The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-21
OFF FOR THE kLOADYKE
Mr.. Lancaster aud His Party to
Leave Next Sunday.
INTENDS TO USE HORSES
II the Government Sends in a Reindeer
Expedition, MIR. Lancaster VIII
Follow in Its Wake-Prepar-
ing for the Trip.

The next party OF Butte people to leave
for the Klondyke will depart sometime
between now and Sunday, just as soon
as preparations are completed. The
party will be headed by J. S. Lancaster,
who will be accompanied by ]. Fl. Call
derhead and four miners to work for
him In the operations he expects to con-
duct. If all goes well the party will
leave Sunday for the coast. where they
will outfit and start for the kiondyke,
with the intention of travelling by team
and seighs, all the way to Dawson
from Juneau or Dyea. whichever pass it
is decided to attempt.
Mr.. Lancaster Is a practical mining
man who has had great deal of ex-
perience in Alaska and firmly believes
the plans he has been laying for months
have been 50 thoroughly matured that
he will accomplish his unusual under
taking with perfect success. He has re-
Gently returned from a visit to Winns
peg, where he met some of the officials
of the Canadian government who have
been to the KlondylSe and from wnom
he obtained much information that will
be valuable to his expedition. For
months Mr.. Lancaster has been investi-
eating and planning with a view 10
making the journey from the coast to
Dawson on the ice. At one time he rad
lakes by Ice boat, but the obstacles the
ice jams in the river put In It's way and
the general uncertainty of the scheme
caused him to put 1t aside and take up
the plan of going in with a large cog
train: but his visit to Manitoba has
caused him to abandon that idea also in
favor of a decision to undertake to go in
with horses. From the Canadian au-
thorities he learned that 1t Is not only
possible for horses to stand the trip
but that 1t ought not to be a difficult
undertaking If the party is properly
equipped
Having come to a decision as to how
he will undertake TO make the journey,
Mr. Lancaster has laid his plans very
deliberately and in great detail. 1t is his
purpose to ship four good, well condi-
toned horses to Alaska At Seattle or
Victoria he will lay i'll his supplies,
whichever he finds the most advantage
Gus point as regards duties. Upon
reaching Alaska he will investigate the
most feasible pas over which to under
take to take his outfit by team and
sleigh. If he finds one that can be
crossed that way he VIII build his
sleighs and start If not he will so con-
struct the sleds that they can be sent
over by the proposed rope tramway
provided 1t is built on time to avail him
any advantage: if not he win pack over
the pass, set up his bobsleds and pro-
coed on his journey.
Mr.. Lancaster expects TO see the gov
eminent send in an expedition by REIN
deer and expects to wait till he is GER
tain of this. Should the government do
80 he will build his sleds to conform to
those of the government and start in
behind the government train to take
advantage of the good travelling its
breaking of the trail will make. He ex-
poets to take tent large enough to
shelter his horses and party. When
night comes he will drive his iron pegs
in the ice, pitch his tent. set up his
stove and keep perfectly comfortable, no
matter what the weather.
Mr.. Lancasters purpose in falling In
Denind the government train, provided
one is sent, il. not only to take advan-
tage of the track the train will break
through the snow, but TO take adyan-
tage as well of the experience OF the
train in getting over or around the ice
jams in the river. which are known
to occur at intervals and besides being
In the company of the train will lend an
added degree of security
Should there be no government train
Mr. Lancaster expects to make the un-
dertaking just the same, but will change
his plans a little and build six hand
sleds which viii form portion OF his
load and which will be used In trans
porting around the rapids. or ice gorges,
should such a thing become necessary
In the event theparty journeys alone an
effort will be made to jog along at as
good gait as possible and IL too many
obstacles are met with on the river the
horses will be killed and the party
either go into camp and wait for the
breaking up of the Ice on the bones
taken out of the horse flesh the meat
added to the supplies, and the party
push on by hand sled.
Mr.. Lancaster says he will provide his
party with ample clothing and take pro-
visions to last the party till July, when
the boats Will get up the river. He does
not anticipate meeting with any serious
difficulties and says that II the gov
eminent does send In a reindeer train
ne VIII demonstrate that horses are bet
ter for the journey, as he believes they
VIII stand the cold just as we'll IL prop
erly cared for and, being sharp-shod
VIII be able to haul on the ice just as
much as can be piled on sleigh behind
them.
On reaching the Kiondyke, Mr.. Lam
caster expects 10 work lay" as leas-
ing or working a property on shares is
called by the kiondykers. when the
owner and the lessee divide the pro-
ceeds in the middle. He has an excellent
deal Of this kind in view and ii is for
this reason that he lis taking four men
he knows to be reliable to work for him.