The Cordova daily times., 1918-02-11
OUR WINTERS
NOT REGARDED
VERY SEVERE

While Alaskas climate has many
discomforts and drawbacks, the cold
is not one OF them. A frequent ques-
tion in letters from the States is "How
cold is it?' The answer to this query
/ depends upon the state of mind one
is in and how long one has been in the
country. temperature which would
cause a newcomer to shout for the
ambulance will make a sourdough frisk
around like a member of Coney
Islands Snowbird club. Inexperienced
young brides who take a chance on a
great deal more than the climate by
coming to the territory for husband
find 1t inconvenient at times, but the
genuine old-timer handles the cold as
recklessly as some persons do the
truth.
interesting Experiences
While one can hardly call II cold
here. some interesting experiences are
encountered, which at times seem al
most to be impossible. But strict re-
gard for truth and the proprieties
cause the Alaskan to refrain from tell
ing them to an outsider for fear of
being thought falsifier The Valdez
Prospector cites some rather odd in
stances. 1t says:
Frozen Melody Thaws
During the recent cold snap at Fair
banks the city band played half the
night without making sound, and
when warm wave struck the city the
inhabitants were kept awake by the
chunks Of frozen melody thawing out
while mushing over the trail re-
Gently Nenana man placed his trous-
ers too close to the fire one night in
camp and they caught fire and burned.
This would have left a newcomer in an
embarrassing position. This old.timer
jumpedYinto brook nearby and right
out again, the water freezing on him
without wetting him, and he wore
these sartorial habiliaments for the
rest of the trip, of course taking care
not to exert himself and melt his JIM
provised garment.
while driving from Whitehorse to
Dawson recently stage driver came
' to stream where bridge had washed
out. Being an experienced sourdough,
he started small stream of water
over the creek, which quickly froze
BY aoarefp,ly throwing water on the
arch IN the thin spots he quickly froze
bridge strong enough to carry horse
and sled over. 1t is to be regretted
that no record was kept of the tenn
perature at the time, but 1t was some
where in the region of Sc degrees be-
} low zero.
Save Frozen Flame
"In Nome the natives hang around
the miners cabins and if not watched
break the frozen flame off the candles.
They string these on wires and by
thawing them when needed have suf-
ficient light for their igloos through
the dark winter days.
MANY miners in the Interior care
fully break the frozen steam from the
spouts of their tea kettles and piling
it outside their cabins, use 1t In fire.
less cookers in summer when they are
too busy mining to make a fire.
"While these phenomena are gen.
orally observed in the Interior, the
coast also has its cold weather. Mas
tiers of vessels have been known to
whistle for southwestern Alaska ports
shortly after leaving Seattle, and take
the sound into the pilot house to pre-
vent its freezing.
Tear Off Required Amounts
/ Upon reaching a Southwestern
Alaska port they tear off the required
amount and thus prevent fooling the
! citizens, who in former days have gone
to the wharf thinking boat was due
when in fact it was the sound thawing
out from boat the winter before.
"These few incidents may illustrate
: in measure how cold it sometimes
gets in Alaska, but short residence
hardens one to the cold and 1t is then
really enjoyable"