WEBVTT 00:00.460 --> 00:03.960 I appreciate that all you did pitch your nose to your pen. 00:04.000 --> 00:01.420 Leave us a spin on the 00:05.160 --> 00:27.800 witch's 01:27.800 --> 01:47.800 Beyond blue horizons, far at the world's end, strange, fascinating lands beckon us. 01:47.800 --> 01:50.360 Bid us revel in their exotic splendours. 01:50.360 --> 02:02.840 Come with us as we head for ports of call. 02:02.840 --> 02:07.680 By the magic of imagination, we take you now to the American land of the midnight sun, 02:07.680 --> 02:12.740 up above 5440, where gargantuan mountains cast their austere shadows over the gently 02:12.740 --> 02:17.200 lapping waters of inlets and coves, which jealously vie with the beauty of Norway's 02:17.200 --> 02:22.080 meyards, where giant icebergs are dwarfed to insignificance by the majesty of their 02:22.080 --> 02:27.080 mother glaciers, where the spell of the Yukon and the trail of gold transformed men into 02:27.080 --> 02:31.120 animals, where the tenderfoot fell by the wayside to watch his stronger brother plunge 02:31.120 --> 02:33.560 on to success and fortune. 02:33.560 --> 02:35.780 This is the land of paradoxes. 02:35.780 --> 02:37.920 This is our port of call. 02:37.920 --> 02:55.360 This is Alaska. 02:55.360 --> 02:57.360 It is the year 1741. 02:57.360 --> 03:03.080 Catherine, empress of all the Russia's, sits upon the throne of her murdered husband. 03:03.080 --> 03:06.720 Before her stands a strange, hard-bizzaged assortment of men. 03:06.720 --> 03:11.920 A grizzled Cossack, a Danish sea captain, a Russian navigator, a German naturalist. 03:11.920 --> 03:15.320 I know that Sahara no longer lives. 03:15.320 --> 03:16.320 What matters that? 03:16.320 --> 03:19.240 Why has nothing been done about this exploration which he commanded? 03:19.240 --> 03:20.960 Well, Captain Bearing? 03:20.960 --> 03:23.120 Your majesty, something has been done. 03:23.120 --> 03:24.120 Well? 03:24.120 --> 03:27.480 We have decided it is a useless and foolhardy expedition. 03:27.480 --> 03:29.400 You have decided? 03:29.400 --> 03:32.360 And by whom were you empowered to make such a decision? 03:32.360 --> 03:33.800 Why have you made it? 03:33.800 --> 03:38.720 After all, your majesty, we have nothing but the word of Gwastef, this Cossack and his 03:38.720 --> 03:39.720 companions. 03:39.720 --> 03:44.920 They tell us they sighted birds, that strange driftwood appeared on the beach of northern 03:44.920 --> 03:45.920 Siberia. 03:45.920 --> 03:46.920 I know. 03:46.920 --> 03:49.920 I command you, Captain Vitas Bearing, to set sail immediately. 03:49.920 --> 03:53.040 As soon as the party can be fitted out on the boat prepared. 03:53.040 --> 03:55.040 No, two boats. 03:55.040 --> 03:58.960 And you, Captain Jerichoft, you shall command the second one. 03:58.960 --> 04:03.360 You, Dr. Stella, are to accompany Captain Bearing. 04:03.360 --> 04:06.440 Your services as a physician may be needed. 04:06.440 --> 04:09.160 Now, are my commands clear? 04:09.160 --> 04:13.520 Is there the slightest possibility that you will assume the right to make further decisions? 04:13.520 --> 04:16.120 No, your imperial majesty. 04:16.120 --> 04:21.560 We shall proceed to the coast of northeastern Siberia at once and set sail from there to 04:21.560 --> 04:22.560 the east. 04:22.560 --> 04:30.880 And may heaven help us. 04:30.880 --> 04:35.560 After prolonged raging storms, during which the two ships became hopelessly separated, 04:35.560 --> 04:38.840 a ravishing tragedy had struck Bearing's crew, scurvy. 04:38.840 --> 04:45.760 On the 18th of July, 1741, with most of the crew dead or dying, the cry which sent thrills 04:45.760 --> 04:48.520 of hope racing through the tormented bodies rang out. 04:48.520 --> 04:49.520 Land! 04:49.520 --> 04:50.520 Land! 04:50.520 --> 04:54.920 Captain Vitas Bearing, himself laid low by the disease, was carried on a cot to the deck, 04:54.920 --> 04:59.600 to few for the first time by any white man, the gorgeous and impelling glory of a craggy, 04:59.600 --> 05:03.840 ragged, snow-hawry peak, 18,000 feet high. 05:03.840 --> 05:06.720 Raising himself weakly upon one elbow, he cried, 05:06.720 --> 05:07.720 Elias! 