-
fused $4,000 for this. It has been in
the church IS years.
Most of the members are natives
and they are very much afraid some
thing will happen to their valuable
property, If there is fire % miles
away either day or night they all
turn out to protect the church.
The Russian who showed us
through was called George Castyour-
mittenoff Cast-your-mitten- off.
We have some curio fiends on
l. - a M n 1H 4.