Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-08-26

We COulu ~ Will SlSISuS, 81 VIC OlOppSu
and pitched our tents, arrived at the
end of Long Lake. just six miles from
the summit, Thursday morning at six
o'clock, having worked just "A hours
without sleep. We cooked our break
fast, everyone being quite hungry, hav-
ing had nothing to eat for twelve hours.
After eating our breakfast we went to
bed and slept till o. N. Thursday, after
eating our supper, we started out Tor
the balance of our stuff. this time we
had five sleds, having borrowed three
more at Long Lake, from parties that
were through hauling their goods. We
arrived at the summit at 10 p. m. Thurs
day, and it was raining quite hard, we
had to wait there about two hours, the
packers not having enough up the hill
for rs to start with. In the meantime
we crawled under tent that some had
over their goods. We run across a sack
of hard tack and a bag of onions, we
Waded into them and ate what we
wanted, although we told the party that
owned them about it the next night and
he said 1t was all right, he should have
done the same thing himself. Well, at
1890 Friday morning we got enough to
load all the sleds and start for Long
Lake again. 1t wasn't so easy this time,
the rain having made the snow soft and
1t was quite hard work to pull the sleds.
In two or three places the ground was
bare and We had to portage them across.
We arrived in camp at a. m. Friday.
After eating our breakfast we went to
bed and slept till p. m. After eating
supper we started for the balance of our
goods. We arrived at the summit at II
p. m. Friday, but didn't leave there
until l a. N. Saturday. We had lots Of
portages to make and by the time we
got to the head of Long Lake, the bridge
where we crossed the creek 10 get on
the lake was gone and we had to turn
around and 90 back about half mile
and portage our loads around over the
summer trail about a mile before we
could get on to the lake, but we made it
all right, and arrived in camp, Saturday
at IL q. m, but with only half of our
load.
We had dinner and started right back
for the balance and arrived IN camp
with that at 6 p. m. Saturday, another
stretch of "A hours without sleep.
Today is Sunday and we are not doing
anything, in fact we haven't worked
Sundays yet, and don't intend to unless
it's quite necessary. We are going to
take another day off tomorrow, so we
can get rested up in good shape. Tues
day we commence to pack our goods to
Lake Linderman. Intend to have ev-
erything oyer there by Friday night.
Coming over the mountains the snow
was so binding that we had to wear
our snow glasses, the sun was so very
bright. All the Indians black their
faces when they 90 over, they do that
so their faces won't peel.
Our packing is nearly over with now,
only three more miles. We figured on
making the trip from Dyea TO Lake Lin
derman in 80 days, but are going to do
it in about 26 days, distance of 273
miles. You may think that is rather
slow work, but you must take into con-
sideration that we have 1900 pounds to
carry that is for five of us. We retraced
our steps SO much that it figured to
about $40 miles altogether, it only being
27g miles, but we have to go back and
forth so much. Shall write again before
we get our boats built and start down
river, 1t is SO hard to get a letter out
unless we run across somebody that is
going ont.
LAKE L1NDERMAN, July 5.-We finished
our little boat today, and launched it.
We are we'll pleased with it. One of
the boys went out hunting yesterday,
about four miles from camp. He found
lots of signs of moose, ducks, deer and
other game. There is some gold here,
but not in paying quantities, SO We'll go
on down to Lake lie Borge, where the
prospects are good. If we find nothing
there we shall have to go on to Dawson
City, where the rush is, but we don't
like to 90 there for two or three months
yet. Lots Of people will be going out
then. | don't care to sec anyone from
Merrill here, as it is too late for them to
start in here now, and we are not located
yet, so we could not assist them much.
We have had very pleasant time
since we struck Lake Linderman. It's
very nice work making boats-the only
hard part being saving out the lumber,
but we are all through with that and
we'll on our way with the larger boat
and will haye that completed in a short
time.
By the way, we had fish for supper.
Robert Dunevan and | went out and
caught some nice ones, the first we had
since coming here. | cooked some bean
soup for the 4th of July dinner; also
put dumplings in it, and we all thought
it was fine. The boys then elected me
chief cook for the ensuing year, but |
was compelled to resign on account Of
business troubles. | have about all [
can attend to without that position.
| must close now. | won't be able to
write for two or three months, and then
when [ do [ hope [ may have good
tidings. FRED.
ASSembIyr,7au ZIMMERMAN Gained