05:07.720 --> 05:08.720 Elias! 05:08.720 --> 05:14.240 Now we know what courage thou had given when thou did seek refuge in the mountain and the 05:14.240 --> 05:16.680 Lord did appear unto you. 05:16.680 --> 05:24.080 Elias, this is thy mountain, Mount St. Elias. 05:24.080 --> 05:32.640 A few days after his discovery, Vitas Bearing's ship founded. 05:32.640 --> 05:36.960 He, with the other stricken members of his ill-fated crew, was carried to the shore of 05:36.960 --> 05:39.480 this new land, placed in a makeshift hut. 05:39.480 --> 05:43.920 Dr. Wilhelm Teller, absent for some time on a reconnoitering expedition from additional 05:43.920 --> 05:46.880 herbs, returns to the crewed shelter. 05:46.880 --> 05:50.840 I have discovered several valuable herbs, Captain Bill. 05:50.840 --> 05:53.920 Oh, it is no use, Doctor. 05:53.920 --> 05:55.360 No use. 05:55.360 --> 06:00.320 I am going to save the herbs for the other men. 06:00.320 --> 06:02.280 What is it that you have in your hand? 06:02.280 --> 06:04.320 The skin of a sea otter, Captain. 06:04.320 --> 06:06.040 A sea otter. 06:06.040 --> 06:08.160 Russia loves furs. 06:08.160 --> 06:10.800 The Empress loves furs. 06:10.800 --> 06:12.640 Take it back to her. 06:12.640 --> 06:17.920 Take it to her as my gift from her new empire. 06:17.920 --> 06:22.040 You see this little blue flower I hold in my hand, Doctor? 06:22.040 --> 06:23.040 Yes, Captain. 06:23.040 --> 06:24.360 But forget me not. 06:24.360 --> 06:27.720 I plucked it as they carried me ashore. 06:27.720 --> 06:29.920 Press it. 06:29.920 --> 06:33.280 Take it also back to our Empress. 06:33.280 --> 06:47.880 Tell her it is a symbol of my love for her and for Russia. 06:47.880 --> 06:53.960 A few days later, Vita's bearing died, was laid to rest upon the desolate shore of the 06:53.960 --> 06:56.440 land which he had discovered. 06:56.440 --> 07:06.040 Alaska had been claimed for Catherine and for Russia. 07:06.040 --> 07:07.840 Thus was Alaska discovered. 07:07.840 --> 07:13.400 Thus, through the lowly token of that successful but tragic expedition, the crudely tanned skin 07:13.400 --> 07:15.120 of a sea otter. 07:15.120 --> 07:20.000 Other Russians were enticed to this new country and a reign of terror was begun. 07:20.000 --> 07:24.840 Under the heartless leadership of Baranoth, natives were scourged into submission, lashed 07:24.840 --> 07:28.680 into slavery to provide their white-bearded masters with furs. 07:28.680 --> 07:32.160 The capital was established on the coast called Sitka. 07:32.160 --> 07:37.000 The miraculous beauties of the Alaskan coast, the crags of mountains, the iridescent blue-green 07:37.000 --> 07:41.620 and malaspinous glacier, the sublime majesty of tall timber, the jade green of the Pacific 07:41.620 --> 07:43.440 and each tiny cove. 07:43.440 --> 07:46.600 None of these held any lore for the Slavic conquerors. 07:46.600 --> 07:52.720 Their goal was fortune and they found it in the intrinsic value of furs, sea otter, seal, 07:52.720 --> 07:56.760 fox, wolverine, mink, bear. 07:56.760 --> 08:06.680 But the watchful eyes of Polaris the North Star saw a far different destiny for Alaska. 08:06.680 --> 08:11.280 During the Crimean War, Russia, fearful that this valuable virgin land might fall into 08:11.280 --> 08:15.560 the hands of Great Britain, offered to sell to the United States. 08:15.560 --> 08:19.480 The one man in the entire United States whose vision was capable of evaluating the acquisition 08:19.480 --> 08:23.600 of the vast territory and whose office as Secretary of State placed him in a position 08:23.600 --> 08:26.880 to promote the purchase was William H. Seward. 08:26.880 --> 08:29.960 The rest of the country for the most part was bitterly opposed. 08:29.960 --> 08:34.560 Newspapers said, 99 one hundredths of the territory is absolutely worthless. 08:34.560 --> 08:39.240 What can the United States do with 370 million acres of iceberg? 08:39.240 --> 08:40.240 Worthless. 08:40.240 --> 08:48.760 Nothing but Seward's icebox. 08:48.760 --> 08:51.320 But Seward worked diligently and relentlessly. 