Vacation Trip to Alaska
Outline of a Trip Made By Two Falls City Ladies.
Recently. Miss Maddox and Miss Allie Keeling.
On the second day of August a
party of five ladies left Falls City,
two, Mrs. Hoppe and Miss Tanner,
Whose destination was Salt Lake City,
one Mrs. .1. It. Wilhite, who was to
visit her daughter. \sho had recent
ly married and was living in Paonia,
Gunnison county, Colorado, and the
remaining two, Miss May W. Maddox
and Miss Allie Keeling, whose ulti
mate destination was Alaska.
No stops we re made until Kail Lake
City was reached, though at Denver
the party was met by Mrs. Custer
and Mrs. Clegg and right happy, too,
were the travelers to see them.
At Colorado Springs, Mrs. Etta
Schoenhcit and J othnir m> t them and
surely the meeting was one of mutu
al pleasure.
On reaching Knit Lake City, the
party was met by Mrs. Kowley, a for
mer Falls City lady, and were de
lightfully entertained at dinner, sif
ter which they all wont out to Stilt
air for the evening.
The next morning, Thursday, Miss
Maddox and Miss Keeling went to
the station and there found Louie
Hahn, a former Burlington agent in
this .' ty. Mrs. llulin joined tin*
ladies at twelve o'clock on a sight
seeing trip around the city, which In
cluded.among other interesting things,
a mush til at the Mormon temple,
where the world famous pipe organ
was heard.
There was probably not an old
friend or acquaintance in Falls City
that Mr. and Mrs. Ilaliii did not In
quire about, for Falls City seems
still to hold a prominent place In
their memory, and a warm spot In
their hearts.
Leaving Salt Lake at six o'clock
in the evening after the farewells to
the Falls City friends,' the next point
to be made was Portland, but owing
to several hours delay in arrival at
Portland,the stop could not be made,
as tiic ladies were due in Tacoma
Saturday afternoon.
In Tacoma the ladies were enter
tained by llev. .1. VV. Miller, a neph
ew of Mrs. Margaret Maddox, and
well known to many Falls City peo
ple.
Sunday was a quiet, restful day,
sueh as could well be enjoyed after
six day’s almost constant travel, ex
cept when attending llev. Miller's
church, the day was passed in
feasting the eyes upon tli- beautiful
views surrounding Tacoma.
Monday and part of Tuesday was
spent on the Exposition grounds.
But little need be said of the Fair;
they are all alike and when onij lias
seen one, they have seen all, with
perhaps a few variations.
Tuesday evening the ladles vvenl
to tin1 home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert
Timmerman. Mrs. Timmerman was
formerly Miss Nellie Gaudy of Hum
boldt, and lias many friends in this
city, who keep for her a cherished
place In their hearts.
The hospitality of these friends
was purely a personal matter, and
suffice to say they were royally en
tertained, until they took their boat
on the eleventh of August, for Alaska
On the afternoon of August lltli,
they left the wharf at Seattle, on the
“Cottage City," an excursion boat
plying between Seattle and Skagway.
There wore n hundred and twenty-five
passengers aboard, from almost ev
ery state in the I’tiion. and many
different countries. Charming people
they were, indeed. It would he hard
to imagine a more congenial boat
family. Artists, musicians, lawyers,
doctors, truly people of culture and
refinement, all on pleasure bent, with
hut one object to enjoy themselves
and help others to do the ssmi'
The first port the “Cottage City”
made was Prince Rupert, an English
port of about eighteen hundred in
habitants and the only English port
entered on the trip. They arrived
here about 11:00 o’clock am. Friday,
August 13,
About two years ago the town was
platted and laid out into town lots,
but were not sold until last May,
when they were auctioned off, the
most of them bringing (2,500. Prince
Rupert will be tlie terminal of the
Canadian Grand Trunk Bine,
though it will be two years before it
is completed.
