K< illlAK, ALASKA,
JlLV
UiK.
Vol. XVI. No. 1
~phU v«**tr we e.debrufred nur Fourth
of.Inly on t h • Fifth. The day
' is w.ivv.i and pb-tsant and ill that
we could ask f >r as u suitable ilay
f..r a pic nie. Th<* eirly hours of tin*
morning wen* spoil* in prep'• ri11tr the
luneh ami getting tin* boats in read
in.-ss, but by 1'* o'clock we were off.
Tie* launch with the big skiff and ot
ter boat in tow, decorated with flags
:md bunting and filled with children
made a pretty picture.
( Mir first stop was at Kodiak where
we waited to see the finish of the boat
r iee. Our boys were dissn ppointed
that we did not get there in time to
enter the “K. R. 0.” in the contest.
Willie was ail re she could have beaten
:iny boat of her class. We then went
ii to Gibson’s Ray where we intend
. I to have our picnic, but wo had not
boon there long before we found
the place preempted, and instead of
having a picnic wo were to be a pic
nic for the tiny little Hies. They are
not as big as a pin head, but they
have a bite like a hungry wolf. The
only escape from them is to get
where there is a breeze blowing. In
.rder to do this we had to climb a bluff
which separates the ocean from the
hay. It was not an easy task to ear
ly all the lunch up there ami the
water we would need for drinking,
hut it was easier than fighting the
Hies.
Alter tr* dinner the children en
joyed the bonbonssent fur the occa
sion by some friends in Buffalo, X.
V. We then had a contest in chew
i*• tr a string with a piece of candy at
tached to the end. Willie Kobertson
was the first to reach the candy.
Foot races and otic r sports followed,
after which we started for home.
The ride back was considerably pro
longed as it was very pleasanton the
water. A whale did a stunt for our
enjoyment by jumping completely
out of the water so that we could see
his entire body. What a splash he
did make when he came down.
On reaching home, when the even
ing chores were done, supper prepared
and eaten, the older boys and girls
spent the evening together playing
games, listening to music, and in hiv
ing a general good time. Ail declar
ed that they had had a delightful day.
I he only mishap was that Mike lost
his watch, which was afterwards
found, and Miss John sen 'a arm was
go badly fly-bitten that it was swol
len for several days.
The one regret of the day was that
Mrs. Learn and Bessie Patchell were
not with us. Bessie was too ill to go
and Mrs. Learn stayed at home to
take care of her.