Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-07-30

II Vic prospecting PaiIy Hao Ca
hausted its supplies it can obtain no
more. When Cariboo Crossing has
been reached the travellers are only
1863 miles from Juneau, and they
cannot replenish their stock OF food
until they reach Forty-Mile post
which is 72S miles from Juneau. The
men who have brought fortunes with
them from the North become eloquent
when they attempt to tell what mile
means in the ice-fields of British
Columbia.
After leaving Cariboo Crossing the
party travels an uneven, hard-road tc
the foot of Lake Tagish, seventeen
miles away. The waterway then be.
comes better, although the party will
meet series of dangerous rapids be.
fore it has progressed very far. The
lakes, however, afford an easy pass.
age as the season has advanced and
the ice has broken. Lake Marsh is
traversed with very little difficulty.
1t ends only to present to the view OF
the travellers the dangers and hidden
terrors of deep canyon that is i'm
portant enough to find mark on all
maps.
Beyond the canyon is the White
Horse rapids, then the Tehkeena river,
which opens into the Lake lie Barge,
256 miles from Juneau. Every name
has memory in suffering and priva-
ton to the miners that have returned
to civilization. Each name may
mean more to the thousands that
seek to follow the long trail in their
search for gold. The Hootalinqua
river, Cassiar bar, Big Salmon river
and Little Salmon river, the Five
Finger rapids and the Rink rapids are
passed in slow procession. When the
Rink rapids have been reached the
prospectors have travelled $50 miles
from Juneau.
They have suffered the rigors of the
northern cold. They have risked the
dangers of snow and ice, and have
faced the terrors of mountains and
canyons. All the way they have car
ried their outfits and provisions, and
the Klondyke is still 59S miles away.
Not half of the journey has been
made.
The Rink rapids extend for over
fifty-three miles, and it is i'm possible
for boat of any kind, much less one
that prospector may build, to live in
them. The craft must be dragged
mile after mile-a heavy task on fail
ing strength and endurance. The
men who venture into the ice fields
risk much for the gold they seek.
At last they reach the Pelly river
the most important point thus far in
their long journey. They have now
only to fear for want of supplies and
a weakening Of their powers of en-
durance. They travel down the Pelly
river for ninety-six miles, until they
reach the White river. At the con-
fluence of the two streams the Yukon
opens before them. They are 2,044
miles from the mouth of the great
stream, but after weeks of toll and
danger they are on the highway to
the mines.
The travel down the Yukon ten
miles and cross the Stewart river.
Twenty miles further and they are at
Sixty-mile post. For over sixty miles
more they meet nothing that even
the map-makers have dignified with a
name. The steam flows through as
bleak region as the most daring ex-
plorers ever entered. Then Fort Re-
lance, a small, most Insignificant post,
is passed. There is nothing to eat
there, and sympathy is poor consola-
ton to those that may be hungry.
The river carries the miners on to
Forty-mile post, forty-six miles away.
Recent events have made this post q
small settlement, but the most fool
hardy prospectors will not expect to
secure provisions there unless they
have more money than they need, and
all need money in the north. Nearly
a mile from Forty-mile post is Fort
Cudahy, but the travellers receive
hardly the encouragement of passing
salutation. For ITO miles more the
way is barren, and then Circle City ap-
pears.
A year ago Circle City was the
most important town in the interior.
1t then had a population of 500 peo.
pie, but now, as a matter of course, it
has many more. 1t is 898 miles from
Juneau, and is the first place where
provisions may be obtained at any
thing but prohibitory prices. If the
travellers need food they buy 1t at
Circle City, and pay what the store
keepers choose to ask.
After leaving Circle City $50 miles
more must be travelled before the OBJ
ject of all the journey, Klondyke and
its river, is reached. At the point
where the Klondyke river meets the
Yukon new city, Dawson, has risen
like an apparition. There the traveller
will meet hundreds, perhaps thous
ands, like themselves in search fol
gold.