The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-13
MI. Johnson Left Seattle Late in March
Nineteen Days Delay by Snow
and by Ice GOrges.
MILLERS LITTLE BOAT CARRIED HIM THROUGH.

Through rolling country. for the most part
open. with plenty OF grass for feeding
stock, water and sufficient wood FOR al
purposes. From salt water 70 the summit
Stock anc pack horses can be driven
through easily"
A few days later the following was sent
cut from Victoria
John ~. Esrolm. 81 fhe british yukan
Company. rnaee trip over the White pa S.
Y fresh water on July Is. returning 70
sASEnay bay on the following day. thus
concentrating the prscticaoillty Of this
route to the Yukon gold fields. The traH
= now open and horses can SO through
from salt water 20 fresh"
The Rash Begins.
II these reports were true when sent out
the fact remains they were never true aft
erwards. But Thousands preferred taking
their chances with horse over an alleged
trail 20 packing freight on human backs
ana the rush began. Fer weeks after that
horses we're being unloaded at Skaguay by
the score and Efforts made 10 get outflts
across White pass. bat sxcspt Ia a few in
stances 10 was unavailing. Hundreds Of
horses were killed and dozens died from
lack OF feed and care The bad trail was
MADE worse after the fret few animals had
passed over f. and fnaliy. on account O.
frequent rains. mire holes. great rocks
steep trails over rocks worn bare BY travel
and 50 forth, the attempt 20 cross wa
abandoned late IN the season. Winter sets
In there nov with hundreds OF persons
camping along this TRAN ~ their outfits
hoping 10 cross after the earth is frozen.
Others VIII camp at Lake Bennett Just
over the pass. until navigation opens IN
the spring, But Skaguay pass has seen its
FIRST rush. and next year. after the snow
disappear. & VIII withour doubt be given
a wide berth at least unless thousands Of
dollars have been expended In making
some sort OF passabie trail out OF il.
Indermsn In August.
William J Jones. Of the Post-Tntelll-
gencer Alaska News Syndicate in writing
from Lake Llnaerrnan IN August said
'sThe shores OF Lakes Liudermsn and
bennett are alive with boat builders
Scores Of men are cullinw the little forest
near by for timber Trees are felled and
tewed or carried "a the yards and then
whipsawed into planks. That IL done by
putting the logs upon a Platform about
seven feet from the ground and then with
one man above and another below and
with a twe-haudled crosscut saw the opcr.
alton or aawlng the legs into lumber com
mences The mill at Lake Bennett charge
slie a thousand for saving logs and 20
construct an ordinary sized boat capable
% carrying $500 pounds and ave men.
about 500 feet Of lumber Is necessary.
Much skill II displayed by amateurs In
building serviceable boats and scow
Generally four or Ave people with OUTFITS
Weighing two tons viii club in together
and build douhle-euded scow or a largs
nas-bottorn sais The timber used e. %
soft pine ard Is easily worked, The boats
are about q feet long 81 feet beam and 3
feet depth Of hold ard two sets o. oars.
They are stir and With litfle experisnc.
are easily handed In rough water A mas
is easily pat in and small canvas sal
greatly assists ~ tire loeamouon. Many
people 50 from here % lake Bennett on
rats. where the timber " larger and more
plentiful and have LOGS manufactured .nte
timber Between L1aderman and Bennett
there is a small portage and she boat must
be dropped down over the fails by the use
Of Euy rcpes.
He Travelled In April.
As most people viii srdeavor % make an
early start from attic next spring r.
reach Dawson City it will he Interesting go
read what @ ". r. johnson h1s 70 ssy
about IS tr1p iast April ard Nay Nj
Johnson left Ssatlla isle ,a Aarsa. Be was
In Juneau Ms~ch g ans p aehed pawson
city June z havtre lost 81 DAYS on ire WAY.
six in suow storm. swo from Snow blind
ness sna u A. Lake LshaTge. Watkins Tor
fHe Ice - ran 1Et. rs SAYS.
Tire trails ans lakes 'breks w this year
one meath earlier than usual. catching
MANY who we've bringing 81 isrss trading
outfits. Tha trip e noi Esrd az aifncgit %
ere at all used % romehinE g. After Ire
boats are constructed Is = enc ccntiaual
"trip OF pleasure, 40 difficulties excepting
ne canyen, watch ear De ran wlthoot dan
ser 81 a Htlls kaowIedge Of boating aud
care e used. The waite Horse ranids are
dangerous mers especially az a low sfa&e
~ water sud un3er nc c.rcums taEttf
should BE ran, AZ this place the PORTAGE
Is shert and easy, ana izt.e time q is''t
rs tranFfcFfinE d lest. We q course were
CO PEELED Sc take W ala ln. 50 made Use
run WITH oaa pounds n eur boat We
were successful tn getting through. hgl
struck q rock ard ali Noi q good duckirz
The Five Fingers simply aeed care ard
judgment. The Rink rapids aye not bat
Hardship. Exaggerated.
The hsrHshIps q she TRIP are MUGS
exaggerated saa u.Faosa Fs5ccd ay tfe
outside werjd ~ course an the Cht-
kast pass trails from pYcs 20 Lake iaa-
derman a MAS ealsenec. nerve ans
strength az taxed e ere utmost just
fr,e, TIE ship. stores ofHees as homes
81 iuxury. or a. leas, comfart. many erd
thair streaKth Ainest unequal 20 tta cc-
es.fen. many have eeen seen sittug "a
their barssus. wesplnE. swearing. or 10
silent despair. IS their natures nav
prompt After a Few days hsrs niDk
tNny sre feaua uteye cheerful, ard ere
,see they take I'D sNeir loa8s and sT =
st ere next newcomer who = Sens
through the sarne course - training
some fsa stt=rty ard reeurn. ~ this
esaes rhere are fsw. Tlss rerlhge frcHa
uyeA - Lake t398e-~nsa - tse ra7st air.
r -ul5 Part ~ the uie. to distance bssnx
"A mites Transferring ens's C3tat over
ehts fsess % re route consumes 50 Eauch
Ore az sse reusAfairE rortBoc 81 TIE 10
f-os-, Juneau 70 pzssas Clty. ssaut -
usil@s.
ESQ - ff.fs aass 49, year l1ars A-hA
. ese pSerls hzve cTsS~e6 gAe summit a-4
q seat she sArns number NiutsFs4 Nsr@
T~,s majority sf sAsse eeoass srs g. D&w-
sen cry. - "a 80 fransedtsts F7cisitE.
spa2ssnx Of ia eEesrtggztsAeS Ar. gcsn-
ser sAFss
+s'-hsrs - rsc-a - ;a5s coartry s-8 tazs
~e~s~n - Alaska arssrA Csre}e CTS fcr
81 aa2 peengs TAs3zs q V3s@ ths general
s.ssssrsss 9anrsssesu al tsrcQEh tss catEn.
.rr. tssS secsfsa o-srx gTezS inducements
% 80 wAa scuad Ia bady Sa1 e1aai io =
a II -