The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-10-18

the break up this spring that illustrat-
es what men have to stack up against
in this forbidding land.
Two prospectors came in, QUILTED
with packs, and started up the Chand-
Ter. About 25 miles out the river
winds like the letter U. 1t is 80 miles
around the bend and rs miles across
the portage, and there is trail. Both
men were young, hardy, and had had
years of roughing it in Alaska. One
Of them he said was Tom Wheeler of
st. Louis. He had forgotten the
others name.
In binding blizzard they missed
the trail that cuts across the big bend
in the river, so they followed the
stream day after day when the young
er Of the boys was taken suddenly i'll
with sickness quite common in win
ter mining camps-terrible pains in
the back and great weakness.
They came to deserted prospect
or's cabin and put up, and the daily
diary found in the spring told the ter
rible story. For days and days
Wheeler stayed with his partner in the
hope that he would recover and they
could go on, and then starvation
stared them in the face, and some
thing must be DONE So it was de-
cided the handful of provisions should
be divided and Wheeler should start
for help.
Fifteen miles ahead three Indian
families lived, and it could have been
reached in day, but whether the man
did not know this, or whether he was
dazed with hunger, will never be
known, for he started back down the
river on the back track.
In the spring the Indians found the
dead body of the sick man and notified
the fort. Men went out and found
the diary left by the dead man. Near
| ly every day for five weeks few lines
were written. Then the time Of sep
aration was recorded. After that there
was only one legible word, starving"
although there were other scrawls on
the page that were unintelligible.
Days later the bones Of Wheeler
were found, picked clean Of flesh by
the bears, about 80 miles down the
river, and undoubtedly he starved to
death.
Such are the tragedies Of the grim
North Land, that has no pity and
plays no favorites.
l went out, stood on knoll and
looked at the great stretch of land to
the north, and ! could not help but
think that gold was Alaska's curse.
While waiting for the sun to set
near midnight, l walked up the river
front to the mission. II was open, but
empty. 1t was a pretty little church,
built of logs and the fixtures were
neat and clean. On stand were two
Bibles, translated into the Siwash dia-
lect. At an Indian cabin nearby was
a young woman and a tot Of Siwash
about four years old. ! stopped and
shook hands with the little Indian,
when his mother went inside and
brought out book which she showed
to me. l took it to be the New Tesla
ment, but as it was in the Indian
types ! could not tell, and ! could not
make out why she was SO anxious for
me 10 see 1t.
Two motion picture men, represent
ing the Burton Holmes travel pictures,
came down on the boat from Dawson.
They had planned TO get the midnight
sun, but two delays, one full week in
Dawson, had spoiled their schedule, 80
they were going TO make the best Of
it and get what they could. who on
the outside will ever know whether 1t
is q midnight or eleven o'clock sun 2"
he asked me.
About ten o'clock it began TO cloud
up and the operator was frantic. He
walked up and down the river front
cursing. "Good God, II l don't get It
now l will have to stay here until the
next boat" he walled ! never saw =
more frantic man. He said his orders
were TO get the midnight sun. and he
had simply GOT To get L." ANY
sun viii do, but have got To get II
before tie boat leaves" be exclaimed.