The daily Alaskan., 1918-05-09
NR. W. 3, CLOSE
 WRITES LETTER

in SkaBWay OIL Dno VI bhS Ni,eftte AA--i~ boats, and in as much as the writer, Mir. W. B. Close, is well known here' where he is held in the greatest es' teem ard loved by ali those who know him. A man, who has always had the interest of skagway and it's people at heart, he now writes with feeling concerning the3 untimely deaths of the men in his employ, and although near the great. sacri- fices of human life that are re- sultant of the strife on the French battle fields, he finds time to ex- press his sorrow at our personal loss. A <
 2 Moorgate Street, London,
 April Sth, 1918.
 It is long time since I have heard from you, ard I fear 6 long time since I have written you. but I do not forget my friends at skaguay, and fear they have gone through very bad times. I re- member in your letter in the early summer that you wrote cheerily ex- pecting good times. and We too. were hoping that 1917 would show some good results for UT shareho!ders anu Debenture- holders in the White Pass Railway. All our hopes in this respect and yours, l fear Were dashed to the ground by the deelar- .fion of war by the United states m Germany. I am quite sure tnat all the liberal minded people Wouio not mind these sorts of hopes being dashed to the. ground a million times rather than that the Worlo should be ruled by the Military Far ty in Germany, and so we must all nave that great consolation, for as Russia has "defected" and left the Western Powers with the whole brunt of Germany's nd-Anstria's military forces to contend with, theS would. be alarmed for the future 1T u | still greater power and resourc es of the United States of America were not thrown in On. the side or liberty and democracy. ., A'.
 But apart from material losses in the way of freight for the Railway ana Tourists to trade in Skagaay' if has been a very sad season, inas- r,uch as such valuable lives have been lost to the Railway in the deaths of the two Mackenzies ana just lately of Barry, and Coflison ou- brakeman. remember gright if was Collison was. chipping about looking like Napoleon "cross- ing the Alps" when saw him on the ton of one of the freight cars with his arms folded, and telling him I was glad I was not ss eie' vated as he, to which he replied It was nothing In the summer time bu. ought to be there in winter On the top of the car, to which re piled "I don't have to-" And, poor chan, he was not killed in doing his own work. but by the Rotary upset ting. as the cable informs us. We arc all glad that our Mir. Hahn es- caped without practical injury. And then there have been the deaths from the terrible cold that you have experienced, and poor Dawson |. with its plague of pneumona. Altogether I should think the winter of 1917" Is will never be forgotten by those who went through 1t in those nor E. thern parts. r...AS
 Here we are Of course all anxious as to the result Of the great and sansuinary battle now being fought. but quiet confidence pervades tho country with our wonderful men, who~fought that never-to-be forgot ten retreat from Mons, who fought at Ypres against twenty times their number, who are fighting now against six times their number. will equally pull through; but 1t is all anxious and by the time you will get thls letter you will probably know the result, for if we. can stand out next month, I think the result Is certain that we can stand out for. good, and that is victory on our side, for this summer the American Army must be increasing i'm numbers enormously. and 1t takes some Of the weight off the hard pressed Brit ish and French forces. ,.i,.a
 There is no chance yet of my 6onH ing out to visit you all, much .as I would love to do so. IBhould be very pleased to hear. any news you can give me Of Skaguag and all my friends there.
 Please remember me to them all, and to Dr. Keller,
 . And, believe me, ..