The San Francisco call., 1897-08-27
ORDERED FROM CAMP.
Miners at the Skaguay Trail Expel
a Man for Taking Money
ErOnn the Dead.
(Copyrghted by the Post-fntelligence Alaskan
News Syna icate.)

was given three hours to obey the man
date Cleveland was one of the promoters
in opening the trail, and was operating a
pack train to the lakes. He sold the prop
erty and made himself scarce in short
order. The trouble originated over the
moving of the corpse of Mr.. Fowler. OF
Seattle who was drowned near Skaguav a
few days ago. Cleveland took the body
down to S<aguay and exacted charge of
$40. No one stepped forward with money,
and he reached in the dead mans pocket
and took out a wet $40 bill, remarking,
that will pay me for my trouble"
The miners dld not object so much to
the charge as they did to the heartless
manner in which payment was exacted.
The more the subject was discussed the
more indignant they became and il was
not long before a miners meeting was
convened. 1t was with difficulty that
some OF the speakers contained them
selves. Cleveland had several friends
present, who pleaded moderation and
begged for mercy. There was no mistak-
ing the sentiment of the men. They were
highly incensed that any one should for
get the respect due to the dead and take
from the pocket of the dead the money
that was dripping with the water that had
caused his death. Some of those present
advocated severe punishment, but the
verdict Of ia of the miners present de.
creed that the accused should forthwith
leave the country. Cleveland was in
formed of the verdict and he did not wait
to ascertain what the alternative would
be- but accepted the terms imposed and
set sail for Juneau.
at o'clock Wednesday afternoon we
set sail for Camp Lake Linderman. A
strong wind was blowing down the lake
and kicked up considerable of a sea and
we thought it a favorable opportunity for
testing the seaworthiness OF the P. l. She
was heavily loaded and carried full crew.
Sail was hoisted and away we sped down
the lake. The boat stood the test sp!en-
dIdly and we rode every sea like water
fowl. Another boat, which started out
few minutes ahead of us, was compelled to
seek shelter. II was an exciting boat ride
and at times l had great difficulty in re-
tanning control over the little craft so
anxious was she to make record break
ing trip to the rapids. Lake Linderman
is SIX miles long, half a mile in width,
down deep canyon and has the shape of
slightly bent elbow. On the port side,
on the cone of an immense bowlder, fut-
tered in the breeze the star ami stripes.
By its side was another staff, which bore
the tattered remnants of The ensign of
Great Britain but which had been whipped
to pieces by the blizzards of the north.
That was the dividing line between Alaska
and the Northwest Territory.
In the twinkling of a second our boat
carried rs into Canad an waters, and,
with the feetness OF winged bird, we
soon reached the end OF the lake. The
rocky canal that empt1es Lake Linder-
man into Lake Bennett pv the peculiar
formation OF the land is partly concealed.
Without previous warning the waters sud-
denly became swift and then plunged
into a canyon filled with rugged powders,
and which means certain destruction to a
loaded b5at Before realizing the danger
we were in its brink. The sail came down
in hurry ana we pulled out of harms
way and landed on the opposite shore,
one hour and thirty minutes from the
time we set sail. Cur supplies were quick
ly landed AMI we went into camp. A
heavy rain tell during the night. The
next morning we surveyed the rapids.
The stream cuts through a wall of granite
and basaltic formation for distance of
three-quarters of mile and has a fall of
forty teet. The stream is swift and full
OF powders, and careful navigation is
necessary to avoid accidents. With 200
feet OF rope fastened 10 the boat and in
the hands Of five men Smith, one of the
party, with poles, got into the boat and
began the descent. Gradually the long
rope was paied out, and, by careful steer
Ing, we avoided the powders Once il
was necessary that l should Jump over
board into the water waist deep and push
of to prevent the boat striking hidden
rock. Tie last $50 feet was the worst of
all. The water flirly boiled and loaned
in its madness 10 tear away the granite
that stood in the stream to check its rush.
The boat danced about like a cork and
taxed TO the utmost the strength of the
men ashore. Ey careful polling the craft
was worked into proper position, the line
from shore was slackencd and we shot
into the rapids. Not fifty yards distant
and il plain view stood the headtoar
over the grave of ]. w. Mapes, the man
who in descending the rapids capsized his
boat, lost his GU fit and blew out his
brains. The scene was impressive, and It
will be many long day before we will
forget it's effect. The boat launched into
The whirlpool of boiling waters. On one
of the rocks which we avoided were the
wrecks of two unfortunate boats. An in
slant later and it was all over and we were
safely at anchor. Then We helped two
Swedes. from Helena, Mont, through
he rapids and accidentally ran against
sunken bowlder, which strained the boat
considerably. The rest of The afternoon
and today we put in carrying our goods
across the portage. Tne road is quite
sandy and hard to travel.
Lake Bennett is thirty miles long and
from 1000 yards to one mile in width. AT
present there are about l50 people in
camp. building and waiting for boats to
be built. The Skaguay trail comes out at
the lower end of Lake Linderman. So far
only two PACK trains have got through.
Any number of men have come across
from Skaguay to look over the route. They |
re mort a fairly pood road for horses carry