The New York herald., 1921-05-23
PASTOR OF KLONDIKE
GOES BACK FOR BEAR
At "a, DR.. S. Hall Young Is
on His Way to Alaska, Where
lie Founded First Church.
TELLS OF IT'S EARLY DAYS
Travelled $4,000 Miles by
Canoe; Met Jack London and
Joe Juneau There.

SEATTLE, May 2l.-"seven years ago
hunted a great big Kodiak bear in
Alaska ! missed him. Now I'm going
back to get him."
The speaker? DR.. S, Hall Young Of
New York.
Dr, Young Is OF an age which might
make another man old--7l years. His
profession is that Of the ministry
his title Is Special Representative OF the
Board % Home Missions for Alaska
he II the oldest active missionary OF any
denomination in Alaska. for he went
there In 1878, eleven years after It had
been purchased from Russia
Besides being churchman, author
and big game hunten Dr. Young has
lectired in all parts of tho United
states
"In 1875. when | first went to
Alaska, there were no more than 200
whites IN tho whole territory" he said
seattle at that time showed very little
evidence of its future growth. There
were only two post Offices in Alaska
Wrangell and Sitka. Communication
with the United States was effected
| through small steamer running
monthly from Portland.
In 1879 7 built the first American
Protestant church at Wrangell.. This
might be called the mother church for
tse many missions which now cover the
Territory. In the next few years I as
sumed also the duties Of an explorer. I
covered more than $4,000 miles by canoe
/ in southeastern Alaska. I was with
John Muir in 1872 when that famous
naturalist discovered Glacier Bay and
the great glacier which was given his
ranle. This is conceded to be by many
tile grandest. piece Of water for natural
/ scenery in the world"
| Father William Duncan. famous Eng
llsh missionary, who built the town of
Metlakahtla, on Annette Island for the
dwelling place Of the Tsimshean Indians,
was a close personal friend Of DR.. Young.
II owed him much" added DR. Young.
lie first taught me how to get along
with the natives. That was great
deal"
Alaska gave Dr.. Young something
moro than the rich reward of doing a
vital work well despite many perils--it
wove tho rosy thread Of romance through
his long life Of usefulness. In 1878 he
married Miss Fannie Kellogg the first
woman missionary teacher in Sitka. His
three daughters were born in Alaska.
Two are living one In New Jersey and
one in Ithaca, N. y.
Aggressive, DR. Young plunged into
every region OF Alaska with unquenched
zeal and enthusiasm. He mushed thou
sands OF miles BY dog team. His nvet-
crate companion was his rifle, for he Gus
tonarily was forced to live for months
on the fruits of his craftsmanship. He
reckoned his journeys hy hundreds of
miles. The Eskimo and the walrus' were
as familiar to his sight as the thlinkets
/ frs4 Tb9 Nat r A eI,,
In 1883. like most sourdoughs, DR..
| Young came out" For the ensuing
4 nine years he filled pastorates In Cali
/ fornia, Ohio and Iowa.
| The Klondike stampede IN 1897 famed
! n rcnrcsgcd longing into active flame
and he returned 10 his chosen work in
the North. With his pack on his back,
he rubbed shoulders with the doughtiest
or Alaskan prospectors in the grinding
trek over the Dawson tran. On Easter
| Sunday, 1898. he opened the first church
| III tho Klondike.
Meanwhile. some Presbyterian mis-
sionaries Canadians, had opened a
church a Skagway, in a territory the
| Dominion was attempting 10 claim. The
following summer Dr, Young exchanged
churches with them. He IS Presby-
terian by denomination.
From then on my life was exceed
I 4UNty AclNC, SAID LIT. AOunS, with Inc
reminiscent twinkle returning as he
added . verbal chapter to his narrative.
II was IN on all the big stampedes. I
went to Nome, Fairbanks. the Iditarod.
4 Others went for gold / went to found
missions, and build churches wherever
| possible"
in 1913 Dr. Young again left the Ter
\ ritory, assuming the position he now
/ holds In New York This is his first re-
/ turn IN seven years. Just before the
! boat bore him southwark he embarked
\ On = mighty hunting trip along the
4 Alaskan and Siberian coasts, his son-ln-
\ law, Capt Frank Klclnschmidt, in
| charge. Walrug. caribou. deer. ptarmi-
gan, hear-cvcrything from birds up to
4 the largest dcnizens OF the forests and
\ The frozen wastes was successfully
4 hunted. Tho party left Nome simulta-
ncously with the Stcfansson expedition.
During his stay IN the North Or,
\ Young met most of the celebrities whose
names arc associated with the Territory
"Chief Justice White and host OF Sem
\ ators and Congressman" II met Joe
Il now the capital. saw Jack London.
y lie was about to start down tho Yukon.
\ Is was III the days before lie had parted
i company with John Barleycorn. / also
met Rex Beach
/ pr Young viii spend the first six
months IN southeastern Alaska, visiting
4 Kctchlltan Juneau. Wrangcli and spots
1 once everyday sights 70 his eyes. Ho
\ thon viii go 70 Anchorage and hunt on
Y the Eenai and Alaska poninsulas.