08:51.320 --> 08:56.880 And finally in 1867, Congress approved the treaty with Russia and President Johnson proclaimed 08:56.880 --> 09:01.480 it on June 20th, gratifying the purchase of the territory for the price of seven million 09:01.480 --> 09:03.280 two hundred thousand dollars. 09:03.280 --> 09:07.880 And it was named by Seward, Alaska, meaning great land. 09:07.880 --> 09:12.720 On October 18th of the same year, at three o'clock in the afternoon, for the first time, 09:12.720 --> 09:25.760 the stars and stripes fluttered over Alaska and Seward's icebox became an American territory. 09:25.760 --> 09:30.880 But in the great public mind, the word Alaska remained for 30 years synonymous with polar 09:30.880 --> 09:36.480 bears, vast sweeps of glacial waste, a bleak, snow-laden country, uninhabitable by white 09:36.480 --> 09:42.360 men until the summer of 1896, when George W. Carmack, prospecting along a small stream 09:42.360 --> 09:50.320 in the Klondike region, made the discovery which startled the civilized world. 09:50.320 --> 10:03.560 Gold. 10:03.560 --> 10:06.440 The lady villages became thriving, boisterous cities. 10:06.440 --> 10:09.360 Caribou trails were beaten into veritable highways under the heavy tread of thousands 10:09.360 --> 10:10.360 of men and women. 10:10.360 --> 10:14.360 The ribbled laughter borne of the spirit of adventure and the lure of untold wealth rang 10:14.360 --> 10:16.440 through new garish dance halls. 10:16.440 --> 10:20.560 Tender feet, the pitiful chichacos fought side by side with the more robust. 10:20.560 --> 10:32.880 And the cry on every tongue was, gold, gold, gold! 10:32.880 --> 10:37.040 Just one instance of the mob psychology which ruled the thrilling, hazardous days of 98 10:37.040 --> 10:39.560 is found in the story of Skagway. 10:39.560 --> 10:43.600 An itinerant miner, bringing news to Daya of a far easier and shorter route over the 10:43.600 --> 10:49.160 mountains than the steep Chilkoot, impelled 15,000 persons to abandon the town, stamped 10:49.160 --> 10:52.000 Pell Mel for Skagway and the White Pass. 10:52.000 --> 10:56.680 Among them was the most famous woman of all of Alaska's hectic history, a young widow, 10:56.680 --> 11:02.360 Mrs. Harriet Pullen, the three small boys and seven dollars. 11:02.360 --> 11:04.880 Now boys, you go to sleep, all three of you. 11:04.880 --> 11:07.400 Mother's got a lot of work to do yet tonight. 11:07.400 --> 11:08.400 Go to sleep. 11:08.400 --> 11:12.960 Oh, why, I didn't know anyone was in here. 11:12.960 --> 11:14.320 Hello, Mr. Reed, how are you? 11:14.320 --> 11:15.840 Oh, fair to middle of Mrs. Pullen. 11:15.840 --> 11:18.920 I came over to buy six more of those fine drinking glasses of yours. 11:18.920 --> 11:21.400 You folks must break a lot of them at your place. 11:21.400 --> 11:23.240 Nope, we just seem to lose them. 11:23.240 --> 11:26.120 Well, here you are, six of them. 11:26.120 --> 11:28.160 And that'll be twelve dollars, two dollars apiece. 11:28.160 --> 11:29.160 And cheap at half the price. 11:29.160 --> 11:31.960 You know, I can't figure out where in heck you'd get these. 11:31.960 --> 11:34.320 I ain't seen glasses like these anywhere else. 11:34.320 --> 11:35.320 They look like beer bottles. 11:35.320 --> 11:37.280 I'll tell you a secret. 11:37.280 --> 11:38.280 They are beer bottles. 11:38.280 --> 11:39.280 What? 11:39.280 --> 11:41.720 Yes, I'm making myself out of old beer bottles. 11:41.720 --> 11:43.480 Soapy Smith gives them to me from his saloon. 11:43.480 --> 11:44.480 But how in the world? 11:44.480 --> 11:45.480 Well, now, that'd be telling. 11:45.480 --> 11:50.480 Say, by the way, while you're here, I want to ask you something, Mr. Reed. 11:50.480 --> 11:53.560 Do you think the folks from Skagway would buy apple pie? 11:53.560 --> 11:54.560 Would buy them? 11:54.560 --> 11:55.560 Well, I should say they would. 11:55.560 --> 11:56.560 That's what I thought. 11:56.560 --> 11:59.560 Now here, you just taste this. 11:59.560 --> 12:00.560 Apple pie? 12:00.560 --> 12:02.560 Well, I swoon. 12:02.560 --> 12:03.560 Mmm. 12:03.560 --> 12:06.880 Oh, great godry this is good. 12:06.880 --> 12:08.480 It's made from fresh apples. 