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Description |
Journal kept by Captain Edwin F. Glenn, commanding officer of the 1898 U.S. Army Expedition to Cook Inlet in southcentral Alaska. June 29-Oct. 23, 1898. [228] pages ; 23 cm. The main task of the expedition was to explore the country north of Cook Inlet in order to discover the most "direct and practicable" route from the coast to the Tanana River by utilizing passes through the Alaska Range. Captain Glenn was tasked to collect and report on all information that was considered valuable to the development of the country. This included but was not limited to providing information on feasible and/or available routes of travel and transportation, locating appropriate sites for military posts, identifying agricultural and animal husbandry potential, and finally to observe and note the topographical features, weather, and general resources of the country, such as timber and minerals. Per instructions for reporting, Glenn took photographs and supplemented his journal entries with hand-drawn maps. In keeping with his duties Captain Glenn identifies possible railroad routes, notes the agricultural potential in both the Matanuska and Susitna River Valleys, and makes special mention of the mineral resources in the area (silver, gold, copper, granite, quartz, iron, coal, mica). As Captain Glenn records the progress of their route through southcentral Alaska, he includes daily weather reports and provides detailed description of the terrain, observing and noting berries (blueberries, cranberries, whortleberries (i.e. bilberry), mossberries (i.e. crowberries)), grasses, shrubs, brush and trees (waltzing" grass, bunch grass, swamp grass, slough grass, dogwoods, spruce, cottonwood, willows, alder, pine, fir), mosses (reindeer moss, peat bogs), fish (salmon, rainbow, grayling, trout), animals (moose, caribou, bear, sheep, dogs, mules, horses), birds (ducks, pheasants, swans), and insects (mosquitoes, flies, gnats). Glenn often writes about his interactions with Alaska natives, as well as his experience with local and/or native culture. For example, he describes both his understanding of a native potlatch and his experience with a Russian bath ("bagnio"), and notes the influence of the Greek Church in rural villages. He also details his attempts to collect local curios and native crafts, like arrows, belts decorated with beads and bone, a "parkey" blanket, toy bidarkas ("bidarkiis"), and fur hats and robes. In Kenai he meets with Chief Stephan where, though interpreters, they discuss the desire and need to establish schools for children in rural Alaska. More often however, his journal entries convey small annoyances, concerns, and general observances made during his travels. For instance, he gives special attention to documenting the difficulties of bathing and doing laundry on the trail, notes his dislike of glaciers, and commonly expresses his frustration over the lack of reliable mail service in the country. Glenn also regularly takes the time to record the town gossip in each village he passes through, acting as a talebearer. For example, he reports on rumors of extra-marital affairs, thievery, wealthy men, conmen, alcoholism, and domestic abuse and violence. In this way he richly describes the experience of frontier life at the turn of the century, the banal, colorful, and oftentimes disquieting. Individuals cited in passages, some only mentioned by position or last name, include: Packers Lee and Dillon; Privates Ayers, Powers, Canwell, Blitch, Marv, Woodworth, McGregor, Frederick E. Evans, Gilbert Dillinger, and George W. Van Schoonhoven; Corporal Young; Sergeants Frederick Mathys and William Yanert; Lieutenants Joseph C. Castner, Henry G. Learnard, John S. Kulp, and Henry T. Allen; Captains Lathrop, Abercrombie, and Humphrey; Major Mattson; Colonels Tingle and Maher, the "Colonel", Walter Mendenhall (geologist), Luther S. Kelly (chief of scouts), John S. Bagg (guide), H. H. Hicks (guide), Billy (interpreter), Stephan (guide), Naquita, Andrew; Dr. Gunning, Miss Clemmons; Miss Blanche Monroe, Mrs. Long Shorty (McConihe); and Messrs. George Palmer, Paul Buckley (prospector), Harry Swartz, W. J. Jack, N. H. Marshall, Chas Hubbard, N. A. Macht, A. H. Monroe, T. Lindsay, John Lee, Joe Budy, Dall DeWeese, Andrew Berg, John Madison, Julius Christiansen, E. A. White, Thomas Bedale, Albert F. Palmeter, Charles Loophole, Mikkel Michael Pedersen, T. Hanmore (agent, Alaska Commercial Company), Block (agent, Alaska Commercial Company), Bogart (agent, Alaska Commercial Company), White (agent, Alaska Commercial Company), Ryan (in charge of the Pacific Steam Whaling Company's cannery) and John Smith (of the N.A.C. Co.). Placenames include Ladd's Station, Knik Station, Knik Inlet, Knik Glacier, Knik River, Turnagain Arm, Fire Island, Sunrise City, Hope, Tyonek, Kenai, Homer, Soldotna, Seldovia, Anchor Point, Nakiska No. 2 (i.e. Nikishka Number Two), Eyack (i.e. Eyak), Neilchek (i.e. Ninilchik), Kussiloff (i.e. Kasilof), McKinley, Circle City, Valdez, Kodiak, Russian Mission, St. Michael, Talquitno, Beaver Creek, Moose Creek, Young's Creek (i.e. Young Creek), Marshall Creek, King Creek (i.e. Kings River), Hicks Creek, Boulder Creek, Cañon Creek, Indian Creek, Bubb Creek/Taiklano (Little Nelchina River), Matanuska River, Chickaloon River, Susitna River, Little Susitna River, Tazlina River, Christachina River (i.e. Chistochina River), Konsina River (i.e. Tiekel River), Copper River, Chuitna River, Johnson River, Tanana River, Yukon River, Kuskokwim River, White River, Lake Davis (i.e. Lake Louise), Lake Plaveznie (i.e. Tazlina Lake), Finger Lake, Twin Lakes, Lake Clark, Iliamna Lake, Wrangell Mountains, Mount Wrangell, Mount Drum, Coal Bay, Port Dick Inlet (bay), Portage Bay (i.e. Passage Canal), Beluga Flats, Glacier Hill. Steamers and ships include the S.S. Alliance, S.S. Dora, S.S. Excelsior, S.S. Kodat, S.S. Perry, and S.S. Wolcott. Companies mentioned include the Alaska Commercial Company, the Alaska Packing Company, the Pacific Steam Whaling Company, and the Boston Company. |
