Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-03-04


clubs, and it is one Of the live social organ
izations of this up-to-date territory. Kego
ayah Kozga is the Eskimo for 'Aurora
Club and this club is typical of the dawn
of woman's work in northern Alaska. The
club owns its own house, delightful little
cottage on one of the main streets of Nome
and it has surplus in its treasury.
A copy of the club book lies Before me.
From it find that the membership is o5 and
that it meets on the first and third Wednes-
days OF every month. 1t has also special
days, which are civic events. One of these
is "Clean-up day." when the people OF the
town are supposed to make special efforts
to beautify their homes and streets Another
is Children's day, coming in June when all
the children are given picnic, during which
they have games and prizes. A third is
Flower day, held in August, in celebration
OF the wonderful summer vegetation OF this
part of the world. One meeting every year
is devoted to the entertainment of the hus-
bands OF the club, and another to saying
farewell to the members who are going
outside for the winter.
The Kegoayah Kozga has its study
classes, which run throughout the season.
Last year one of these classes was devoted
to Alaska, another to South America and
third to the French language The club
has also lectures, essays and poems given
by its members; and it is, in short, thorough
~ up-to-date as to club organization and
club life
| was struck by the high character of the
women | met at the club this afternoon.
The women here are typical of those of 9TH
er parts of Alaska. They are we'll dressed,
well bred and well educated Not few are
college graduates: and all show more hos
pitaity than is common throughout the
United States. Many Of them have lived in
Alaska for years and their stories OF condi-
tons, present and past, are especially in
tcreStlng.
1t was not until $685. when gold was dis
covered in the Klondike, that many women
came to Alaska. Those who were here be-
fore were chiefly the wives of government
officials or of officers of the army and navy,
some OF whom lived at the posts and others
were also the missionaries. who had stations
at Sitka and other places in southeastern
Alaska and occasionally the wife of a sea
captain or trapper.
The first woman to establish a home Oh
Cook inlet was Mother White, the wife OF
a whaler who made voyages to Boring sea
and the Arctic ocean. He brought his wife
with him, and she built log cabin store
and roadhouSe OH the shores of Cook inlet,
about 200 miles from the site of the new
town of Anchorage. 1t was there that Miss
Martha White was born. She was the first
white child to see the light of day in that
part of the world, and when the work be-
gan on the government railroad she was
chosen TO drive the first spike
1t is more than 20 years since Mrs White
established her store and roadhouse She
dealt with the Indians and trapperS, and
later on started fish cannery and saltery
In one year she put up 1000 barrels OF sailed
salmon. She made considerable money.
which she invested in mining. She was 4
part OF the gold stampede to Sunrise, on
Turnagain arm, where she made SO much
that she might have retired in comfort.
Then bad luck came. She put her winnings
into unsuccessful properties and lost them.
She went back to the roadhouse business
and established little hotels at Hope City
and Sunrise. These were success and she
gradually accumulated some property. In
the meantime, her daughter was growing
and Mother White decided to leave Alaska
and go to the states to educate her. She
moved to,Chicago and opened little store