The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-20
treasury department are increased frona
s.. 500 70 81, ,oao each
5000 MILES down rnE YUKON.
The Adventures OF the Mas gretheYs
In AiaskA.s Gold Region.

Louis aad Viii Mas. two Young men who
ara related TO Israel kagA Of .his
ei:y, have returned from 6 ssx months
trip through the wonderland OF the
world, the Yukon river. They joarneve4
over 700 miles, crossed the Chiikat
mountains IN the early spring waen the
snow was from - 10 loo feet deep. pad
died over the great lakes a. tie
head OF the Yukon and noAGed
down the grandesi river in the world for
dsstaI-ce of nearly 500 miles. The river
Is walled IN BY towering canyons. weigdly
inspiring. topped by eternal snow caps
and supported by rugged granite pedesial.
appropriately marked with canopy Of ver-
dant underground. TAe stream is Of such
PERCEPTIONS character as TO make the
voyage full Of danger, strangely fascInas-
ing 10 those adven,urousiy inclined.
The men attempted to cross the Chiikat
range last March. but on account OF SO
much melted snow they. together with loo
miners who were going into the
Yukon mines. were detained several
weeks at the base of the mountains. In
the camp was party Of three ladies aud
several children. They were: Mrs.
George Snow. Mrs. Humphries and Mrs.
determined TO brave the dangers of
the journey 10 join their husbands,
who were working placer mines
on the tributaries of the Yukon. Mr.. and
Mrs. Snow, mp 10 some six or eight years
ago. were engaged in the dramatic pro-
fession. and starred the Pacific coast.
Mrs. Snow was endowed with
an unusual amount of histrionlc
ability, and was we'll liked by
the theatrical profession. She was pos
sessed of sweet, cultured voice, and was
as lively aud chirp as y cricket before the
footlights Her husband contracted
the contagIon known as the
gold fever and went TO Alaska.
HIS wife forsook her profession and Joined
his fortunes. Two years ago Mr.. snow
and the husbands of the two other ladies
went into the Yukon country. They sent
word out 10 their families that the Dig
gings were good. but Oh account OF the
short seasons they would have 20 remain
in the mines three or four years before
they could accumulate enough gold 10
abandon work and worry forever. That
determined the question and the women
undertook a hazardous journey of 5000
miles.
BY extraordinary hard work the party
got over the Chilkat mountains. In
many instances the luggage was hauled
up the mountains side by block and
tackle. Snow and slush was waist deep
in many places. and days journey OF
two miles was reckoned as good time.
Passing the summit the party came
TO the lakes which, as then, were not
quite free from ice. Several dam
gerous and ludicrous incidents oc-
Cured by miners falling through the
ice. Several weeks we're spent in con-
structing RATS and then the voyage was
commenced. The lake IS filled with lovely
islands, aud the scenery Is sublime,
being so many thousands of feet
above tho sea level, and the whole
scene was truly magnificent
Wild fowl on water and game ON shore
were diversions that particularly inter-
ested sportsmen. Leaving the lakes and
descending the Yukon was dangerous,
though highly interesting 10 the
voyagers. The river is full of
boniders. rapids. falls and dangerous
whirlpoois, which caused the wrecking
and upsetting of many boats and RATS.
Several times the ladies and children were
drowning, but the ever-prevailing chivalry
of American miners promptly responded
10 their assistance and iealously guarded
them against every danger. At night time
the party landed and camped, built big
ate hearty meals. At Sixty Mile
creek Mrs. Day met her husband
and further down the river, at Forty-mile
Joined their husbands. who were equally
surprised at the unexpected family re-
unions With one exception, that OF Mrs.
Beaumont, the wife of storekeeper and
who gave birth TO baby boy up there in
the wilds of Alaska last year. these ladies
we're the first TO make this perilous
journey.
John Reed, who was one of the crowd
that went into the mines last spring,
smugglec In 800 gallons OF whisky. The
day he arrived at Forty Mile creek he un-
expectedly died, aud there was a strong
suspicion in the air that his demise was
assisted by certain miners who were
opposed to the introduction of alcoholic
beverages. A few months previous. over
whisky and cards at gambling table, two
miners engaged in q dispute and killed
each other with pistols. The Guel was
brief, both men dying a few hours later
This caused many Of the miners to deter
mine to keep liquor out of the mines at all
hazards.
In the long winter months. lasting from
October to May. the miners have a minia-
ure Monte Carlo. 1t Is no unusual sight
10 see from 5000 to $1,000 piled upon an
improvIsed gambling table. The miners
are "blooded." and frequently in ono
night they would lose the result of a sea-
sons work-from 5000 TO $4,000. In
the spring il is easy 10 determine what
gamblers have been successful. They usu-
slly left the camps with 81, 600 or 81. 600
one man last winter Is supposed to have
won over $1,000.
Upon the Lewis river an unknown miner
fminers in that country seldom ask or
give their names) was found dead near the
waters edge, having perished of starvs-
tion and cold In his cabin was fouad
the result of years toll In gold nuggets
The property was taken charge Of by n
committee. and an unsuccessful effort was
made TO discover bis identity.
Considering the fact that there are over
ion miners on the Yukon river. little
laWlessness prevails. OF course there are
many hard and desperate characters
there. bat the wholesome threat Of lynch
ing for doing has q peaceful effect.
IL IS worth mans hie 10 be detected
IN cheating at cards.
The largest nugget ever found on the
the Yukon river VAS washed out on Forty
Mile creek last summer. IL weighed nearly
thtrty-two ounces and was worth $500
The frsshets last spring on she Yukon
did great damage. The water was sixteen