The Connecticut labor news., 1921-11-04

On one of the first up-rivcr steamers bringing passengers from the outside there arrived in Fairbanks about June 20, 1909, a man and woman who were quite noticeable as strangers. Plainly they were not of the North and or inquiring for the best hotel were di- rcCted to the Nordale where he signed the register as Emil Von Maurcr anc wife. Stuttgart, Germany and to mei1 host Tony the following morning he explained the object of their visit
 They had left their home in Germany some time before to visit a cousin who was attached to the German embassy at Washington, but after a week or two at the capital had felt and expressed dis appolntment that the principal objects Ot their visit had not been realized. The institutions of the country, the habits and customs the everyday life of the people had not coinCided with preconceivcd no- tlOns of things American. Herr Maurer belonged to the out of doors and had expected to see something of frontier life. Of the natives in their tribal halnts and above all to enjoy hunting the big game which he had thought to be one of the leading features of American life while Frau" Non Maurcr was some what of literary woman and had hoped to find ready material for her pen amid such surroundings as they had expected to find themselves.
 They had been surprised when inform ed that those features had mostly passed from our national life That these wern't any more wild places, no more frontier within our national boundaries That about all of the big game remaining were in national parks and game preser- yes. There were Indians to be sure, but they no longer followed tribal laws and customs to any extent, but were being educated and following agricultural and industrial pursuits, indeed no small num- Der of Indians were within the ranks of the millionaire class in our West.
 z When Mein Herr had expressed sur prise at these disclosures he had been told that there was Alaska. An! and where was Alaska? We'll! it was a l.. 5. possession. nOnCOntiguous to be sure and pretty well up North. but in teriOr Alaska was known as a hunters paradise. abounding in several kinds of big game and that there the natives were to be found in all their aboriginal surroundings living their lives as their most remote ancestors had lived. Indeed. it was said that there were branches of tribes in Alaska that had not yet looked upon the white mans face. Also the white population of Alaska were gathered at such places as gold had been discov- cred and here should be found all of life's phases in frontier mining camp ln- decd it was truly said, that Alaska was +Io To-, o1l tl,o features he had spoken of and to any one having the time and means and in clination it was well worth while Very we'll. They would go to Alaska and here they were.
 The local papers published the fact of their arrival and the object of their visit and 1t became noised about that German count was in camp and when the miners went to town with their dust or to transact other business the curious ones were wont to drop in to the lobby of the NOrdale to sec a real live count He was a tall upstanding fellow of Mili- tary bearing and spoke English with South German accent. Evidently man of education and of means. Mein frau was of medium height, good to look upon dressed plainly and sensibly and spoke English not at all. They were between thirty and forty, married some years and no children. The "count' was an interesting talker and knew of the things of nature, fun, fish and game.
 The boys assured the count he had done well in coming to the Northland for the diversion he sought. That he should not be disappointed, but as to game and fur hunting there were the game laws: the summer was not the season. No indiscriminate killing before Sept. 1st. Of course there were wolves and several species of bear that were not protected, but by Sept. 1st the open season was here and also winter was at hand. Really to do justice to his trip and to the country he should spend the winter. Very well! They should spend the winter or part of it.
 This willingness to place himself i'll their hands and to accept suggestions from those in a position to know, made fav- orabe impression on the men of the North for many of the vintage of 1897-8 were in camp at the time and who had been through more or less adventure. Others had come to us on the same quest as this man. but usually with the. assump- tion that they knew all about our country and its moods and rarely enjoyed them selves. Here was one who was acting entirely on the advice of strangers and willing to travel the length of the trail for the sake of adventure. We were well pleased with him.
 Upon suggestion. he secured the ser vices of a competent guide and it was decided to spend the winter on the upper reaches of the Nenana, a small river cmptying into the Panama about 80 miles below Fairbanks After visiting the
 mining creeks and other points of in tcrest the party outhtted A quantity of food and winter clothing was purchased, with a stove, utensils and tools, also a polling boat and our party left Fairbanks on the next steamer down. They dis embarked at the mouth of the Nenana and loading their goods into the polling boat began the ascent of the river. The Nenana is not fit for steamer naviga- tion. Also gold had not been discovered in it's watershed and so 1t was left pretty much in solitude. Not so today The Alaska Government railway is being built from the southern coast over the Alaskan range by way of Broad Pass and down the Nenana Valley to the Fawana. A good sized town Gas Alaskan towns go) is being built at the mouth of the Nenana and a railroad bridge is tO cross the FaWana at this DOint The