My Trip to Alaska & Siberia
July 2, 1937
We set sail from Seattle,
With our hopes running high;
We ventured to the unknown,
Where mountains meet the sky.
July 7, 1937
At last Shumigan Islands,
Now came into view;
With false pass in the offing,
that sure was something new.
How thrilling to set o'r feet,
On solid ground once more;
Our thanks wen to heaven,
For the sight of that shore.
The call was disappointing,
All canneries were closed;
We were thankful just the same,
To stretch our aching bones.
July 8, 1937
Akutan whaling Station,
Then came into view;
Another disappointment,
the whales were in the stew.
Dutch Harbor was o'r next stop,
but we were not alone'
A U.S. Coast Guard cutter,
Was in that very zone.
There is a Russian church,
Built seventeen-sixty-three,'
It is the only relic,
Since Alaska became free.
July 9, 1937
We're back upon the ocean,
It is the Bearing Sea;
We are slowly heading North;
Millions seals to see.
They are Pribilof Islands
The seals choose for their home;
here they make their rendezvous,
Four hundred miles from Nome.
There are bulls, cows and pups,
By thousands on the shore;
The bulls guarding their harems,
With the constant roar.
It is strange how God provides,
For every mammal there;
And the U.S.A. secures,
Protection everywhere.
July 10 to 13, 1937
We set sail for St. Michael's,
A town of great renown;
Now t'is all but abandoned,
And called a ghostly town.
Again we sailed the Bearing Sea,
For the famous town of Nome;
Which prospectors hears ago,
Choose for their future home.
There's nothing left but rumors,
Of golden rush of yore;
How men fount it on the hills,
and sliced it from the shore.
Here we met some Eskimoes,
the natives of these shores;
They raced Kayaks, Umiaks,
Sang, played, and danced some more.
July 14, 1937
From here we made for Teller
The gateway of the North;
Where herds of Reindeer prosper,
And surely pay their worth.
There are more than million,
Scattered over the hills,
Herded by Lapps and Eskimoes,
Who sure enjoy the thrills.
They now have solved the problem,
For the poor of the North;
They give them food and clothing;
With plenty of good sport.
July 15, 1937
We crossed the Arctic Circle,
Its solitudes to see;
Father Neptune came on board,
To send us back to sea.
He said the North was sacred,
Would not bear intrusion;
But o'r friendly visit
Could course no confusion,
So to all he bid welcome,
Who would salt water drink;
And to all gave diplomas,
That of him they should think.
Siberia the next stop,
Which we were glad to see;
To find how Russians fare,
With hammer--sickle free.
East Cape is but a village,
Where the mongols prevail;
They hunt and fish for living
And surely are not frail.
There was nought to buy or see
But dogs and cobble stones;
It seemed as if the Mongols
Left nothing but the bones.
The rubles and kopeks there,
Were puzzled to us all;
But two bits, dimes and nickels,
Caused Russians downfall.
July 16, 1937
Back to Nome we sailed once more,
On our way back home;
Of all the towns visited,
The best was friendly Nome.
July 18, 1937
We left Nome for Briston Bay,
The Red Salmon to see;
From the fishery reports,
That's where they ought to be.
July 19, 1937
Eight ships were in the offing,
All waiting for their share;
We anchored in midst of them,
To see how they would fare.
S.S. Prince Eithel Fredrick
A raider of world war;
Now called S.S. Otsego,
Was just three miles from shore.
July 20, 1937
After hours of waiting,
We then set sail once more;
All happy to be making
For the Old Dutch Harbor.
July 21, 1937
Out in open sea again,
Another two day sail;
That study Victoria,
Surely will never fail.
July 22, 1937
We anchored at Dutch Harbor,
O' just to say Hello;
Then we sailed for Akutan,
Whale story to swallow.
The whales were conspicuous,
By their absence you see;
So we bought the teeth they left,
When giving up the sea.
July 23, 1937
This day we spent at False Pass,
Studying Canneries;
Some wandered along the shore,
Seeking shell fineries.
One would never imagine,
To see so many salmon;
How cleanly they handle them,
And how fast they can 'em.
They catch'm--clean'em--can'em
In one operation;
They ship'em--sell'em--buy'em,
In the same old fashion.
July 24,1937
Back on the broad Pacific,
To capital Juneau;
We're hoping for fair weather,
T'is hard to tell, you know.
We're to stop to Cordova,
The foremost copper town;
It's known for its canneries
Thru the land up and down.
Passing thru Shekikos Strait,
Katmai was scarcely seen,
And Kodiak with its bears,
As we sailed right between.
July 25, 1937
Sunday we spent watching,
The islands all around;
And the snow covered mountains,
With glaciers sloping down.
Then we sailed thru William Sound,
A dream of wooded hills;
Waterfalls on every side,
Their grandeur filled with thrills.
July 26, 1937
We anchored at Cordova,
T'was raining all 'ova;
Sailed away with out delay,
To come some other day.
We sailed the Alaskan Gulf,
T'was choppy and rough;
Wind and rain stirred up a gale,
T'was not too much but nough.
I pleaded for some island,
To rest my wobbly brain'
Or any place where I could stand,
And still that rocking frame.
All I got were jeers and laughs,
To cheer me on my way;
So I took to bed and slept,
And left the sea at play.
July 27, 1937
Oh! what a consolation,
To be near land once more;
Soon we entered Icy Straits,
It's Janneau's open door.
July 28, 1937
Capitol city Janneau
Is well known all around;
Its boats, lumber, gold and fish,
and all wild game around.
Famous glacier Mendenhall,
Is sixteen miles away;
Attracts many visitors,
From near and far away.
In Alaskan glacier fields,
Taku is prominent;
Few there are to take its place,
On local firmament.
July 29, 1937
A short stop at Union Bay,
We took on salmon there;
To please U.P. Company,
Of course was only fair.
Ketchikan is first and last,
On the Island passage;
Here halibut and salmon,
Still holding their prestige.
Inside passage has its charms,
Of grandeur unsurpassed;
We may talk about the fjords,
But they must be the last.
July 30, 1937
To the captain and the crew,
We owe a vote of thanks;
There are just few men we knew,
Whose kindness so expands.
Our faithful musicians,
Deserve some credit too;
They kept us in good humor,
When we were feeling blue.
Now my Victoria friends,
Say adieu, not farewell;
We may live in different lands,
But God is everywhere.
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