12:08.480 --> 12:09.480 Where'd you get them? 12:09.480 --> 12:10.480 Oh, no. 12:10.480 --> 12:11.480 They're dried apples, all right. 12:11.480 --> 12:14.680 I just found out last night how to fix them so they'd taste fresh. 12:14.680 --> 12:17.400 Say, Harriet Willen, you found something here. 12:17.400 --> 12:19.160 Why, they're snappies up like hotcakes. 12:19.160 --> 12:22.760 Why don't you bake a lot of them tonight, and I'll pass the word around that they'll 12:22.760 --> 12:23.760 be ready tomorrow morning. 12:23.760 --> 12:26.760 Well, Frank Reed, that's just what I'm going to do. 12:26.760 --> 12:28.760 So you get out of here now and leave me be. 12:28.760 --> 12:29.760 I've got to get to work. 12:29.760 --> 12:30.760 You don't suppose you could spare them? 12:30.760 --> 12:31.760 They don't. 12:31.760 --> 12:32.760 Oh, no. 12:32.760 --> 12:33.760 No, no. 12:33.760 --> 12:36.260 Now, boys, if you like them so well, I'll bake them all tonight, and you can have them 12:36.260 --> 12:37.260 tomorrow morning. 12:37.260 --> 12:38.260 But I've gone over the pass tomorrow morning. 12:38.260 --> 12:41.960 Well, then I'll have one waiting for you when you get back. 12:41.960 --> 12:44.960 Oh, I didn't see you. 12:44.960 --> 12:47.960 Oh, you're here, Harriet. 12:47.960 --> 12:50.960 Oh, my, you're here. 12:50.960 --> 12:51.960 Here. 12:51.960 --> 12:54.960 Well, then I'll have one waiting for you when you get back. 12:58.960 --> 13:00.960 Oh, I didn't see you were standing there, Sophie Sniff. 13:00.960 --> 13:02.960 Sorry if I startled your mother, Pullum. 13:02.960 --> 13:05.960 Fact is, I have to mow her to talk business with her. 13:05.960 --> 13:07.960 Yes? Well? 13:07.960 --> 13:09.960 You know, the more stuff you sell at your place here, 13:09.960 --> 13:11.960 the more business I lose at my establishment. 13:11.960 --> 13:13.960 You're a gambling house for me. 13:13.960 --> 13:14.960 Well, no, I... 13:14.960 --> 13:16.960 What do you expect I should do about it, Sophie? 13:16.960 --> 13:19.960 Well, I want you to keep on making your tires, 13:19.960 --> 13:22.960 but let me sell them for you at my place. 13:22.960 --> 13:24.960 On commission, of course. 13:24.960 --> 13:26.960 What? 13:26.960 --> 13:28.960 Why, Sophie? 13:28.960 --> 13:31.960 Well, I hope it'd be no harm in asking. 13:31.960 --> 13:33.960 Sorry, you won't take me up on my offer. 13:33.960 --> 13:36.960 Oh, I'll get along all right. 13:37.960 --> 13:40.960 I wonder what he's up to. 13:40.960 --> 13:42.960 What'd you say, Sophie? 13:42.960 --> 13:43.960 Will she do it? 13:43.960 --> 13:45.960 No, she's gonna keep on selling them herself. 13:45.960 --> 13:47.960 Just like I thought. 13:47.960 --> 13:49.960 Well, me and Fanny and the kid will take care of her tonight. 13:49.960 --> 13:51.960 We'll fix her and her pies. 13:51.960 --> 13:52.960 No, you won't, Yank. 13:52.960 --> 13:54.960 You won't touch her nor her pies. 13:54.960 --> 13:55.960 Huh? What do you mean? 13:55.960 --> 13:56.960 Just what I said. 13:56.960 --> 13:58.960 I don't mind roughing it up a bit with a gentleman 13:58.960 --> 14:01.960 who'll come into my information bureau. 14:01.960 --> 14:03.960 They're leaving them in their spare cash. 14:03.960 --> 14:05.960 But we'll leave them in the house. 14:05.960 --> 14:07.960 I'll be back in a minute. 14:07.960 --> 14:10.960 They're leaving them in their spare cash. 14:10.960 --> 14:12.960 But we'll leave women alone. Is that understood? 14:12.960 --> 14:13.960 Yeah, I guess so. 14:13.960 --> 14:15.960 And if anyone else harms Harriet Pullen or her pies, 14:15.960 --> 14:17.960 I'll hold you responsible. 14:17.960 --> 14:19.960 Well, here we are at the place. 14:19.960 --> 14:20.960 Come on in. 14:20.960 --> 14:22.960 I'll stake it in dinner. 14:25.960 --> 14:27.960 Oh, hello, Sophie. 14:27.960 --> 14:28.960 Hello, Jim. 14:28.960 --> 14:29.960 How's it going? 14:29.960 --> 14:30.960 How are you, Sophie? 14:30.960 --> 14:32.960 Hello, Jake. 14:32.960 --> 14:34.960 Hello, Sophie. 14:34.960 --> 14:37.960 Well, well, if it isn't Parson Hickey himself. 14:37.960 --> 14:40.960 Strange to see you here in this den of iniquity, Parson, 14:40.960 --> 14:41.960 at this time of night. 