The next stop was Ketchikan,
which was reached about five o'clock
Saturday morning, the 14th. Here
was seen the first genuine Indian
totem pole. St. John’s Mission is
located here, but it was found to be
too early an hour to get into the
mission, so the ladies with a party
of boat friends walked down the
street to the Indian village and up in
to the park above the city to see the
falls. This was a beautiful fall and
one could see salmon by the thous
and, so plentiful that one could catch
them by the handsfull. But catching
was not holding—all.
Most of the villages—or ports—
are built along the shore and some
extend up the mountains. Naturally
the streets are very uneven and full
of mud holes. To overcome this they
j are paved—if one may apply
the term—with thick planks set on
piles or trestles - high enough to
level the streets. These are open to
and equal to ail modes of travel, even
automobiles, which are not uncommon
in these northern ports. It might be
added, too, that their electric light
service is unquestionably fine and
excels many moderate-sized cities
in tlie States.
Hut now for the next port.. From
Ketchikan the boat went to Wrangle,
j a town about the size of Prim e Ku
, pert. Here the travelers had home,
grown strawberries and red raspber
ries, the size of which would test the
credulity of the reader if told. They
seem to be far superior to any pro
j dueed in this country. At the furrier's
were found some exceptionally fine
I specimens of skins, the marten at
tracting particular attention.
Blits Point in Pillars Hay was the
next stop. Here they were shown tlie,
salmon cannery of the Pillars Hay
Packing Co. The work is mostly
done by hand and by the native In
dians, there being only eight white
people in the town.
Treadwell was the next port. Here
are located the largest gold mines
and mills in the world. The ore only
pays |2.S7 per ton, which in most
mining districts would be considered
worthless; tint it is mined iti such
vast quantities it is a world-famous
mining station. The stamp mills are
the largest in the world. There are
240 stamps. '*
Legless is only about lialf a mile
from Treadwell, a pretty little moun
tain town, and almost a part of the
mill center. From here the channel
was crossed to Juneau, the capital of
Alaska, and was reached about nine
p. m. Little could be said of the
beauty of the Government-building.
It is a large, square, frame building,
approached from the street by about
sixty plank steps. The plank pav
ing was conspicuous by its absence
in Juneau, for here there is more
gravel and the streets resemble ma
cadamized streets. There are few
buildings in the Northland built of
anything but lumber. There seems
to be plenty of stone, but poor facil
ities for quarrying it.
I A few days without sight of a
candy store had created a longing
for fresh candy and our travelers
were .finally directed to a shop where
home made candy was sold. This
one they missed, but found one where
"Ice Cream Soda" placards were
conspicuously displayed. This was
too much like home to be passed by.
What seems IT. S. necessities nowa
days, are evidently still luxuries in
Alaska, for when thirty cents pur
glass hud been deposited all around
by the party, they felt they had made
a pretty good first installment on the
ice-plant and the cow.
From Juneau the boat returned to
Treadwell and although it was ^ul
iiiost midnight the party was shown
(hough tin* stamp mills, where they i
saw the ore crushed, washed and the
concentrate prepared to send to the
ussayer's office On - disappointm-iit
was. being unable to go down into
the mines because of the lateness of
the hour.
About eleven a. m. Monday, Haines
Lauding was reached and It re the
ladies purchased the finest flavored I
and largest home-grown strawberries:
ever seen or eaten by them. Here
too, is located a Presbyterian Mission,
and the pansies and nasturtiums from
the mission garden are wonderful for
size and coloring.
Fort Seward, named for Secretary
W. H. Seward, who negotiated the
Alaska purchase, is only a half mile
from Haines Landing and is a
delightful w-alk. Morning drill was
in order when the ladles reached
the fort and the soldiers, for some
reason were on dress parade. To
tavelers it was surely a treat to hear
the good old American airs, by a
fine military band.
From Juneau on, the boat was in
the glacier region and the beauties of
the scenery must be seen, for what
words can adequately describe those
mountains of ice glistening in the
sunlight like millions of diamonds,
%
the colorings so gorgeous they were
dazzling, and the wonderful reflection
in the sea, with the icebergs floating
around—It was wonderful, beautiful,
grand; not an unpleasant sight lot
two Nebraska girls, and just think of
it, during those days the thermometer
registering 97 to 190 degrees in the
shade at home.
