The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-08
OUT FROM THE YUKON
PerilOus Trip From Forty-Mile
in the Winter.
hARoSHiPS OF ALASKA TRAVEL.
With the Thermometer at 90 Below
Zero -Forty-one Days From the
Interior to the Coast.

Among the passengers arriving in Seattle
On the Mexico night before las IS G. ".
Baker. who has just spent 4 year In Alaska
as boohkesper for the Alaska Commercial
Company Mr. Bakers people live in Hart
ford. Conn. bas he came 10 the Paciae
coast seven years ago. gong tirst 70 SOUTH
eTn California. and thence coming 70 seat
tie where ne lived for about four years
re spent the winter in the interior Of
Alaska and experienced some weather
winch IL makes one shiye- to hear him tell
about During New Years week he under
took trip from ForiyMiie
down rossres Mission Creek. wiJh
RS usual travelling outht Of In
dsrs. dogs and sleds. and was caught in
a biizzari from which 1t seems marvellous
tina; h- escaped When he returned to
Forty Mile a week later the weather VAS
stili very cold. and indeed. throughout the
entire month OF January the Thermometer
ranged from - 10 % degrees below zero.
His account Of his journey from Forty
Mile 10 Seattle a. given by him last night
To a reporter. viii convey a fair idea Of the
har1shlps OF Alaska travel.
We left Forty-Nie said Mr.. Baker.
January Il, the thermometer al that time
registering IS degrees below zero. For
about forty miles We Travelled over the
roug hest kind Of fee along the river as the
result OF which We broke d sleigh. and
village 10 get a toboggan. This delayed
Us for d day. but We made 100 miles in five
and hall days. Or four ar1 a half % &c
tual travel
My outfit for the journey consisted Of
two Indians. TWO Joboggans and ten dogs.
II may surprise you 10 learn that apart from
a very heavy cap which fitted down closely
about my face and ears. l wore my ordi-
nary clothing. plus heavy black sweater.
well. this brought us TO Sixty Mile post.
There | was met by Joe Ladou. who runs
the post and who intended coming out the
next morning after got there. Instead Of
starting the next morning, however. We
laid over day. and left Sunday morning
January %, with the thermometer e3 degrees
below zero We had one basket sleigh be
longing 10 Ladou. one toboggan belonging
20 me. and eleven dogs between US.
We Travelled 81 miles. that is. from
ForiyMle to Harpers. at Pelly river.
making that point by the following Friday
evening. There We laid for two days |
ought TO mention. as an important item OF
our trip together. that on the first day out
from SNty-M.ie Lsdou lost one OF his best
dogs 10y sickness
We left H2rper's Monday morning Feb
ruary l. journeyins over the rough ice
Jams We had had going to Big Salmon
river. la3 miles from Harper's. in proof Of
which | may say that We lost three dogs
on this stretch on account of their cutting
their feet on the rough ice. and the weather
was bitterly cold
While at Big Salmon river, giving our
dogs the necessary rest. We were over
taken by Joe Cooper. carrying The mail.
and MI Brown. the customs officer for
British COLUMBIA. This Increased our par
~, including all the Indians. to ten men
and twenty dogs with three toboggens and
two basket sleig'ls, and SIX men 10 break
TRAN
We now Travelled thirty miles day I'll
We reached Dysa. After total rest Cf
eight and a half days. l reached Dyet
February . az o'clock in the evening.
having taken forty -one days TO make the
trip from Forty-Mile to the beach
We were fortunate in having good
weather al he summit where we ate cur
last Bile of frozen meat. From Dyea |
took the steamer foF Juneau. and there
took the next boat for Seattle