The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-11
SHE CROSSED ALASKA
Dressed Like a Man, Mrs. Beaumont
Crossed Chilkat Pass.
TWO YEARS IN A WILDERNESS
Where Gay Wild Flowers and Deep
Snowdrifts Mark the Seasons
and People Live on Fish
and Moose.

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
Among recent arrivals here on the
steamer Bertha from Alaska, was Mrs.
T. N. Beaumont of Font Yukon, the
first white woman who ever crossed
the perilous Chilkat pass.
Mrs. Beaumont Is the wife OF the
post trader at Fort Yukon, and went
into the wilds of that section four
years ago. In onder to cross the Chill
hat pass she had TO don mems apparel
The snow was fearfully- deep, and as
she had TO walk with the men VINO
were drawing sledges loaded with
freight, there was no other way that
she could dress and live.
Mrs. Beaumont has put in two win
tiers ait Fort Yukon and one at Ram
part House. near the boundary dine be-
tween Alaska and British America.
She is modest little woman, looking
now to be scarcely over 20 years of age.
Prior TO going to the far interior by
the Yukon route, she and her husband
had lived in the larger cities of the
Eastern states. She says, however,
that ait no time since going TO the Yu-
kon has she felt lonesome, though there
were no other white persons than her
husband and children within many
hundreds of miles.
Sometimes too, she was left alone
for weeks. while her husband went
down the river to get more goods for
his post. At such times the Yukon In
dams swarmed around, coming from
the further wilds to exchange their
furs for supplies. Mrs. Beaumont car
ried on the trading, having no fear OF
the Indians. She says they never at
tempted to modest her, and she was so
busy with the duties of the post that
the idea scarcely entered her mind.
Only one white woman had previously
braved the wflds OF the upper Yukon,
~. wxrff 20 of N m
missionary.
ut was In March, 1892. that started
with my husband TO Fort Yukon" said
Mrs. Beaumont. "As no other white
woman had ever crossed the snowy
Chilkat pass 81 was deemed very
hazardous undertaking. / was not,
however afraid in any way. and got
through with entire safety. In fact,
rather enjoyed 1t. The snow was very
deep, and part of the time 1t was very
cold, but l put on one of the native
coats. which has a hood for the head
and holes through which to See We
had plenty OF bed clothing, carried on
the sledges. which enabled us to keep
warm at night.
.sTo tell the truth, / enjoyed the ex-
perience. though 1 could not do 1t
again. since have the children. My
experience at Fort Yukon has been
very pleasant. The post is in the edge
OF the hills little way from the Yu-
kon. and on its west bank. In summer
there were a great variety OF wild
flowers. among which are roses, blue
bells. yellow flowers of all kinds, and
many others. until they fairly carpet
ed the entire surroundings. In winter
the snow was very deep, but / was so
busy cooking. sewing, attending to the
children and with the details of house
hold work. that / did not think much
about II.
Our trade has been almost solely
with the Indians. We are a long dis
lance from the developed gold districts,
so / saw little of the miners. The In
dams brought in lynx, otter, beaver,
mink and other skins. and for all these
we exchanged such things as we kept
in stock for the Indian trade. There
are four or five families of Indians that
live almost continuously in the vicinity
of the fcrt. but many times as many
as so Indians would come in from hong
hunting trips. These Indians never
bothered me. though / was sometimes
for weeks left alone while my husband
was compelled by his business 10 abb
sent himself down the river.
Last winter we went up to RAM
part House. on THE boundary, with a
stock of goods. thinking that would be
a good place 10 trade for a while. II
Is IA DAYS Journey by boat from Fort
Yukon. and the ice caused us consider
able trouble. but we got through safe
ly. We found. however. when we go'
back in the spring. that the Indians
had broken into the fort and Stoler
quite an amount of our goods.
1--WE were glad to be at Fort Yukor
once more. There Is more game and
fish there than at the Rampant House
which is on the Porcupine branch OF
the Yukon. On the Porcupine we coulC
get plenty of moose and deer meat, and
white and spotted dog fish. but We
could not get any wild fowl TO speak Of
except grouse. AS wild meat Is very
essential in that country, we felt thu
need OF a variety. a. Fort Yukon W.
could not only get moose and deer Ia
abundance. but here were also ducks
geese, pigeon, grouse and other fowl
There was also a much greater varies,
OF food fish.
..My husband was the first man I,
successfully open and continue al
American trading post at Fort Yukon
though two or three others had at
tempted IT, The Hudson Bay compan.
had for some time conducted a pos
there, though that was before Alask
was purchased by the United States
We have got along very well with II
and are entirely satisfied with our ex
periences on the Yukon. My husban
was for some years with the Unite
States Coast and Geodetic Survey !
Alaska He went there with ]. e. Nc
Grath four years ago. and was enhrel
familiar with the opportunities 10
trading.
1T am a native of Belgium. and
was there first met my husband, an
where we were married. We lived a.
terward for a time In New York. the
in Boston and then in San Francisco
II was while we were living in Sa
Francisco that my husband Joined tn
Coast and Geodetic Survey, which lie
TO our eventually going north TO live
the wilds OF the Yukon.
Fort Yukon. where we are station
ed. Is 50 miles above the mouth of Fol
~ Mile creek. and only 30 miles froi
Circle City. the new camp near III
Arctic circle. where from 600 to Il
miners are expected 10 winter tn
year"
Mrs. Beaumont VIII remain here dul
ing the present winter. She is accom-
panied by her youngest child, ooun'
ing native Of Fort Yukon, aged
rrroufhs