Skagway was reached about one
o’clock p. m., Monday, August It!,
several hours late. A special train
was made up to take thirty passen
gers to the Summit of White Pass,
which is perhaps one of the most
interesting and beautiful mountain
trips one can take. Grand!—it is
the only word that will describe the
view. After the return to the city
the party climbed A. B. Mountain, to
a distance of 1200 feet, to Kerns
Castle, a large, roomy, frame build
ings of four stories with glass en
closed porches. Here light refresh
ments were served.
At one time during the gold fever,
Skagway was a city of about 10,000
inhabitants, as it was the basis of
supplies for the interior up the Yu
kon River. lint the railroad marred |
Skagway, instead of making it, for '
now supplies from the States and
Canada t an be sent by rail, without
being unloaded at Skagway. Conse
quently as trade fell off, the inhabi
tants decreased.
About olght o'clock, on tile even
ing of tlie 16th, tlie “Cottage City”
left Skagway and at six p. in. an
chored at Killisnoo, win re a party
was shown througii an immense her
ring cannery. Sitka was reached at
two p. in. and to Miss Maddox and
Miss Keeling was possibly tile most
interesting and picturesque of any
one point on the route. At one time ,
it was a city of more than 10,000 pop
ulation; but after the removal of the
capital to Juneau, the population fell
off. Last spring new and extensive
mines were discovered near Sitka
and tlie old population is being rap
idly built up. 4
At Sitka is located the only Russian
church in Alaska, and it was there
ages before Alaska became U. S. j
territory. It now has over six hun
dred members. Many of the paint
ings in it. are by tlie old masters and
several hundred years old. The chan
cel furnishings are of hammered
brass and bronze of exquisite work
manship. The robes of the bishop
id priest were made of cloth
of-gold and doth-of-silver, heavily em
broidered and jeweled and are worth
a king’s ransom.
At the museum was seen one of
llie oldest pipe organs in Alaska. It
was made in 1790 and taken to Alas
ka in 1SJ6. A Finnish contractor was
compelled to build a church for labor
ers lie had imported from Finland and
this organ, which is still in a fair
state of preservation, was placed in
it. It is operated by the old-fashioned
hand pump.
The visit to the Indian graveyard
was also interesting. Most of the
graves of the warriors are marked by
totem poles, which signifies prom
inence, and some emblem is car
ved in the wood for each deed of
valor.
The ladies called noon the wife of
Bishop Rowe while in Sitka. The
bishop was in the interior, but Mrs.
Rowe gave them a splendid talk up
on the work done by the missionaries
in the interior. The mission work
seems to have been done mostly by
Episcopalian and Presbyterian
churches. A bouquet of pansies was
given the ladies from the garden of
the parish house. In size and color
they were simply remarkable.
The stores, too, were vepy. very
good—better than had been expected.
Funter Bay was the first stop after
leaving Sitka. Here is located the
largest salmon cannery in Alaska. All
the work is done by machinery and
sevtnty-thrce cans per minute are
turned out. The average throughout
the year exceeds 30,000 cans per day.
From Funt r Bay the boat went to
tut mouth, of Taku Rhei and ua !
* ,
the river for a short distance that all
might have a better view of the |
spleendid glaciers, Morrison and j
Tjiku. Morrison is what is known as j
a dead glacier. That is, it seems j
covered with dust and dirt and the
snow and rain neither stick to it
nor clean it off. Taku is grand and
gorgeous in the sunlight, beyond all
description. From this monster 'gla
ii t most ci the icebergs of this re-'
giou break off and float out to sea.
They reached Juneau, on the return
trip by coining down a different chan
nel, at about three p. in. The F. S. j
court convened that day. Here on
the return the ladles met the rector,
Rev. Jenkins, and his wife, and en
joyed a short visit with them. They j
visited some of the stores and found'
them exceptionally good; they would!
do credit to a good sized western !
city.
