The record-union., 1897-10-05

LAKE LINDERMAN, Sept. 2 1897.
We'll, we have arrived here at last, safe
and sound, but are tired, somewhat
bruised up and sore for we were COM
PEELED to carry our provisions from the
summit. I am taking up so much space
that VIII not describe the trip on the
other side of the mountain. 6ullard will
write TO II. G.. Smith, and as he was the
more Disguised of the two he will do full
justice in a description of our stay at
Sheep Camp.
"fhe trail on account of incessant
rains was in a fearful condition and one
of our Indians with the heaviest load
found that he had more than he could
carry up the hill and so remained be-
hind until he could secure the use of a
dog, but promised faithfully to oyertake
us at Sheep Camp before morning. He
had with him our most valuable pack
ages, lie, our bags of clothing. He
failed to materialize al 9 the next morn
ing, so Billiard strapped on his gun
and back-tracked, Injun hunting. He
swore by all that was great and good
that If the Indian had taken the other
track and was trying to get away with
that part of our outfit he would follow
him if it took the rest of the season,
and he had to abandon our trip in con-
sequence.
i started on to head off the balance
of the crew at the summit, for they are
like turkeys-once started on the trail
you can only stop them with shotgun.
By this time our freight was strung out
from the head of navigation to the sum-
nit and we were in some doubt whether
we would succeed in ever getting it to-
gether again.
You have read of the terrors of Chill
coot Pass-the narrow defiles, deep icy
gorges, unscalable trails, where one
hangs on by the eyebrows to keep from
tumbling into bottomless chasms. Well,
perhaps the picture has been too highly
colored on occasions, but for downright
hard climbing for a few hours, not
enough can be said. The route lies over
immense granite powders, and while
at this season of the year the risk of
falling is small, I can easily fancy the
peril of attempting the trip in the win
ter or spring when everything is covered
with ice.
ION the summit the wind blows a gale
not prevail. On reaching the summit
the wind chills one almost instantly,
and so you lose no time in starting down
the other side in the vain hope of find
Ing more sheltered spot. 1 busted my
self getting our baggage down the
mountain, clearing away rocks that
We're bigger than my head to make a
place for our beds for I knew we were
doomed to spend the night there.
About 9 o'clock Bullard showed up
with his Injun, and we lost no time in
getting into bed to avoid being frozen
to death. First, however. we partook of
a light supper-the first morsel, by the
way, I had had that day-consisting of
canned corn beef, hard tack and ice
water. AS it was two days and more
before we reached timber enough to have
a fire. that was our fare for that length
of time. The next day we reached and
We're ferried ever Crater Lake, and in
succession thereafter daily, Long and
Deep Lakes, until now at last we find
ourselves at Linderman
I'VE have tramped now for more than
week in the rain, making our beds on
the wet ground and with just enough to
eat to keep life in us. Those red oil
cloths we brought have been our saliva
ton. as we have been able to keep our
bedding perfectly dry. and through the
day have covered our outfit with them
until we could get our tent in place
again, as we moved from camp to camp.
We are comfortably established now
on a hillside overlooking Lake Linder-
man awaiting the building Of boat that
is to take US down the river
I'VE have Joined a party of three
others and pay for the privilege $50
each, and we consider ourselves quite
lucky to have secured our places and
have done with all bother and loss of
time in building a boat. We expect to
leave here Monday, the 9th, and to
make Dawson in two or three weeks.
Camp Linderman is a little town of
tents and ship yards. Such is the de-
mand for boats that they ask and re-
ceive from $500 to $500 for two or three
ton boats. Timber is fast becoming
scarce in the immediate vicinity, and
coupled with the fact that there is dan
ger of the river freezing fast in the near
future, the demand of those here and
others coming who send orders ahead.
scow that makes it as valuable as a
town lot at Skaguay. But it is in keep
ing with everything else.
There are many white men now en-
gagged in packing between each of the
many lakes who earn from S15 to $50
day. But oh. what work Strong. rug
ged men soon show the effects of carry
ing heavy loads over the hills. Many
who are unable to hire help keep on work
ms their lives out, in what is seemingly
hopeless endeavor to get their freight
through by their own exertions. We
met many such on the other side. Tt
was really heartrending TO behold men
who had staked their all in getting
through, who were at last brought to
realization of the fact that it was an
impossible task.
We met many who had turned back.
and I am afraid the number will reach
into the hundreds, for without help no
man can get this far with his outfit of
1,G00 pounds. 1t excites my pity quite
as much TO witness the sufferings of
the horses and dogs. Probably 3.oG0
horses have been landed at Dvea and
Skaguay. to be driven until they drop
dead, or if possessed of enough endur
ance to pull through, to be shot at last,
or turned loose to starye in the end.
There are many women headed fer
the Yukon, too. Nearly all are dressed
in male attire throughout | walked
on the trail behind one yesterday who
had met with misfortune in sliding
over some rocky point. A rent in the
seat of her pantaloons fully a foot long
was closed partly by the employment
of safety pin in the middle, but knit
ted underwear beneath would show
through.
In contrast. there was another wn-