The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-11
Striking West DEVILS While
DixonsE in
Picked Up by the Steamer City of Topeka

kneedeep and it is bad enough for pack
animals instead OF men heavily laden with
supplies. The trail from Sheep Camp is
very steep and one must climb from
bowlder to bowlder, sometimes on all
fours.
In the winter travelling is much better
One man with light running sleigh can
easily haul 1000 Wounds over The ice and
snow up lie canyon, across the mountain
and down the incline to Lake Bennett.
The best season to go TO the Yukon is
in March or April.
1t is surprising to see how well Indian
dogs like to work. They joyfully dance
about when the packs are about to be
broken. There is one fine animal here
that netted the owner last winter $1100 by
hauling sleighs loaded with miners sup
plies to the lakes. AS soon as winter
commences horses become vaueless and
are killed and fed to the dog, and the
CANNES are in prime condition when
spring comes
An Indians word is absolutely worth
less. They VIII make a solemn contract
one hour and cancel it the next for no ap-
parent cause. They often agree TO carry
supplies for certain considerations and al
stated times, but Obligations of that char
acter are valueless.
Many of the Chilkats end Sltkas have
mingled in with the Chilkoots here, until
the tribes are pretty we'll mixed. How
ever, they are united in the one PROPOSE
ton of forcing the Sticks, or interior
indians, to remain over ON their side OF
the range of mountains and not visit the
naaf fra Of ha
younger generation are well educated and
can read and write good English.
They have been and are now being edu-
Gated in the missions.
The Indian chiefs d not exercise much
control over their subjects in the way of
collecting tithing. One or two of the
chiefs still have few slaves which they
hold in bondage and derive some revenue
by packing supplies for miners.
Since arriving at Dyea and Skagaway 1
have Iearned consid dera BILE about pack ing
goods Tor the Yukon. Both provisions
and clothing should be put up in so, 100
and $50 pound canvas or rubber bags
Bottled and canned goods should be
packed in the center of dried fruit or bum
dies OF clothing, so that the sharp edges
will not cut the backs of the Indians.
They will not carry boxes, and every
pound OF weight should be saved. Flour
and bacon are easily handled.
Small packages are carried by Indian
boys and girls or with trained dogs. The
distance to Lake Lndeman is twenty
eight miles. The first day the Indians
carry to Sheep Camp and camp
for the night. The next day
bau ha {1
which is $500 feet above the sea level, and
cross to Lake Llndeman and then return
to Sheep Camp that night. Early in the
morning OF the third day they return to
Dyea for a rest They make two round
trips week.
1t is indeed surprising to witness the
strength and endurance OF these Chilcoot
Indians. One man carries Z60 pounds
over a trail that few white men care to
walk empty handed.
There is young boy here about Is years
old who takes pack weighing It's pounds
The women are good carriers.
Some people have peculiar ideas about
what to take to the Klondike
One man from Puget Sound Is taking a
bicycle over the Skagaway trail. He
loads it down with about 400 pounds of
freight and is pushing it along over the
trail. In four days he had made about
five miles. Another man is trying to take
big feather bed and two large pillows.
A new scheme OF taking cattle to the
Klondike is being tried. They are being
driven across the mountains tn the lakes,
and there put on barges and shipped down
the river TO Klondike.
If the scheme is success it will be pos
sible to take cattle to the Klond;ke from
Puget Sound in twenty-hv days. In all
proba bility several hundred sheep will be
taken 10 the mines in the same manner.
WILLIAM J. JONES