Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1897-12-08
in kL0NDlKE.
NEWS FROM THE LAND or
GOLD.
Donoban BrotDers Ulrtte All
Interesting letter.

Lee Monohan, brother Of Conduc- I
tor Monohan of this city, will be Of /
interest to all our readers;
ELDoRADo, KLoNDIKE, N. w. T., /
September 8, 1897.
DEAR FOLKS AT HOME:
We are now encamped sixteen
miles above Dawson, in the heart |
Of the mining district. will first
tell you something about our trip.
We were seventeen days going from
Skaguay to Lake Bennett, and
made three camps III the fortyfour
miles. Tom proved to be the best
horse on the trail and came out
without a scratch. He packed 200
pounds to the summit, sixteen
miles, and $50 from that point to
Lake Bennett. There are six fords
on the trail, some of which are
really dangerous. Youjump across
on rocks which are foot under
water. | will not tell you of sore
backs and feet that got tired, oh,
SO tired We have not used our
gum boots yet, so you see we had
to roll up our trousers and wade
through the ford<. Gosh and !
carried from so to 100 pounds, and
after many trials we reached Lake
! Bennett without the loss Of one
thing except my jackknife. We
would have left Lake Bennett but
for a strong head wind on the 10th.
The morning Of the Goth We set
sail. Our boat cost us $S5. /
seWed q blanket to a piece of can
vas to make a sail. 1t was rugged
square, like u Chinese boat sail.
There were two parties set sail the
same morning that We did, one
three hours, the other two hours
before US. We passed both III six
hours. We had strong head
wind TO pull against when about
six miles ON Lake Bennett. Finally
the wind turned in our favor and
we thought We would sail across
Windy Arm The wind increased
to gale and drove Us almost
ashore in the dark. We lowered
our sail and poled around point
where We were safe from the storm.
We broke two oars in the attempt.
That is probably tho narrowest
escape re had from total destruc-
ton. It was 10 o'clock Iefore we
got to bed that night. Had put
our stove up in the boat SO that we
could cork, while we were going,
thereby saving at least two days on
the trip. That night We eamped at
the foot OF Lake Marsh or Shallow
Lake. Saw no one on the 21st
except two Indians, near the Tagish
houses, all six OF which were nailed
up. On the I'D We reached TIT
wonderful White Horse Rapids
. In the eddy above the canyon wefl
four outfits, the owners OF which
G did not know what to do. hftei
which Gosh went to look at thu
canyon, while I mended the oar
} which we broke on Lake Tagish
After which we covered up every
thing III the boat with canvas, foI
j he said the waves were bound t
) dash over the sides. | took tn
oars and Gosh the steering oar
g Out Of the eddy the current eaugh
liz and took our frail boat with tn
o velocity of a horse galloping to tn
mouth of that terrible canyon
: which once seen will never be for
o gotten. Those monster current
. placed Gosh at one moment so ia
above me and the next SO far beloy
v tint it seemed as though our boa
J. had turned complete somersanlt
r. Our boat took in about twenty gal
Ions of water. The people on Iii
banks gave US cheer after we wer
i through. Since we had promise.
: mother to take no risk, we decide,
not to run the last rapids.
Dawson is built Oh both sides c
heriver. After landing we washe
G orr faces and hands and put o
4 4