The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-29

On the third day ii seemed that further
snow falls might make the trail impassa-
BILE for anything like rapid travel: two feet
already lay on the level. II what seemed
imminent happened. the horses would have
given out and walking and an-packing
even on Canadian snow shoes. on which
I had never travelled. wouIc certainly have
been waist deep.
Under these circumstances, and with
over 300 miles of land travel before US,
Dalton strongly urged us 10 so back 10
Sekirk. But we refused 10 60 and for
very good reasons. My con and had con-
tributed all our provisions and a single
pound was not to be had at Selkirk. The
Yukon was then, too almost closed with
ice. There was therefore no apparent
hope that we could get back to Dawson
and even IL there. nothing was to be had
10 eat. To go on was therefore the only
course. we thought If one finally dropped
on the trail. he dropped while working and
therefore would drop contented. in that he
had done his best. Even with food too,
life 81 Selkirk would have been living
death.
The trail on the left hand side OF the
river was a constantly rolling one. the
weather continuously gloomy. showing
some and always threatening more. Near
Five Finger rapids the horses swan the
river again and we pushed on up the right
bank 10 Carmaek's post. twenty-five mics
where We left the Yukon and any posi-
hility Of turning back. Six days over
very rough country. but WIN no new snow,
brought us 10 Hootchy-Eye seventy-iiye
miles. where there were three deserted
Indian cabins. Mr.. Dalton had q cache OF
provisions there, but IL had all disappeared
except one sack OF -four, five mounds of
sugar and thirty pounds of bacon. For
tunateiy our supplies weis not all out or
We would AVE been In 4 very bad nix. the
next nearest being at Dalton post, a long
hundred miles farther. The next day
We passed through a country bare OF tim
Der. in very gloomy. windy, threatening
weather. On the SUBMITS OF the sur
rounding mountains heavy gales and snow
were prevailing. Driving furlously down
from the summit Of the highest Of them
dense cloads as black az the blacklist
smoke were seen. They looked as though
a vast connagration had there been
started, then IN Its tnit;aa state not vet
having reached The finer progress of IL
Elimination by asme. 4 more gloomy or
1orAouing sight could hardly have been
seen outside of Tartarls. Bad water be-
yend Hootchy-Eye poisoned most of the
party, causing severe and frequent cramps
with heu7orrhaGes. In addition 20 .hIs
trouble. had from GOODNESS az night a
severe attack Of lumhaso~ The first day
81 IL was dashed in an Indian freight to-
began In thus being pulled over the tran
my back and every rough spot in the trail
were brought IN contact, making intense
pain much more intense. The next day I
rode and walked and or the third I walked
altogether. \ portion o. the time on that
day. although on my feet and keeping an
w!th the procession, l was unconscious
from pain
| We got only two meals d day on the
entire trip, breakfast always in the dark
between 5 and :. and dinner between 4
and 5. The short cAylgh; ard the diff
| cil!fy 81 packing provisions did not allow
II s;ops for midday meals 4 meal al
Dalfoa's post, which We reached in six
days from Hootchy-Eye. composed of
GAINED corn beef bread 10 gee BY Dalton
and a can % cold tomatoes, had e.. arcs.
! s3ch physical strength. comfort and ply
seal satisfaction iu 1. that strains biuwn
from far-ofT sunset lands or the must
| Ct Aeolian barps ecald rot have bean more
| soothing.
4 Rad Night
| The horses were left here; two had Dice
81 t1e way. but three rew ones extrzy ed
were picked NJ. Thirty miles from, the
past WAS another base os Dalton supplies