14:41.960 --> 14:43.960 Yes, but I knew I'd be able to reach you here. 14:43.960 --> 14:45.960 Oh, you wanted to see me? 14:45.960 --> 14:47.960 Sophie, the Union Church wants to buy an organ. 14:47.960 --> 14:48.960 Good idea. 14:48.960 --> 14:50.960 There's an organ in Juneau that we can get. 14:50.960 --> 14:51.960 We have the money to buy it, 14:51.960 --> 14:54.960 but we need some more to ship it up here. 14:54.960 --> 14:55.960 How much do you need? 14:55.960 --> 14:56.960 $500. 14:56.960 --> 14:57.960 Oh, easy. 14:57.960 --> 14:59.960 Here, here's a thousand. 14:59.960 --> 15:00.960 A thousand dollars? 15:00.960 --> 15:03.960 Sure, buy a bench and some hymnals, too. 15:03.960 --> 15:07.960 Oh, by the way, how much have you gotten your fund all together, Parson? 15:07.960 --> 15:10.960 Well, with this we'll have $3,500. 15:10.960 --> 15:12.960 Now, this is mighty generous of you, Sophie. 15:12.960 --> 15:14.960 The congregation will certainly hear of this. 15:14.960 --> 15:15.960 Oh, don't mention it, Parson. 15:15.960 --> 15:16.960 Don't mention it. 15:16.960 --> 15:17.960 Thank you very much, Sophie Smith. 15:17.960 --> 15:19.960 You'll be rewarded for this. 15:19.960 --> 15:23.960 And thank you, Parson, and all your congregation. 15:23.960 --> 15:24.960 Hey. 15:24.960 --> 15:25.960 Yeah? 15:25.960 --> 15:26.960 Come here. 15:26.960 --> 15:28.960 Can you get under the flaps of the tent over at the Union Church? 15:28.960 --> 15:29.960 Sure I can. 15:29.960 --> 15:31.960 There'll be $3,500 over there tonight. 15:31.960 --> 15:33.960 Go and get it. 15:40.960 --> 15:44.960 Infuriated by the theft of the money, the citizens of Skagway formed a vigilance committee 15:44.960 --> 15:46.960 to determine upon a course of action. 15:46.960 --> 15:48.960 They assembled in the shed at the end of the pier. 15:48.960 --> 15:53.960 Frank Reed, stalwart, courageous engineer, was assigned the task of guarding the one entrance. 15:53.960 --> 16:01.960 While the meeting was in progress, one of Smith's henchmen ran breathlessly into the dance hall. 16:02.960 --> 16:03.960 Sophie, Sophie. 16:03.960 --> 16:04.960 Yeah? 16:04.960 --> 16:05.960 Where is it, Jack? 16:05.960 --> 16:06.960 Listen, Sophie. 16:06.960 --> 16:08.960 They're holding a meeting down at the dock. 16:08.960 --> 16:09.960 Huh? 16:09.960 --> 16:10.960 What about? 16:10.960 --> 16:11.960 About you. 16:11.960 --> 16:12.960 Huh? 16:12.960 --> 16:13.960 Yeah, they're sore about that the money I took. 16:13.960 --> 16:14.960 They think you've done it. 16:14.960 --> 16:15.960 Oh. 16:15.960 --> 16:17.960 They think I did it, huh? 16:17.960 --> 16:20.960 And they're holding a meeting to talk about me, are they? 16:20.960 --> 16:21.960 Well, I'll soon end that. 16:21.960 --> 16:23.960 Yeah, what are you going to do, Sophie? 16:23.960 --> 16:25.960 I'll show them who's running this town. 16:25.960 --> 16:26.960 Give them a gun. 16:26.960 --> 16:28.960 Sophie, don't go down there. 16:28.960 --> 16:30.960 Frank Reed stands at the door. 16:30.960 --> 16:31.960 He's a dead shot. 16:31.960 --> 16:33.960 Oh, he is, you see? 16:33.960 --> 16:34.960 Ha! 16:34.960 --> 16:36.960 I'm not so bad myself. 16:36.960 --> 16:38.960 Get out of my way. 16:38.960 --> 16:41.960 I'm going to put a stop to that meeting right now. 16:41.960 --> 16:44.960 Oh, the meeting. 16:44.960 --> 16:45.960 I'll end this. 16:45.960 --> 16:46.960 Who's there? 16:46.960 --> 16:47.960 That's me, Frank. 16:47.960 --> 16:48.960 Sophie Smith. 16:48.960 --> 16:50.960 Don't come one step closer, Sophie. 16:50.960 --> 16:52.960 I'll shoot you down if you do. 16:52.960 --> 16:54.960 We'll see about that. 16:54.960 --> 16:55.960 Oh! 16:55.960 --> 16:56.960 Frank! 16:56.960 --> 16:57.960 What's happening here? 16:57.960 --> 17:00.960 Frank Reed, what's the trouble? 17:00.960 --> 17:03.960 It's all right, Boston. 17:03.960 --> 17:05.960 I'm going to get you out of here. 17:05.960 --> 17:06.960 Oh, no. 17:06.960 --> 17:07.960 Oh, no. 17:07.960 --> 17:08.960 Oh, no. 17:08.960 --> 17:09.960 Oh, no. 17:09.960 --> 17:11.960 It's all right, Boston. 17:11.960 --> 17:15.960 You don't have to hold your meeting now. 17:15.960 --> 17:19.960 I just shot Sophie Smith. 