Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-10-29
TROUBLES OF THE KLoNDIke.
Cold Weather Not the Only Obstacle
Encountered by the Miner,

1
Encountered by the Miner.
II will be well for would-be prospec-
tors to the Yukon and Klondike gold
fields to remember that the cold is not
the only obstacle or trouble to be en-
cohntered in those regions. There Is
one pest and one affliction which is
nearly insupportable, as far as the pest
goes, and almost incurable, in regard to
the affliction. The latter Is snow blind
ness which has been known to drive peo-
pie TO madness. In one case related by
gentleman who spent two years in
tie Yukon neighborhood the victim of
the snow blindness became a raving
meniac, and prompt measures had to
be taken to effect cure. AS 1t was,
the patient was in a terrible state for
two or three days.
The continued glare of the fields Of
Ice and snow on the naked eye has an
almost Understandable effect, say those
who have experienced it. The vast ex.
panse of cleaning white, the silence.
the awful sense of isolation, nothing
but white, white, white, with no wei.
come sprig of green on which to rest
the eyes, all combined, produce mad.
ness of itself alone. First the eve be.
comes panied, waving lines pass up and
down and in front of the eyeballs.
Mirages appear to the vision. For brief
intervals instead of the awful blanched
waste, fields of waving grain, forests OF
thick foliage, gardens of beautiful
green stuff mock the miner and pros
pector. The eyeballs burn, the mind
wanders, the brain seems on fire, and
finally blackness sets in-the darkness
of lunacy.
Perfect rest and freedom from any.
thing which may be calculated to strain
the vision are essential for cure.
j. L. Dyer, whose office is at 141O q
strict northwest, spent two years in
Alaska, and experienced the snow blind.
hess. Speaking Of it, and the plague OF
mosquitoes which infest the northern
regions, and are perhaps more voracious
there than elsewhere, he said
"The snow blindness is an awful |
thing. Twas afflicted slightly once with
II in the left eye.
II saw terrible example of it in a
member of our party, who was sudden
~ afflicted with the trouble. He be-
came violently insane from not proper
ly shading his eyes; never witnessed
a more marked case of mania. We had
great trouble in getting the young man
back to camp. He got hold of ha,chet
In some manner and came near splitting
my head open with it. He had no rcaliz-
alton Of what he was doing. 1t was
some time before he recovered from the
attack.
1T is absolutely necessary to protect
the eyes in some way. wore black
SLOUGH hat, pulled down over them. In
addition we donned goggles, manufac.
ured by the Indians, which fulfill the
purposes for which they are intended.
These were made of bits of wood, oval.
shaped, like the glasses of spectacles.
They have small Sits in them, so that
me can see; but the eye is shaded and
lot affected.
81 never saw anything like the mos.
Iuitoes in the Yukon region, along the
liver. We used to set up an A tent,
nd by the time 1t was fixed for occu.
Fancy hand placed anywhere on the
outside would cover scores of the pests.
hey were worse than any have ever
cen in Jersey, being particularly
gracious. We had to wear MOSQUITO
ets over our heads, arranged especial.
Y for the purpose, for our protection,
nd l used to sleep in this headgear at
light. The tent flaps were also kept
lightly closed.
"The Indians did not seem to mind
he mosquitoes particularly, though
hey went about in scant attire. DC.
asionally they would carry brushes in
he shape of branches of trees, with
'hich they would sweep the insects of
ieir legs.
Lake Labarge, of which mention has
zen made frequently since the Klon-
ike craze began, was named after an
ID French-Canadian voyager who went
18th our party."-Washington Star.