PBA Galleries

July 1, 6 leaves written on both sides, and July 10, 9 leaves written on both sides. In pencil. 8x5.

Two long and newsworthy letters written by a young woman, apparently from Sacramento, bound for Alaska in the company of several other women. The first letter, written over a period of four days, records the beginning of the voyage, and events aboard ship, including the meals, seasickness, celebrating the 4th of July, the discovery of a stowaway ("...he was set to feeding the cattle but has refused to work and is ugly and surly - the captain has had him hand-cuffed and tied to an upper deck near the bridge. He will be left there and fed on bread and water until he is willing to obey orders...), etc. The second letter sees them having made landfall, "The scenery around Valdez is grand - the mountains have never been measured. The little town, with about 500 population, is beautifully located - the immense glacier back of the town often threatens it with destruction..." She later notes "The further north one goes the more expensive it becomes to live. Lucile said that one time while they lived at Valdez a church social was postponed as there was not an egg in town for the ice cream - butter, meats & vegetables are high. A short time ago all the meat in town was sold and the people lived on canned goods until a steamer arrived. Everything is sent from Seattle..." A very interesting pair of letters, rich in detail of early Alaska.