Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-09-24
THEYUKON PILGRIMS
eYLVesTeR scovsL BRINGS NEWS or
THE ARMY OF GOLD SEEKERS.

Obstacles which Beset the skaRRuay Tpaii
and the ChiIkat Pass--secretary AIRer
Talks with Joseph Ladue About re-
lief For Distressed KlondIkers.
Seattle. Wash. Sept 2f-sylvester
scovel a New York newspaper corre-
spondent has arrived here on the
steamer Rosflie. Mr.. Scovel brings
the news. which Will come with com
fortlng assurance to thousands Of peo-
pie who have friends on the pass, that
at least 1000 men, with complete out
fits, viii get through to the Yukon.
though he believes that only a small
fraction of this number will reach Daw-
son City before winter.
From the best information he could
obtain, gathered from all sources, he
believes that $500 men have got over
the Chilkat pass and have gone on down
to the mines. These men have, how
ever with few exceptions, gone through
with little or no supplies, the average
amount taken by each man being not
over 800 or 600 pounds, not more than
enough to get him to The great gold
fields, where provisions are not to be
had.
When you ask me what condition
White trail is in," said Mr.. Scovel, Il
tell you the White pass has not been
used by the thousands Of men who have
been climbing over the mountains from
Skagguay to the lakes. Instead Of US
ing the pass the men have scrambled
up along the sides Of the mountains, $50
feet above the pass The reason they
have done this is that the pass itself is
full Of powders. even in its present
shape being impossible.
The Canadian builders had no money
for dynamite. To get away from these
bowlders the miners have throughout
the entire length of the pass gone up
above the powders on the side Of the
hill and made their trail. The noun
tains are steep, and the trail in Its pres
ent location can never be made into a
good one.
The skegeuay River Trail.
Instead Of following along the Skag-
quay river bank. where there Is an easy
grade. though, Of course, greatly OBJ
structed by powders and In places en-.
tirely blocked by precipitous points
which jut out into the river, they have
gone off to the side in their great RUSH
to get through. The trail crosses ant
recrosses the river and makes long de-,
tours, which would be unnecessary by
the use of a little dynamite. The sum
Of 5000 would make a fine pack trail
to Lake Bennett. Not more than S15,-
900 would be required to build a good
wagon road the entire distance.
"a man with two horses and an out.
it Weighing 1000 pounds could by this
improved trail bring his outfit through
the pass with the expenditure of less
than IS days time. The possibility On
making this trail good one has been
told me by four different engineers
Of high standing sent up into that coun
try by different railway companies
whose names am not at liberty to
state. A railroad could be built on the
same route; but, of course, what is
wanted is an immediate inlet for the
people there.
"The men who have gone to the Skag-
quay pass with determination and grit
have succeeded In getting over 1t with
their outfits, while those devoid Of these
qualities have given 1t up in disappoint-
ment. II is from the latter class tina
you have heard so much of the terribl
hardships of the trail. tenderfeet who
were either unaccustomed to work OF
afraid OF IT,"