El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-03-03
.OME. ~. NIarch


nj just returned from a reception
L at the Kegoayah Kozga. This is
the woman's club farthest north. It
belongs to the National Federation of
Woman's clubs. and it is one Of the
live social organizati Of this up-to-
date territory. Kegoayah 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. n delightful little
cottage on one % the main streets of
Nome, and it has surplus in its treas
ury.
4 copy OF the club book lies before
me From 1t I find that the member
ship is IS and that it meets on the first
and third Wednesdays OF every month.
It 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
a picnic, during which they have
games and prizes. = 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 10 the entertain
ment of the husbands OF the club. and
another 10 saying farewell to the men,
bers who are going outside for thu
winter.
DevOtes Much Time To Study.
The Kegoayah KOzga has its study
classes. which run throughout the sea
son Last year one OF these classes
was devoted 10 Alaska, another to
South America and a third 10 the
French language. The club has also
lectures. essays and poems given by its
members and il is, in short. thorough
" uptodate as to club organizst ton
and club life.
1 was struck by the high character
of the women I met at the club this
afternoon. The women here are tEpI-
cal of those OF other parts OF Alaska.
They are well dressed well bred and
well educated. Not few are college
graduates and all show more hos
pitality than is common throughout the
lived in Alaska for years and their
stories of conditions. present and past,
are especially interesting.
It was not until 1898. when gold was
discovered in the Klonjike, that many
women came to Alaska Those who
were here before that were chiefly
the wife OF a sea captain or trapper-
officers of the army and navy. some OF
whom lived at the posts and others at !
the chief towns along the coast There
were also the missionaries who had I
stations at Sitka and other places IN
southeastern Alaska. and occasionally
~ 4
Mother Whites Home Was First
The first woman 10 establish a home I
on Cook inlet was Mother Nhite, the 4
wife of a whaler who made voyages to /
Behring sea and the Arctic ocean He /
brought his wife with him. and she /
built a log cabin store and roadhOuse !
on the shores OF Cook inlet about ze0 4
miles from the site Of the new town OF /
anchorage. It was there that Miss .
Martha White was born She was the |
first white child to see the light OF 4
day in that part OF the world, ana 4
when the work began on the govern /
ment railway she was chosen TO drive !
the first spike. /
Il is more than 20 years since MIS-
White established her store and road
house. She dealt with the indians ana
trainers and later or started ilsh
csnnery and saltery. In one year she /
PIT I'D 1000 barrels of salted salmon
She made considerable money, when
she invested in mining
Makes Fortune. Loses II.
She was a part of the gold stampede
to Sunrise on Turnagain arm; Wnere
she made 50 much that she might nave
retired in comfort Then bad 4uCh
came. She put her winnings INTO IN
successful properties and lost mem
She went back to the roadhouse busi-
ness and established htIle hotels ~
Hone CITY and Sunrise. These were a
success and she gradually accumulated
some property. In the meantime hef
daughter was growing up and Mother
White ueClQen 10 lEdNt -aAe-o tAeN anu
- the states to educate her. she
moved TO Chicago and opened little
store there. which supported her until
?. few years ago. when Martha's educa-
ton was finished.
And then came that longing TO 70
hack TO Alaska that permeates the
souls of all who have made their homes
here for any length of time It so oo-
sessed Mrs. White that she left her
daughter in Chicago and went alone 70
the north. With tears in her eyes, she
toId me how she came back TO the min
ing camps of Hope and Sunrise ana
how they affected her. Many OF the Ola
nTospectors whom she had known were
still there, and she felt that here was
her home and her friends
The result was that she came back /
In Alaska. bringing her daughter with
her. and when the work on the rail-
road began she was one Of the first |
on the ground at the new town OF
Anchorage. She came in with stock
u lumber and canvas. and before .