Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-07-30
WRITES ACCOUNT OF
HIS TRIP TO ALASKA
A. P. Nelson Of Ovid, Who IS Wireless 0per-
ator, Relates Some Of His Experiences on
Voyage to the Far North.

June 1St ana assigned as nrSC oper-
ator on the S. S. Alliance but as she
sailed with less than fifty on board
my partner was taken off and l went
alone. Left Seattle on the evening
of June End with a crew of twenty
four; twenty four passengers; twelve
head of cattle; some poultry and
about six hundred ton of other
freight all for Bering sea points.
Two hours out we ran aground off
Richmond Beach so after getting the
the junk pile that serves as wire
less outfit on this wagon in motion,
exclaimed few messages with Seat
tie for assistance. A tug arrived at
midnight but was unable to aid US
then as the tide was lowering and
we had to wait until next evening
for the next high tide. During the
night as the water lowered, the yes
sci listed greatly and we debated the
question for some time before decid-
ing whether to go to bed or wait un-
til she decided whether she was go
ing to turn over on her side or not
first but finally all tnrned in and
daylight found her resting firmly on
ON the bank.
Our commander, Capt. Tim, was
taken off and Capt. Hartman sent
out to take charge. The latter
proved genial sort Of person but
all were sorry to see the former go,
feeling that he was at least partly
the victim Of circumstances, this be-
ing his second mishap since Novem-
Der.
We were pulled off in the evening
by the powerful tug Goliah and pro-
ceeded to the oil dock, nearby, for
fuel, oil and repairs and next even
ing we tried sailing again but it
seemed that the fates were still
against us for we had hardly been
under way two hours when an en-
gine pipe, which had been badly
strained during the listing, blew out
leaving us without power or lights
drifting down the bay, with the tide
it being to deep to anchor here. AL
gathered on the quarter deck anC
we had the phonograph play all i
knew to help us appreciate our "rid'
by moonlight down the bay.
Got under way again early Jun,
9th and somehow kept moving thi
time. Took the we'll hoofed inne
passage, between Vancouver islam,
and the mainland, northward an,
arrived at Ketchikan, Alaska. o.
the forenoon of June 9th. Got SUP
plies, fuel and made engine repair
here, leaving next morning. Pass
&C Wrangell, at a distance, in tn
afternoon and headed westwar
through Sumner Strait. Foun
rough weather at the entrance S
turned northward again, inside, an
headed for Icy Strait, where we a
rived on the evening of June 10tI
After narrowly missing huge ic'
berg they reduced speed until NOR
ing when we passed out throuQ
Cross Sound and once more four
ourselves on the broad Pacific, SOC
out of sight of those friendly mou
tains and surrounded wholly
fields of blue. Had misty fla
i weather all the way across the Gu
of Alaska but somewhat heavy &c
- Arrived at Kodiak on the foreno,
of June 14th and enjoyed the st
there very much. Went walking
afternoon with our Nj. D. taking
the sights and picking wild roses a
daisies of the good old u. S. kin
Visited the government farm whe
Uncle" is trying to show the !
tives how to raise grain in sand a
stock on sea weed and eyergreel
Saw a fairly nice cement floor, C
barn and small field of oats j
out of the ground, but everythi
else looked rather shabby. Visit
several of the five or six cemeter
found here. Were mostly those
natives with queer crosses over e;
grave but one served as the pea
full slumber chamber Of quite
number Of white men, each be
marked by neat stone. Most W