Ketchikan was also a stop on the
eturn trip, hut was reached at mid
night and in a heavy rain, which con
tinued with occasional snow flurrie
most of the next day.
Prince Rupert was the next and
last stoj) before reaching Seattle.
Several men who had contemplated
buying lots there, and considered the
matter on t lie trip up north, got off
to buy on the homeward way, but
found tin; prices so far advanced in
the ten days that the idea was given
up. Prince Rupert is bound to be the
metropolis of western Canada. The
terminus of the Grand Trunk R. R.,
tiie most Important British port on
tlie western coast by point of loca
tion. its delightful climate, the wealth
that is continually pouring into it
will make it the Canadian San Fran
cisco. When lots sell from $1,500
to $3,500 it may well be reckoned
as a place of more than nominal im
portance.
Seattle was reached Sunday, after
twelve,days continuous travel and
sight-seeing, and for three days Miss
Maddox and Miss Keeling were
again the guests of Mr.and Mrs.Tim
merman, during which time they
visited the navy yards and took sev
eral side trips. Sunday night they
attended St. Marks and after service
had the pleasure of a visit with Dr.
Llwyd, who several years ago, held
a very successful mission in our city.
In speaking of that occurrence,he re
marked that he held that week, with
j its memory of Falls City and her peo
' pie, as one of the brightest in his
, memory and in his heart would al
1 ways cherish a warm and kindly feel
' ing for our people and the friends
.he made here.
On their return to Tacoma, Rev.
Miller took them on many pleasant
excursions, through the immense lum
ber mills, to Cosmopolis club and
on several excursion trips, the time
being completely filled until tbe
afli moon of Saturday the 20th, at
3:30 o’clock, when they boarded the
train for Falls City—home. They
were accompanied by Miss Ruth Mil
ler. A
Tile trip from the coast was not C
particularly eventful, though a pleas
ant one; the scenery perhaps not -so
fine as the trip through Colorado, but
interesting at all times.
The ladies arrived in Falls City the
'1st ot August, after a month of un
alloyed pleasure and sight seeing; a
pleasure such as had not come to
them before.
In speaking of the natural re
sources and beauties of the country
much might be written that must re
main untold. It must be seen to be
appreciated. Is It not hard to real
ize and understand the beauties of
an evening when one may sit on the
deck of the boat, or in one's home,
if on land and read without artificial
light until half past ten o'clock at
night?
The climate, too, is wonderful.
Most of the time upon the boat a
wrap was necessary but when the
boat parties were ashore wraps could
be dispensed with and the air was
found to be mild and certainly invig
orating. The snows will begin almost.
any time through September and con
tinue until late in April. The best
and most advantageous time to make
such a journey is from the middle of
June until the first of August. This
fact is becoming generally known
and all during the summer travelers
from almost all parts of the world
are found on the excursion boats
between Seattle and Skagway.
the Indians, too, have learned the
tourist season and all during the long
winter they are at work preparing
the baskets, bags, slippers and all
sorts of ornaments to tempt the tour
ists. Nor have they remained ignor
ant as to the tricks of trade and it
might seem that the seed of graft is
already sprouting. For instance:
the native women are lined up for
each boat that comes along and
should an article attract a traveler
he is immediately informed that it is
native berry, or native herb dyes
and made by one long experienced;
the price may seem high and moving
on the traveler strikes a bargain for
loss money or a trade with another
woman, whereupon the rival prompt
ly informs him it is “workie girl—
diamond dye” which means a girl
just learning the art has made the
article, the coloring done with dia
mond dyes and not with the work
necessary to securing the native ber
ries for stain.
Few of the Indians are to be seen
in native dress. Their clothing for
the most part is good and up-to-date.
Continued on Seventh page
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are made from the finest flour and the best
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are baked in surroundings where cleanliness
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are touched only once by human hands—
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