The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-07-23
The Perils of Alaska.
G. e.. D..

AMONG the thousands of daring men
who are pushing their way to the fabu-
lous Alaskan gold fields in the Yukon
Valley are eight Bluegrass boys-John
Morrow, Frank Hall, Wilmot Kenney,
Joe Hall. Edgar Penn. Myall Lowe,
Jake Hall and Catlett Hutzell-Whose
homes are in Bourbon county, near this
city. The Hall boys have been in
Alaska ten years and John Morrow has
spent the last six years in that golden
land. and all have been successful. The
other Kentucky boys started six months
ago for the new Eldorado and are bat
thing with thousands for fortunes in
Alaska-the country which the United
States bought from Russia for 7,2OO,-
600 (less than half a cent per acre.
which now is worth billions of dollars.
John Morrow has sent enough gold
home to his parents to lift a mortgage
from their old Kentucky home and put
them in more comfortable circum-
stances, and the Hall boys have sent
money back TO invest in Kentucky
farm. They were for years employed
in the large stamp mill of the Treadwell
Mining Company at Douglas City, earn
ing four dollars per day, working every
day except Christmas and the Fourth of
July, which days the mill observes as
holidays.
Several years ago Morrow and a COM
rade made trip TO the Yukon gold
fields, only reaching there after expe-
riencing bitter hardships. They started
on March 10, with 800 pounds of bag
gage, going by the Chilkoot route over
mountains. lakes and rivers. Almost
weighted down with baggage, their
progress was slow. Part of their outfit
would he cdrried.a mile and set down
while they returned for the remainder.
At one stage Of the journey they were
ten days going nine miles over the
mountains. having to cut foOtholds in the
ice and snow with shOvels. Once over
the mountains they built a boat and
travelled distance of 300 miles on the
lakes and Lewis river to the great Yu-
kon. finally reaching on June 18th a
mining camp just inside the Arctic circle
and in the region of everlasting snow
and ice. These mines can only be
worked during the Summer season,
which lasts but short time In Win
ter the mercury registers 7S0 below zero
at this point, and even in July Morrow's
pick struck ice under the moss which
grows profusely in that region.
Morrow and his companion found the
outlook discouraging in the Yukon
fields at that time. There were six hum
dred miners there and in the camp were
not enough provisions to last until the
arrival of the Government boat, which
was not due for six weeks on its trip to
rescue unfortunate miners. Living at
the camp was very expensive-a bar
rel of flour costing $48. Potatoes
cost 81 per pound and bacon 81 pound.
Whiskey sold for 81 a glass. Realiz-
ing that remaining in the camp meant
starvation Morrow and his comrade
started down the Yukon river in six
teen foot boat on voyage fraught with
untold perils In three weeks they
Travelled nearly 1000 miles on the rapid
flowing river, experiencing dangerous
adventures. finally reaching the mouth
of the great Yukon, where it is 60 miles
wide. Here they paid 800 each for
passage to Seattle
But this was several years ago. The
arrival of steamers from the Yukon