Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-02
COMES BACK TO TIE WORLD.
Thomas Magee's Stirring FOrty-Two
Days Journey in Alaska.
Full of Peril and Hardship Two
Hundred Miles of Navigation UP
an Icy River and Three Hundred
Miles Of Overland Travel-Priva-
tions Experienced on the Dalton
Trail

Seattle, Wash, December 1.-Thos.
Magee, Of San Francisco, who arrived
in this city on the steamer City Of
Seattle. from Dawson City, in giving
an account of his trip over the Dalton
trail, said:
"In canoe with one Indian and Mr..
Ferguson, my son and myself left
Dawson October IA, with about 600
pounds of food and personal effects.
Jack Dalton, two days later, with an
Indian in a 14-foot shell, having about
200 pounds of freight, followed. He
overlook us ten days out, and when
the ice was running heavily in the
Yukon. On the fourth day we en-
countered very severe obstacles in
crossing the river at point where it
was much too deep for polling. After
two hours work and repeated danger
of laundering we finally got across.
The ice in the main river grew daily
worse until the ninth day, when in
slough, with a raging current, high
banks and overhanging trees, we were
caught in nearly ice-closed water. Fur
their progress seemed impossible.
Here Dalton and the Indian Joined
us, his canoe having been partially
wrecked by ice jamming half mile
ahead We joined forces. After thir-
teen days of this up-river work-all
days of difficulty, doubt, and danger
we reached Selkirk, October %. After
a rest of two days we left Selkirk.
Thirteen inches of snow was on the
ground and more was threatening. A
trail through the woods had to be cut
as we slowly headed for Five-Finger
Rapids, SIS miles further up the Yukon.
1--WE had five horses. The trail kept
so bad that on the second day Dalton
and two other men went back to Selk-
irk and brought up canoe, to which
the packs were transferred, thus great
Nv tightening the horses. Feed was
scarce, and the animals, reindeer-like,
had to paw down in the snow to get
to it. 1t showed off and on for two
days. On the third day it seemed that
further snowfalls might make the trail
impassabe for anything like rapid
travel. Two feet already lay on the
level.
Under these circumstances, and with
over 800 miles of land travel before US,
Dalton strongly urged us to go back to
Selkirk. but we refused, and for very
good reasons. My son and / already had
contributed all our provisions, and a
single pound was not to be had at Sell
kirk. The Yukon was then almost clos
ed with ice. There was, therefore. no
apparent hope that we could get back
to Dawson, and, even if there were,
nothing was to be had to eat. To go
on was, therefore, the only wise course.
Near Five Finger Rapids the horses
swan the river again and we pushed up
the right bank to Mccormack post, %
miles, where we left the Yukon and any
possibility of turning back. Six days
over very rough country, but with no
new snow, brought UP to Hootchy-Eye,
rs miles, where there were three DESERT
ed Indian cabins. The next day we
passed through country bare of tim
Der, in very gloomy, withdrawing
weather. On the summit of the sur
rounding mountains heavy gales and
snow were prevailing. Bad water be-
yond Hootchy-Eye poisoned most of the
party, causing severe and frequent
cramps and hemorrhages. We got only
two meals day on the entire trip.