17:29.960 --> 17:31.960 Over the resting place of Sophie Smith, 17:31.960 --> 17:33.960 there stands the inscription, 17:33.960 --> 17:37.960 Jefferson R. Smith, died July 18, 1898, 17:37.960 --> 17:39.960 aged 38 years. 17:39.960 --> 17:41.960 And over Reed's grave, Frank H. Reed, 17:41.960 --> 17:43.960 died July 20, 1898. 17:43.960 --> 17:46.960 He gave his life for the honour of Skagway. 17:46.960 --> 17:49.960 Thus, the black reign of gangster Sophie Smith ended, 17:49.960 --> 17:52.960 his henchmen fleeing to the hills like jackrabbits, 17:52.960 --> 17:56.960 some to escape, others to be recaptured and imprisoned. 18:02.960 --> 18:04.960 Now, as we come down the years to modern Skagway, 18:04.960 --> 18:07.960 we visit Harriet Pullen once more. 18:07.960 --> 18:10.960 This time not in the dingy tent house of 98, 18:10.960 --> 18:13.960 but in her spacious and inviting hotel, Pullen House, 18:13.960 --> 18:15.960 the most noted hostelry in Alaska. 18:15.960 --> 18:18.960 Mrs. Pullen takes us into the wide room just off the lobby, 18:18.960 --> 18:19.960 and she says to us... 18:19.960 --> 18:23.960 Yes, in here I've got all of Sophie Smith's gambling outfits. 18:23.960 --> 18:25.960 There's his roulette wheel, 18:25.960 --> 18:27.960 and there's his solid oak card table. 18:27.960 --> 18:30.960 That is, his victims thought it was solid, but it wasn't. 18:30.960 --> 18:32.960 Look here, he had a slip right here 18:32.960 --> 18:35.960 where he could take out an ace any time he thought he needed it. 18:35.960 --> 18:39.960 And here's his gun, the same gun he used to shoot Frank Reed. 18:39.960 --> 18:43.960 Sophie never got my pies, but I got his gun. 18:44.960 --> 18:46.960 I should say you did. 18:46.960 --> 18:50.960 Well, Mrs. Pullen, many thanks for your hospitality. 18:50.960 --> 18:51.960 And your thrilling story. 18:51.960 --> 18:53.960 You folks are going up over the white pass 18:53.960 --> 18:55.960 and Yukon Railroad, aren't you? 18:55.960 --> 18:56.960 Yes, we are. 18:56.960 --> 18:58.960 Well, it's a beautiful trip. 18:58.960 --> 19:02.960 Enjoy yourselves, and don't forget to come back some day. 19:02.960 --> 19:06.960 We won't forget, Mother Pullen, Mother of the North, 19:06.960 --> 19:10.960 and we'll never forget you and your wonderful pies. 19:10.960 --> 19:12.960 We go into the center of Skagway, 19:12.960 --> 19:14.960 climb aboard the ultra-modern railroad coach, 19:14.960 --> 19:16.960 and we're off for the Yukon. 19:16.960 --> 19:20.960 Up, up, up we go, across the Skagway River. 19:20.960 --> 19:22.960 The treetops drop below as we climb, 19:22.960 --> 19:25.960 across yawning canyons, hugging grim walls of rock, 19:25.960 --> 19:28.960 roaring across spidery steel cantilever bridges. 19:28.960 --> 19:32.960 Look, away down below there, right in the bottom of that chasm, 19:32.960 --> 19:36.960 those view-tumble-down tracks are all the remain of White Pass City. 19:36.960 --> 19:39.960 The first stopping off is the Yukon Railroad. 19:39.960 --> 19:42.960 The Yukon Railroad is a long, long way from here. 19:42.960 --> 19:46.960 The view-tumble-down tracks are all the remain of White Pass City, 19:46.960 --> 19:49.960 the first stopping off place in the gold rush days. 19:49.960 --> 19:52.960 As we look down now from the comfort of our railroad coach, 19:52.960 --> 19:56.960 is it a far stretch of the imagination to see a party of prospectors 19:56.960 --> 19:59.960 trudging up over the snow-blanketed pass? 20:02.960 --> 20:04.960 Why are you making out, youngster? 20:04.960 --> 20:05.960 Not so good. 20:05.960 --> 20:08.960 I don't know whether I can make it or not. 20:08.960 --> 20:10.960 Sure you can make it. 20:10.960 --> 20:13.960 But I have to carry the whole shebang. 20:16.960 --> 20:19.960 No. No, it's no use, Potter. 20:19.960 --> 20:21.960 I can't go on. 20:21.960 --> 20:24.960 Give me a hand with the kid. We'll get him up there. 