Iditarod pioneer., 1915-10-09
MANY LEAVE ON
 LAST BOAT

Sailing away in the darkness of the Oc- tober night in B wild rush to catch the last outgoing steamer from St. Michael to the ] farewell cheers of the big crowd ot friends gathered at the dock to see the start of the somewhat hazardous voyage, the little gas launch Tramp, with about twenty y-hve pas sengers on board, left lditarod at midnight on Wednesday last. She was m aomma!:d of Ray Henderson. Frank Larson and Paul Christen accompanied the vessel to St. Michael and will attempt to bring her back to iditarod prior to the freeze-up winch is regarded as rather a risky venture
 The messengers consisted mostly of oper- ators and miners who had utilized every possible moment III working claims prior to inc departure of the last boat, and who are on their way Outside for the winter Some few of the passengers will stop at Marsh ali City.
 It has been Henderson's custom to make ,lp a party each year bound for the Outside who desire to stay to the last moment prlor to the freeze-up. Al this season of the year there Is certain element ot risk Tn the trip. owing 10 the fact that severe weather may be expected at any tune. Last year Henderson left on the same date and had 10 cut through ice at the mouth of the Yukon, but the voyage was without mlshap, and the party arrived in plenty of time to make Outside connections. There has been no Be were weather this fall so far, and the indl cations are that no bad weather will be en countered on the trip.
 The launch had been fitted with canvas house, with hunks for about twenty-five per sons, It was equipped with heating faclll- ties and even should the weather be ordl- nari!y severe the passengers would be falriy comfortable Among the passengers were two ladies, Mrs Charles EStmere and Mrs Jerry Ford, William Deterlng who was SC yereiy injured on Otter creek last Monday, was taken out on the vessel.
 The sailing of the Hast boat of the sea son. was quite an event. Many persons from the creeks came ID to see the de parture and the streets and resorts pre- sented lively appearance. Apparently no one went to bed until after the departure of the Tramp, and there was a good sized crowd on the dock to see the departure Housing cheers and God bless you's' were exchanged between those departing for the Outside and those destined to remain ln the lce-bound Interior during the long winter months.
 There is always q certain amount of sen tlment connected with the deperture of the Hast boat" Friends who have been lntl- mately associated in work and business are separated, and ln some cases Il IS realized that the intimate relations never may be renewed. Persons going Outside expecting to come back in the spring find ther plans changed by unforeseen circumstances, and altogether there is an air Of sadness con nected with the event Indeed, so depress ing IS the event with some sensitive persons that they cannot indulge in the sight of the departlng boat and keep closely to their abodes. The fact that the last connecting link with the Outside world has been broken and that a semi Arctic winter must be looked forward to, with no means of egress except the long and arduous trah to the coast has depressing effect on many and especially those who are comparatively new corners to Interior Alaska. To the old timer the occasion Is the sigma! for little celebration Toasts are drunk 10 the de parting ones, and good wishes are expressed in true Alaska style The admonltlon to drop us line" is frequently heard Tn many cases to be lightly regarded, and ln others, especially those Of the old sour doughs who have spent maay winters in the North and realize the pleasure conveyed | by letter from a friend Outside, to be gladly compiled with.
 On the day following the departure of l the Hast boat" those remaining look around and take stock of their neighbors, noting those who are missing and laying plans for 1 the winters work or play, Each resident seems to have acquired more elastic step and more pleasing expression of coun- tenance, and altogether they seem to realize ! that there are far worse places in which to spend a winter than in an Alaska town, with familiar faces and sights to be met every day and cheery smile and kindly word to be given and received. Soon those who remain will assume a rather sym pathetic attitude when referring to the ab- sent ones, and will speculate on the length of time it will require for them to wish
 themselves back again. And they generally come back