The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-17
MANY WAITING FOR The FREEZE
Steamship AI-ki Brings From Skag-
nay Mrs Sylvester >covei->he
Makes the Trip From Lake BEN
nett in Two Dsy>-A Blizzard at the
Iake-EstabIishme of a si<aGuay
Postohice TO Be Recommended.

Leaning against the ran OF me SAVesAA
ship as X drew alongside Ocean dock was
a woman clad as though for golf game.
which might terminate in a particularly
violent football contest. II was Mrs. syl-
vester Scovel wife OF the New YORK
Worlds special correspondent, returning
TO civilization after six weeks OF rough
ing il on the Skaguay tran and IN camp
at Lake Bennett. She accompanied her
husband 20 Skaguay early in August
Three weeks ago Mr. Scovel left bis VIE
encamped on the shore Of Lake Bennett
and came TO Seattle on business Tor the
paper. While here an imperative telegram
from the World summoned him 10 New
York. Thence he was dispatched TO Cuba,
where he now Is. Mrs. Scovel, after many
dreary days Of waiting. received word OF
her husbands involuntary departure. ana
escorted by ". +. Saportas she left the
lake October 4 for Skaguay. Her arrival
al the latter place October was few
hours too late for the steamer City or
Seattle, and she was delayed until the
sailing Of the AK last Sunday. She VIII
join her husband in Cuba, leaving here
as soon as possible.
THE trip from Lake Bennett to Skag-
uay, by the White pass, took US but
twenty-one and a half hours OF actual
travelling" said Mrs. Scovel last evening
the trail is not so terrible. does It not, for
a woman 10 make the distance in so short
a time? Really. though, that trail seems
1900 miles long when you walk IL, though
as the crow flies / believe the distance Is
somewhat less. l must confess that was
exhausted by the journey and had there
been another hill to climb / hardly be-
lieve I should have gotten over 1t. The
first night on leaving camp we went eight
miles. finding shelter for the night in the
camp of the Canadian Mining and Ex-
ploration party. at the head Of which is
Mr.. Genest. That is the largest expedi-
tion up there. 1t will go up the Pelly
river.
The second day We crossed the summit,
travelling altogether twenty-five miles. In
fording the streams l became thoroughly
wet and was compelled 10 sleep in clothes
from which / could almost wiring the wa
ter. Rubber boots with which L had
started. were cut to pieces and my feet
were sore. In the morning 1 awoke 10
find my knees perfectly stiff, an expert
ence common to those who have gone over
the trail. Men who pack all day in the
Wet awake at night with violent cramps
In their arms and backs. Their sleep is
not refreshing. IL is the oblivion of alb
solute exhaustion. One of my knees linn
bered up enough 10 allow me TO walk and
that forenoon we got through the cutoff,
for lunch in the timber. There
l threw away the boots and wrapped my
feet in gunny sacks. We hurried on,
anxious TO reach Skaguay before dark.
Such a surprise / had on reaching Edge
mont, The camp at the foot of the first
hill TO find the collection Of tents con-
verted into town with big, comfortable
log cabins, with lights blazing from the
windows and warm fires within. / had
been gone but five weeks and was hardly
prepared for the change. Skaguay. too
which was reached al ten minutes Of
O'Clock, was a revelation. The streets
were strait, with broad plank walks and
about coo substantial houses. Skaguay has
even a bath house. We
stayed in the Holly hotel. which George
Noble, of Seattle. intends 10 run next
spring.
Three weeks ago a heavy north wind
swept through the canyon in which Lake
Bennett lies. II was a regular blizzard
with snow falling fast and drifting in the
strong wind. Probably two feet OF snow
fell. / awoke that morning TO find an
inch of snow on the tarpaulin which COW
cred my blankets The tent was frozen
hard as a plank and tapped with re-
port like a pistol. The canyon runs north
and south and the wind is always from
one of the TWO directions. The wind had
gone south on the day we left. That is
a terrible locality for rain. Il never stops.
don't you know, except 10 sleet or snow.
The season Is now so treacEerous that
many are caching their stuff a Lake Ben
nett and viii go back 10 the timber. build
huts and spend the winter. With the
opening Of spring they Will be able to
start ahead Of the rush. Ever so many
Will go IN over the ice as soon as the lake
and river freeze. During the blizzard /
spoke Of an arm OF Lake Bennett was
coated with ice. Capt Harper and a squad
OF thirty or forty mounted police were
20 get away for Dawson City
when We left. All who start now expect
10 be showed up. A number viii winter
at Lake Tagish. which is headquarters
for the Canadian customs officers. 4 force
OF provincial police and mounted police
Is there stationed. II has the added ad-
OF being on the mall line. | could
hardly esuma 70 the number OF people en-
camped at Lake Bennett. There Is a large
village Of tents. but the population shifts
constantly. parties taking advantage OF
every south wind 70 leave. Beef was sell
ing there at 80 cents a pound, and IT was
plentiful
"On my word ! never met such manly
men as OF that Skaguay trail. They were
univ ersally kind 10 ne ard to one another
Often before ] have heard Of natures
n0blemen.' and there ! realized that suca
really exist Under untrlmmed boards
and rough clothes there were concealed
hearts OF the most perfect gentlemen.
Especially was that true OF the earlier
crowd"
F. ". Vallle. assistant superintendent OF
the Pacific coast mail division, who went
north three weeks ago 70 look into the
feas5 bihty Of esta blshing new mail route
IN conjunction with the Canadian gov
eminent 10 The interior CT Alaska, was a
returning passenger Ju the AK He
gives & as MS opinion that additional
service cannot be given for several months
20 come. as there are many obstacles 20
overcome. At present the United States
has monthly service from Juneau 10 Circle
City and the Canadian mounted police are
a. attempting 10 deliver mai A. Dawson City
from Dyea monthly Carriers who start
turned, nor had they been reported when
Nasile left Dyea s week ago FaIe says
be VIII al once recommend The establish
ing q a postof}ce s1d the appointing o.
a postna ster a. Skaguay. as az present fhe
town has neither although a. A town meet
ing D.. II r. Runnals formerly y PuyaI-
lug. was elected custodian 81 usall which
e sent from Ju1eau IN sealed pouches his
compensation being 5 cents for ever letter
handled.
The Al-kl left skaruay last sunday AZ
noon. Al that esme clear weather vas pre-
gal1uE- The only storm ~ experienced
e-as On October w1eu two inches q Snow
fell Ire TIP down was unusually pleas
ant Following is q hsr Of the Axis pas
sengers-
W 2. sapo~.as MS Sylvester scoveI
* II Bayiiss n. Cave. " RossnthaI 2
81 Graf Ms 7 FaWoett " G. Hail r