20:24.960 --> 20:26.960 At least the dead horse goes. 20:26.960 --> 20:29.960 No, you can't carry me. I won't let you. 20:29.960 --> 20:31.960 I won't let you carry me. 20:31.960 --> 20:33.960 I don't know how to die. 20:33.960 --> 20:36.960 Such scenes were being enacted every day during the gold rush. 20:36.960 --> 20:39.960 Yes, even upon that day in 1900, 20:39.960 --> 20:42.960 the grand wizard of Alaska, Dr. C.C. Giorgison, 20:42.960 --> 20:45.960 was appearing before the House of Representatives Agricultural Committee. 20:45.960 --> 20:48.960 Dr. Giorgison, I know why you're here, but it's useless. 20:48.960 --> 20:51.960 Your appropriation for the development of agriculture in Alaska 20:51.960 --> 20:53.960 is $12,000 a year. 20:53.960 --> 20:55.960 You can't get another penny. 20:55.960 --> 20:56.960 Say no. 20:56.960 --> 20:58.960 They won't ask you for another dollar. 20:58.960 --> 21:01.960 All they want now is a chance to tell you the truth about Alaska. 21:01.960 --> 21:03.960 We won't give you any time for that. 21:03.960 --> 21:05.960 We already know all about Alaska. 21:05.960 --> 21:07.960 Mr. Chairman. 21:07.960 --> 21:09.960 The gentleman from Kansas has the floor. 21:09.960 --> 21:12.960 You may know all about Alaska, but I don't. 21:12.960 --> 21:14.960 Perhaps there are others here who would also like to hear 21:14.960 --> 21:16.960 what Dr. Giorgison has to say. 21:16.960 --> 21:18.960 Well, all right. 21:18.960 --> 21:20.960 Just five minutes, Doctor. 21:20.960 --> 21:21.960 Thank you. 21:21.960 --> 21:23.960 Mr. Chairman, gentlemen. 21:23.960 --> 21:25.960 You believe that nothing will grow in Alaska. 21:25.960 --> 21:30.960 Well, I believed it too before I went up there two years ago in 98. 21:30.960 --> 21:33.960 Gentlemen, this is the country I found. 21:33.960 --> 21:36.960 I found wild raspberries ripening from the southern boundary 21:36.960 --> 21:38.960 to the Yukon. 21:38.960 --> 21:41.960 I found wild strawberries sweetening in the shadows of glaciers 21:41.960 --> 21:43.960 beyond the Copper River. 21:43.960 --> 21:45.960 Vile currants ripening under the midnight sun 21:45.960 --> 21:48.960 100 miles above the Arctic Circle. 21:48.960 --> 21:52.960 I found 22 different kinds of native grass. 21:52.960 --> 21:54.960 16 varieties of wild berries, 21:54.960 --> 21:58.960 276 different species of wild flowers. 21:58.960 --> 22:02.960 Gentlemen, I'm not asking you for one penny more. 22:02.960 --> 22:06.960 I'm letting Alaska plead for herself. 22:11.960 --> 22:15.960 Need we add that Dr. Giorgison obtained his increase in appropriation. 22:15.960 --> 22:17.960 And largely due to his fine work, 22:17.960 --> 22:20.960 his unswerving faith in his beloved Alaska, 22:20.960 --> 22:23.960 the visitor today finds the amazing realities of... 22:23.960 --> 22:24.960 Boat fields and sheep at Kodiak. 22:24.960 --> 22:26.960 Wheat fields at Fairbanks. 22:26.960 --> 22:28.960 Eulers, maturing barley in the world. 22:28.960 --> 22:30.960 Rutabagas weighing 14 and a half pounds each. 22:30.960 --> 22:32.960 Strawberries grown within the Arctic Circle, 22:32.960 --> 22:34.960 eight of which fill a quart basket. 22:34.960 --> 22:35.960 Luscious apples. 22:35.960 --> 22:37.960 Heads of lettuce weighing three and a half pounds. 22:37.960 --> 22:39.960 Heads of cabbage weighing 15 to 30 pounds. 22:39.960 --> 22:43.960 And they told me nothing would grow in Alaska. 22:49.960 --> 22:52.960 But oh, there's so much to see, so much to do in Alaska. 22:52.960 --> 22:54.960 How can we possibly cover all of its wonders 22:54.960 --> 22:56.960 before our boat sails for home? 22:56.960 --> 22:58.960 We haven't seen Nome nor Cordova. 22:58.960 --> 23:01.960 We haven't taken the motor trip from Fairbanks to Valdez. 23:01.960 --> 23:03.960 We haven't visited the Aleutian Islands, 23:03.960 --> 23:06.960 nor sailed Raoul's Amundsen's route through the Northwest Passage. 23:06.960 --> 23:08.960 Nor gazed upon Old Mount Katmai, 23:08.960 --> 23:10.960 whose terrific eruption in 1912 23:10.960 --> 23:13.960 shook men from their horses 400 miles away. 23:13.960 --> 23:16.960 Scattered volcanic dust 900 miles away. 23:16.960 --> 23:19.960 Spewed ashes which buried an area as large as the state of Connecticut. 23:19.960 --> 23:22.960 No, we haven't seen one-tenth of what we want to see. 23:22.960 --> 23:28.960 But time goes on and our ship awaits to take us to Juneau. 