The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-08-16
THE BRISTOL S ODD CARGO
Men and Horses With Two Years
Outfits for Klondike.
MAGAZINES AND BICYCLES
Five Hundred Miners Sail for Skag-
uay on Big 3.OOG-ronner-Ad
vantage Taken Of Canada's Recent
Concession CONCERNING Goods That
May Be Taken Duty Free.

Victoria, 2 c., Aug. 16.-No steamer ever
carried from a Pacific coast port larger
or more strangely assorted freight of men
and their belongings than did the big 5000
tonner Bristol vi hen S he sail Jed saturdayeven-
ing. bound for skaguay. To say every
foot of accommodation was occupied is
both hackneyed and inadequate. She was
full up from he bott1Gn of her low est freig bit
deck to the promenade deck Men and
horses and outfits We're piled six tiers high.
ana hundreds OF tons ol cargo had been
sifted in where space was found available
There were upward OF 500 nen aboard
with their horses and outfits to last for one
or two years. Only those who have out
fitted large companies can realize what this
means. crowd of thousands thronged
OF. the wharvcs and approaches all day
Saturday nlIngling with the waiting throng
OF miners, photograpbing them and the ship
in all concti, able positions and pouring
over the vessel To crafty their curiosity
The great bulk Of the freight aboard was
limited to the necessities of life for the
men and pack animals.
Very few attempted to take luxuries with
them. It is a grim fight that's before them
and they realize it. Only at infrequent
intervals during the loading of the Bristol
did airy novelty ~ on board and much
speculation was at once excited.
Aiarge bundle of old magazines claimed
consideratin for a time, and smiles were
frequently INDUCED In at the expense of
tie unknown prospector who proposed to
crafty his literary taste in the wilder
ness. Presently the expressions of uncoIG-
plimentary opinion were hushed when
griZZled veteran OF many mining rush
claimed the package with the casual OBJ
servation L reckon know what I'm do
ing. If those magazines Amt worth SO
apiece before We get To Dawson those
diggings amt like any others ON the face
OF the earth" Paper mail is not yet taken
to the klondike, and M one has taken tn,.
trouble TO pack in reading matter as yet.
Hence the old miner will undoubtedly
realize quite little pile for his thought
fuiness
Another object or curious attention was
a stack of bicycles. Who ever heard OF
bicycles IN a mountain country so rough
that only the surest-footed horses could
go through? The owner explained that he
from the saddle to the handle bar, his
could push 400 pounds of baggageover the
pass easily Is he could carry a hundred
weight on his back. OF cuurse, for diff
cult climbing, the bike would have to be
abandoned. Bat IL would pay for itseif
he said, several times over, before that
time came. This man has been in the
Yukon country before, and has gone in by
White Pass with a wheel, so he knows
what he's talking about.
The dogs were still another attraction at
the docks. All kinds were In evidence, but
NewfOiIndlands and St Bernarls are pre-
ferred. A good specimen OF either Of these
from SIS to $3.50, while che owners of
large, and rouglI-coated animals suitable
for northern work have for weeks past
taken good care at Victoria to keep them
under lock and key at night. Otherwise
they would unqueStionahly have followed
some twenty or more that were en- dur
ing the first week of the Kiondike craze.
OF the miners who sailed Saturday
Quite number took advantage of the con.
cesSion just made by, the Canadian customs
officers To the effect that each American
going into the district may take with him.
duty free, 100 pounds of American pro-
visions, rugs, and blankets, clothing la
of all kinds are cheaper on this side of the
line, hence the concession is not as valuable
as would at first sight appear.