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Skagway Alaska
8/27/97
Mrs E. Barton
Mineola Mo
Dear Geo & Jo:-
I will try & give you an account of our trip. We left Seattle
Wednesday the 18th inst at 10 oclock PM. Traveling all night
reaching Victoria Canada 6 AM the 19 we walked over a part of the
town I liked the town but dont like the confounded English. We
left Victoria at 2:15 PM at 5 PM we are passing Gulf of Georgie
then we pass out of U.S. teritory for 400 miles. 20th up at 5 AM
and on deck viewing the grand scenary such that words cannot
express 3 PM a fog the first and only we get in while on the trip
can see plenty hanging below the mountain tops and continuous
mountains with snow on, many little streams come down from the
mountains the fall making the watter look like white rocks from a
distance or frozen ice which is only spray. at 6 PM we are in the
open sea I was playing checkers with a man the ship began to roll
and bound forward I stood it for an hour & one half finely
got so dizzy had to go to bed. Tom, Lee & Frank went to bed
soon as reaching sea to keep from getting sick. we had our bunks
nearly in the center of the ship and of course was in a good
place not to get very sick. but there was a dozzen or more that
fed the fish but we went through ok. To see the boat
we were on you would not think that there would be any thing
shake it but when in the open sea it was like a skif on the
Missouri. Well it would rock so that you had to hold to something
as you walked-freight on upper deck had to be tied down to keep
from slipping and yet they said that it was a very calm sea. we
had about 48 miles of that. 21st 6 AM up we passed several noted
places. one was Dixons entrance. 22 6 AM up nice weather and on
Alaska teritory (coast) 5:30 PM raining. 8:45 PM just passed an
iceberg I seen several in the distance also several ice glaciers
in the mountains where the ice is several hundred feet thick and
never thaws out. 23 1AM arrive at Juneau it was raining. so did
not go up to see the Treadwell mine (the largest Gold mine in the
world.) we stop at Hains mission a place where the Catholics
educate the Indians. at 8:30 PM we anchor at Skagway.
Our goods are put on a scow and the evening of the 24th $100,000
dollars freight is beached the next morning it is high & dry
caused by the tide going out. we get in to camp in good shape
take a days rest. Tom& I go up the trail about 7 miles we saw
two horses killed on the trail there was about 300 men at work on
same they wont let any one go over same till it is fixed or for
about 3 or 4 days. Lee and Tom went up 11 miles to day they say
it is terrible bad quite a number of horses were found dead. dont
see how we can get over this winter. All day long the trees are
being chopped down in the New town which has all kinds of houses.
There are a dozzen or more saloons
here all kinds gambling houses. one Saloon called the Nuget has a
lot of girls and a dance hall in front of the bar I was there for
5 minutes it was so disgusting I did not care to see any more.
the toughest kind of women are there. There are about 2000 people
here and about 6000 in all from the beach to the trail which is 4
miles distance. I am feeling fine can't get enough to eat weigh
155 but a part of that is my clothing. I have on one Leather coat
corduroy lined on a reversable coat cost 6.00 a pair of blue
overalls over my pants and a heavy over shirt (a silk pair of
socks with one pair (you knit me) and a pair of mountain shoes
no. 7 I got them one size to large but get a long very well. I
got for myself as follows 1 fur robe $35.00 a dandy 2 pr mitts
one pr lined with sheep skin with wool on the other line with
wool one fur cap 2 suits heavy underware 2 overshirts 2 pr
overalls 1 Leather coat 2 pr German socks, they are made for
moccasins 1 rain coat 2 pr blankets 1 pr high gum boots 1 pr
shoes 2 pr moccasins. I told the boys would write you that I had
grown to wearing no 7 shoes. Frank or some of us are going to
Deya tomorrow for mail. hope there will be one from my little
girl for me as am very anxious to hear from you Address your next
letter to Skagway instead of Deya. There are reports from
Klondike stating that big strikes are being found on the Stewart
river, where we intended to go. but as I said before dont see how
we are going to get over this winter as the trail is in such a
fix. Frank & I are going to Deya this morning to look at that
trail will be out of camp several days. I have a silver 5$ piece
I got in victoria which enclosed you will find same. Probibly you
had better not change my address till you hear from me as this
place (Skagway) has no office yet.
Now Georgie dont think hard of me for not writing often as it
makes me feel bad to write. The other fellows write oftner than I
but they dont have the care that I feel. This is all for this
time as Frank is waiting for me to go so goodby for this time
From your boy
Everett