The Cordova daily times., 1921-02-25

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 Nellie Cushman is one of the most interesting characters of Alaska. She is the original woman sourdough of that land of adventure, romance and charm.
 "When and where was I born? | Well, believe me, you've asked me hard question there. I was born in Ireland, but as to the month and day, or even the year, I don't know. I know that we came to America in the sos and that I was about three years old. My mother was a widow and we went to Boston. In 1865 I went to San Francisco by way of the ried? To tell you the truth I never have had time. Any man that want ed to marry me would have to go some, and that's the truth, for have been on the go pretty much all my life. l guess l am natural stam- peder. was very fond of my mother. We meant a good deal to each other. For the last 20 years of her life I kept her in a convent at San Francisco. She was over 100 years old when she died
 ''In 1874 I went to San Francisco and joined a company of six other adventurous spirits. I guess we were the Lucky Seven Some wanted to go to the mines in South Africa, and some to the newly discovered Cas- siar district in British Columbia. We tossed-heads for South Africa, tails for British Columbia. It fell tails. We went to Victoria, B. C., by boat. At Victoria we heard that the miners in the Cassiar district were dying of scurvy. 1 decided to hurry on in and do what l could for them, so I took along lot of supplies-whisky, limejuice and other things good for scurvy. The snow was too deep and soft to use dogs, so we went in on snowshoes-fand, believe me, it was some trip. I hired six men to take in provisions and supplies, for 1 planned to run a hotel on Deases take. It took 77 days to make the trip, and it was hard trip I pulled my own sled every mile of the way, and at times it was pretty hard pull ing. Was I afraid of being the only woman with a party of men? Bless your soul, no. I never carried a gun in all my life. At one time I was for two years the only white woman in an inland Alaska mining camp, and I never had a word said to me out of the way. The boys would sure see that any offending party would never be able to repeat the offense. The farther you get away from civ } ilization, the bigger-hearted and more courteous you will find the men. Every man was my protector, and any man I ever met, if he needed my help, got it, whether it was a hot meal or nursing, or whatever he needed. We pass this way only once, and it's up to us to help our fellows Whea they need help.
 "We finally reached our destina- tion and I put off running my hotel till I had nursed a lot of the sick miners back to health. Word went out to the nearest military post that had cashed in my checks, so the commanding officer sent a detail of soldiers in to get my body and bring it out to the post. It was mighty nice thing for them to send clear in there so I might have Christian bur ial sure appreciated it and got those soldiers the best feed they ever had.
 "In 1897 I went to Dawson over the Dyea trail. I ran restaurant there for seven years I got hold of a good claim on Bonanza creek and cleaned up something over $100,000 l spent it all-and more, too-buying other claims and travelling over the country prospecting. In 1904 I went to Fairbanks-and, by the by, met very likeable young bank clerk up there, who is now your governor here in Oregon. In 1907 I pulled out for the Koyukuk district, where I have some rich claims. I am on my way to Bisbee, Ariz., to visit rela- tive there. In the spring you will see me heading north; for, after you have been a year or two in Alas ka, the country gets hold of you and you can't resist it-you have to go back"