Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-08-30
4sSND

California boom" town. II depends
now chiefly or the railroad traific.
There are several stores. 10 one OF
which we bought a white polar-bear
skin. Here we took the train for
White Pass, which Is now easily reach.
ed But We we're reminded of the
once-dreaded ascent by the sight OF
the old trail. traversed by SO many
aching feet and hopeful hearts. We
are told that at one time 5000 horses
lay dead along the route. while 5000
people camped In the small diagonal
shaped valley and started town. few
signs Of which now remain. At
Killisnoo the entire population Is en-.
gagged in making oil and fertilizer from
herring, to be shipped to Japan.
We sailed from Skagway to Sitka,
the beautiful through Pearl straits.
passing numerous small islands. on
one OF which is situated the govern
ment wireless telegraph station Be
yond is Mt Edgecomb. an extinct vol
cano. Sitka Is the Oldest Russian set
Element In Alaska. and many OF the
old block houses still remain The
Greek church, built some 20 years ago,
is very foreign with It's bright green
steeples and towers. surmounted by a
cross CT gold Fine old paintings.
overlaid with beaten gold and silver.
adorn the walls and silver censers
hang at one side The miter, the vest.
ments snd crowns used In the mar.
riage ceremony are very beautiful.
We were permitted 10 enter a can.
merry at Point Ellis and watch the
canning process. The fish are first
shoveled into a chute from the boat
and thence into the building Here
they are washed. heads and tails cut
or and fms removed. then passed
through a machine which cuts them
into lengths right for canning. After
sailing. the pieces are packed into
cans by machinery and passed along
sliding plate where Indian girls
place piece OF tin on top. 10 prevent
solder getting in. On another sliding
belt girls put on tin covers. which are
forced down by machine. After be-
ing soldered the cans are passed
through hot water and then into
vat, where they are steamed for IS
minutes. Then a hole is punciured
in the top to let the steam out and
again soidered up. after which they
are passed 10 a retort where they are
steamed for an hour The output 81
this cannery is 10000 cases. The work
is mostly done by Indians and Chi.
nese.
The Alaskan Indians bear strIk.
ing resemblance to the japanese race,
their mouths partly open. they have
rather q. stupid look They have some
sense CO humor, however. One WON.
an. unable TO interest me In baskets,
and noticing me smile at her baby.
held the child out 70 me. crying: Two
dollars--him cheap" | talked with
some OF the intelligent Indians and
was told that they never worshiped
the devil or totem poles. but all IN va,
rious ways worshiped the Great
Spirit. who. they believe. abode In the
high mountains and mighty raFines:
also they worshiped the sun and moon.
Among themselves the Indians are
very hospitable The woman liz at
all times and In every respect the
head Of the house. Insanity Is almost
unknown, but these people as rule
find an early grave, chiefly from the
ravsges on consumption The gov
eminent has established schools which
give them many educational facilities.
The teachers take great interest In
marrying the young people under
their care as early az possible, in
order TO protect them from the horde
Of white men who desert their fam
lies In the United Stat nd come to
Alaska--to Alaska wheJe the indian
does his love making af,sl marriage;
in this respect perhaps they are wiser
than we.
What the Indian needs most is gray
matter" ] noticed that at each wharf
they came aboard and bought dollar
boxes OF chocolate creams, bay rum,
perfume, scented soaps and face
creams. all 70 be lost in the overpow-
ering odor fish oil which they drink
IN quantities. and with which they
smear their hair. The older Indians
dig holes in the ground. in which they
place the fish,; after IL has deeayed
the oil rises to the surface. so perhaps
you can imagine the smell arising
from t.