The Raymer enterprise., 1915-06-17

when epidemic of smallpox broke out among
the Indians at Rampant House we gathered
in all the Indians said MIR Riggs. forced yacci.
nation them isolated the diseased and issued
supplies to the whole tribe OF about two hundred.
Ninety-two OF the natives developed the fever. II
was an anxious time.
We put all OF the injected Indians on an
island In the Porcupine and took away their
boats so they could not get away daily in
speetion was made used to carry a sack OF
cheap candy to brbe the kids to be inspected.
After while they thought il great fun. Re
turning from among the infected Indians we
would get into an alright tent. stick our heads
out of an opening. while the whole interior was
filled with the fumes OF formaldehyde."
During that expedition. sent out by the United
States government under the auspices Of the
United States coast and geodetc survey. one OF
the best surveyors was stricken with pneumonia
The country was well nigh barren. and the only
natural fuel, and that soanty, was in the form
of scrub willows The sick man was virtually
bound up in his sleeping bag, and for three weeks
was unable. by himself. to get out OF his extern
porized bed According to Mr.. Riggs. We gave
him everything We had in the way OF medicine
and still he recovered"
Herolsm and the tragic are apt to 60 hand in
hand In thus survey work. and yet the public
knows next to nothing about the dangers faced
by its servants In that faraway region. Let us
cite single instance that occurred to one of Mr.
Riggs details
1t seems a small party Of his associates landed
on an island in the Alaska river and had the mis-
fortune to have their canoe swept away by a
sudden rise of water Binding few sticks OF
driftwood together to form a makeshift raft one
of the men managed to work his way through the
icy torrent to the neighboring mainland. After
three days OF wandering over PERCEPTIONS noun
tains and slippery glaciers he finally managed to
crawl to one Of the triangular stations or marks.
He had just strength enough to push the signal
out OF plumb and then tainted away
Happily the chief Of the local party. some dis
tance away, while pausing for the clouds to pass
by chance turned his telescope toward the de-
ranged signal. and finding 1t out OF line dis
patched some Of his people in a canoe to restore
1t. In this manner the exhausted man was dis
covered and a rescue party hastened away to
the aid of his fellows on the island. For that
heroism in the line of duty the man that breasted
that frigid stream became physical and mental
wreck
The governments railway will open up very
rich country. According to experts the wealth
that has already been shipped out OF the region
Is but the verest scratchings from the surface
OF this vast treasure house OF nature But the
road In It's building will have to overcome many
difhculties. The courage. grit and good red blood
that has been drawn upon In running the sur
vey are ample evidence OF the character of the
obstacles that must be battled with In laying the
ties running the rails and springing bridges a,
the line advances.
Even so we shall have the route in time. and
the achievement will add one more record b
the abounding capacity Of our people