River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1924-06-19
GlenWOOd City Man,
Modern Rip Vas SiinkIe
Returns To Civilization After
Twenty-Five Years In The Ice
Bound Regions OF The North

Baldwin.-How do you think yoll
would feel if a person would come
and knock at the door of your house;
you would go to the door open it and
find a brother there whom you hei
not seen for twenty-five years AMI
had been reported dead for sivteen?
Ben Halvorsen recently had this
experience when his brother, Herman
Halvorsen came to see him unexpect-
eddy.
Left Twenty-Five Years Ago
Herman Halvorsen who about
thirty years ago lived in the town of
Gilman and later near Glenwood City
on a farm has just returned to
civilization after twenty years of ex-
ploring in the wilds- of Alaska and
neighboring islands. Mr.. Halvorsen
left here and went to Pendlton, Ore,
where he purchased some rich and
valuable fruit ranches. From there
he went to Vancouver, Canada.
While in Vancouver he purchased
other rich and valuable fruit ranches
and real estate in Vancouver. At
that time money was not as expens-
i've as at the present time.
He desired to get away from all
civilization and spend his life in the
wilds of the north. He left all of his
property in charge of lawyers and
Trust Cos.and took boat for Alas
ka. 1t was at this time that Ben
Halvorsen, his brother here in Bald
win, received notice that he had been
killed in large forest fire, since that
time he never had heard of him.
Alaska a Complies Wilderness
Twenty years ago Alaska vas a
complete wilderness. He was well
equipped, carrying complete camp
ing outfit, two guns and all other
necessary articles. He explored
Alaska from one end to the other, in
search of rich gold and copper mines.
He had no home, where ever he hap
pened to be when dark over took him
he made his home. There were no
roads and the country was almost i'm
passible. His provisions he would
receive by going to the coast and
purchasing from boats that were
passing that way. Many times he
would live for months from just
things as he could kill; game was
always very plentiful.
No Money; No Laws
No money was ever used, payment
always being made by gold nuggets
or pure copper. Laws were unheard
Of. "Good morning, was the law of
the land. If you would meet person
end he said good morning" you
could depend on him being your
friend. While there in Alaska he
discovered valuable gold and copper
mines which he sold to capitalists
who have been exploring there for
the last ten years.
Leaves Alaska for Islands
AS the capitalists entered, the
country become more settled and Mr.
Halvorsen moved father northward
to the islands northwest of Alaska.
The country was even more wild and
more a jungle than Alaska proper.
He said he was unable to penetrate
the country for over quarter of a
mile.
On Island Where Aviator Fell
He was on the island when Aviator
Martin fell. He often noticed the
areoplanes flying over in search of
Martin and marvelled at the inven-
ton.
Returns to Civilization
The desire and longing for friends
grew so strong that he finally decided
to return to the United States. He
took a boat from Alaska to Vancouv-
er. Here he consulted his agents and
found that his real estate had eat-
ly increased in value. Several OF his
lots when purchased were on the cut
swirts of the city, now the Union 'e-
pot at Vancouver is located on some
of them. The money he has made
was surely surprise to him and
amounts well up to the six figures.
He never saw an automobile, street
car or any of the modern inventions
When he returned to the hcme Of
his brother, Ben Halvorsen, they had
long talk of past events. He had
forgotten his age and hardly remem-
bered his first name.
After spending a few days here
Mr.. Halvorsen left for Washington,
D. c., and several places in the state
Of Maryland. Bulletin.
FUN ON THE FARM