New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-15
GOING TO THE KLONDIKE.
TIE ROUTES. THE EQUIPMENT AND THE
PROSPECTS AT THE JOURNEYS END.


STOP THE RUSH TO THE
DICGINGs THIS
SEASON
Although the great West had Known for some
ycors that there was gold in Alaska. and few
scattered miners had returned TO San FRANCISCO
with little fortunes acquired by dint Oh years VI
toll and hardship and approxmap staIVa''on' 'no
country at large and the West itself oid not a"he
10 the fact that new Eldorado Ia! aihos. VIII"
IN It's grasp Until that first tremendous boatload OF
cola afrved Al Seattle aboard the steamer Port
land The Portland brought more than ton VI
gold. valued at $4,000. Concerned In the owner
ship of this treasure were nearly seventy miners
none of whom had spent more than year IN accu-
mulating il IN the Klordke fields. The greatest
excitement Immediately prevailed in Seattle as the
news spread, and the next morning the whoie
country and tho world at large heard the story.
Since then adventures and miners. both proies-
sional and amateur, have been Rocking TOWARD tiie
Klondke an6 many are still on their way al
though few will start after this time because OF
the terrible winter that sets In about OCTOBER !.
ROUTES TO THE MINES.
The routes to the Yukon Basin and thence to the
K,ondike are two. The FIRST is called the river
route and the other the overland route. Both
route. are Indicated In the lates; Government map,
which is reproduced herewith The first route Is
far the easier but II takes from early summer al
most until the long winter sets In. BY II the miner
takes a steamer from Seattle to ST. MichaeIs. winch
Is q; the mouth OF the Yukon River and Is twenty
f.e hundred miles from Seattle. Here he takes
river steamer for Circle City. distance OF almost
seventeen hundred miles where If he has favorable
weather he Will arrive in about thirty-ne Gays
from the time he left Seattle. The Journey thence
TO Dawson civ IS about ore hundred ana hity
miles by slower stages and mostly In small Doats
The miner who makes the Journey overland from
md Ia he goes
way OF Juneau TO Dyea about seven hundred mics
from Seattle From this point the trip Is fuli OF
grea: hardships On his way from Dyea TO the
Hlcndike a distance Of about five hundreo ana
seventy-hvc miles the miner frs, crosses dan
gerous mountain range. through Chilkoot Pass.
hacking all provisions and kits. for distance OF
about twenty-five miles, TO Lake 1hndeman, where
he mus, cut lumber TO make a raft. on which he
make, OF the remaining Journey. This trip
is long ana tedious one. although that part Of II
leading through Lake 1indeTan is only five miles
At the foot OF the lake he has to carry his craft
and all his belongings across portage mile long
to Lake Bennett which Is twenty-eght miles Ions.
On Lake Bennett he crosses the boundary line and
comes into British territory Thence he continues
over Caribou Crossing TO Lake Togish which is
twenty miles IN length. and so by Marsh Lake and
Lynx River TO Mills Canyon
Not long aftcrward he reaches White Horse
Rapids. which with great rapidi,y apd are
considered extremely dangerous. The novice could
10: successfully run them alone Indian guides
are here Indispensable Thence the traveller pro-
ceeds 20 Lake i.abarge and 10 Iewes River,
where the work becomes easy. Thence he goes
through Big Salmon and Little Salmon rivers.
Fve-Fipger Rapids and Rink Rapids Fort Sell
kirk "a me next point reached. but there still
ninety miles TO be made the Yukon River.
Then White River IL reached. then Stewart River
and then Fort Ogllvie. from which Dawson City Is
distant only forty miles
NEEDFUL EQUIPMENT.
Men who have visited the Klondike region agree
that traveller should have not less than $500 with
which rake the Journey from Seattle. This
ssers .ne minimum sum with which the mNcr
car pay fare 70 juneau. purchase his outfit from
the trading companies there and supplies for one
year. anc pay his necessary expen.er In the gold
fe!ds for a similar period.
The question OF provisions is one that will trouble
intending prospectors than any other Most
miners who have been IN the kopdike region are
Of the opinion that (. is necdful 10 take 10 the gold
fields nearly years provisions. or at least enough
to last for nine months. for that Is practically the
length Of the bitter winters of the Yukon Basin.