January 7, 1899 - Hiking Fatality at Valdez Glacier

Valdez Glacier,

Charles Krohn, New York City. Ole Evjen, Baldwin, Wisconsin. C. P. Smith, Chicago. A man by the last name of Henderson, Wisconsin. George Sweesy, New York.

Starting up the glacies in early December. "Holver Evjen, father of Ole made it back to camp but was not expected to survive. They started for Valdez, but on getting well toward the summit of the glacier, found their feet freezing. Both started back. The Ole gave his father some extra wrappings for his feet, and as a result froze both legs in a few minutes and was unable to proceed. He bid his father good-bye and compelled him to move on without him. Then the boy lay down in the snow to die. His body will probably never be recovered. The father reached Twelve Mile Camp very badly frozen and is not expected to live." C. P. Smith and Charles Krohn were in the same party as the Evjens.

A blizzard set in before the men reached Valdez Summit covering the trails and making travel difficult. They wandered for four days trying to get back to Valdez.

George Sweasy was a blacksmith in Valdez. He departed solo with a heavy sled and was never seen again.

Paper scans