23:29.960 --> 23:31.960 Here the deafening, pounding roar of the world-famous 23:31.960 --> 23:34.960 Treadwell Gold Ore Stamping Mill greets us. 23:34.960 --> 23:38.960 As we sail up Gastineau Channel toward the present capital city. 23:38.960 --> 23:42.960 Here French Pete discovered gold across the channel on Douglas Island. 23:42.960 --> 23:47.960 Later selling his claim to John Treadwell for $505 to pay a pressing bill. 23:47.960 --> 23:51.960 This is the mine which has produced more gold than any other in the world. 23:51.960 --> 23:53.960 Save one, in Africa. 23:53.960 --> 23:58.960 $67 million in gold is Treadwell's contribution to the world's wealth. 23:58.960 --> 24:03.960 More than eight times as much as the United States paid for the entire territory. 24:03.960 --> 24:06.960 Working night and day in three eight-hour shifts, 24:06.960 --> 24:10.960 sending into its glory hole and underground tunnels thousands of men in the old days, 24:10.960 --> 24:13.960 the Douglas Island Treadwell today is deserted. 24:13.960 --> 24:16.960 Rusting machinery lines the beach. 24:16.960 --> 24:19.960 The old saloons and dance halls are boarded up. 24:19.960 --> 24:24.960 The city of Douglas, once housing 7,000 inhabitants, is a hamlet of 500. 24:24.960 --> 24:25.960 Why? 24:25.960 --> 24:32.960 Because one day years ago, just as the whistle was blowing to change ships in the early evening. 24:32.960 --> 24:34.960 How's your blows boys? 24:34.960 --> 24:37.960 Yep, about time. I thought old dad must have forgot us. 24:37.960 --> 24:42.960 Hey, look here boys. Ain't that water seeping in there? 24:42.960 --> 24:46.960 Yeah, but that's been coming in for a long time now. I noticed it last week. 24:46.960 --> 24:50.960 You know this tunnel ain't any too well-braced if you ask me. 24:50.960 --> 24:52.960 Well, nobody asked you. 24:52.960 --> 24:55.960 Well, just the same. I don't like the looks of it. 24:55.960 --> 24:59.960 Come on, Joe. We'll be the last up and out of the glory hole if you don't quit talking. 24:59.960 --> 25:01.960 Listen. 25:01.960 --> 25:02.960 What's that? 25:02.960 --> 25:05.960 Shut up, listen. It's coming from up there. 25:05.960 --> 25:07.960 And don't this tunnel run under the channel? 25:07.960 --> 25:09.960 Yeah, yeah, it does, but what of it? 25:09.960 --> 25:20.960 Boys, boys, we're in for it. That timber's breaking. 25:20.960 --> 25:25.960 Just one more tragedy added to the list by man's greed for gold. 25:25.960 --> 25:32.960 To this day, as though in silent ominous mockery for the haste and carelessness with which that tunnel had been constructed, 25:32.960 --> 25:38.960 the tide rises and falls in the old Treadwell glory hole, a quarter of a mile inland from Gaston-O-Tannall. 25:38.960 --> 25:52.960 That's our warning. We must get aboard our ship. 25:52.960 --> 25:55.960 For as the Alaskans say, we're going outside, 25:55.960 --> 26:01.960 southward along the beauteous inland passage, down past the fishing capital of Alaska, Ketchikan, 26:01.960 --> 26:04.960 on, on, on toward our home port, 26:04.960 --> 26:08.960 taking with us glorious memories of a happy, wholesome people, 26:08.960 --> 26:13.960 of such spectacular, awe-inspiring beauty as to far surpass description. 26:13.960 --> 26:17.960 And we take with us the wish of every true Alaskan, 26:17.960 --> 26:22.960 the same little blue flower that Betus Bearing sent home to his empress. 26:22.960 --> 26:27.960 For now, it's Alaska's official floral emblem, the Forget Me Not. 26:27.960 --> 26:30.960 Forget you, Alaska, never. 26:30.960 --> 26:35.960 We say farewell to you now with mingled regret and gratitude in our hearts, 26:35.960 --> 26:59.960 for the spell of the North can never be forgotten. 26:59.960 --> 27:03.960 Hoe, how can they have cautiousness in keeping with the evil, 27:03.960 --> 27:11.960 and consider not the aspect that surpassesador the firstồi? 28:11.960 --> 28:24.880 We invite you to join us again next week at this time as we journey to another of the 28:24.880 --> 28:30.360 world's fascinating ports of call. 28:30.360 --> 28:42.460 To enter the sea of Can 시간 and enjoy the connection with?