The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-29

At the end OF the seventh day. surrounded
by heavy pack zee In the river. the trip
was given UP and We all returned to Daw-
son.
After this exasperating failure 10 &c:
mp the Yukon i met Jack Dalton IN Daw-
son. The Dalton trail Is named after him.
He had just come down from Seikirk with
three large RATS containing eighty-:ve
carcases OF cattle and horses and go sheep.
This meat he sold for 81 TO SIPS a pound.
II Will prove OF vital value IN keeping The
wolf OF famine from the people OF Dawson.
aIr. Dalton Is one OF the best known
men In the Yukon region. He intended.
with three OF his men, 10 at once return 10
Seikirk. polling and towing his canoes up
stream. From that point, with five horses.
he meant 10 go over his train. a distance
% $40 miles 10 Chlkat Three old Yukon
miners. MeSsrs. Ferguson. Selene and Leak.
were also going vita him. He agreed tina.
We should accompany aim. In canoe
with one OF his Indians and Mr.. Ferguson,
my son and I left Dawson on October II
With about so pounds OF food and personal
effects. Mr. Dalton two DAYS later. with
one Indian I'm fourteen-foot shell and
about 200 pounds - freight. followed. He
overlook us ten days out. and when the
ice was running very heavy In tae Yukon.
On the fourth day we encountered very
a point whore IL was much too deep for
polling. After two hours work and repeat
ed danger OF fonnderins we finally got
across. On the other side We found racing
current and deep water. added 10 the very
dangerous obstacles of steep hanks and
fallen trees projecting far into the water
With the greatest difficulty and danger
We got past this point. water repeatedly
rushing over the gunwaies and freezing in
a..
day. The cold was almost intolerah bile
On the next day ice began TO make IN
the river and bur for the fact that We were
above the Stewart and White rivers,
which throw great quantities OF Zee into
the Yukon. we would then probably have
been compelled 10 abandon the trip. The
ice in the main river grew worse daily
until the ninth day. when IN 4 slough, win
racing current, high banks and over
hanging trees we were CT ught in nearly
sce-ciosed water. Further progress seemed
impossible. The Indian grew wild over
the dreadful obstacles. fse exhausted his
vocabulary ~ filthy Engiisa ana Indian
oatas, over and over again. and finally ii
combined rage and despair broke wholly
down and cried. He refused 10 so further
We went ashore for lunch at this point.
where Dalton and his Inc:an came IN his
canoe having bsen practically wrecked hy
ice Janning half a mile ahead We there
fore there Joined forces. But for that ar
raHgeu3ent IL is doubtful X ne could have
got through ar all When polling WAS
needed Mr.. Ferguson and the Indian pole!
This polling was fesrfuiiy f.rd work If
Itself bat SIS worst feature vas the fact
that the pclers' hands whether hare or
mis~Cuverea weTe constantly vet wlth ley
water handling poles heayily glazed w. h
Ice. The Indian stood this with hare hands
in The worst Of weather and CT one Of the
cesaest evenings he tun-hiei into the river
We; di6 nos step TO change his clothing
Towing. however. YVES the chief work
my sou always taking he lead in this. I
stayed in the beat and sts~re6 7yith an IN
dian paddle: digging the water, rather
than steering in II Is ins word expressly e
OF that kind % paddle. L was very hard
work. tea, when In shallow water n ba5n 2
then almost Impossible 10 keep the boat
from gazing ashore and grounding. A: aFst
my bad steering caused frequent ground
ing / deeply regretted this. bosa foT fhe
harder work p9f On iAa towers and zSos=
si3 for the loss % ever minutes tine at
| that season and .n the condition az ire
ice. thu river cocst srtly tencEug more 20
| the soltstty Of If s@xtTS ard tie utter close
Of Eav.S2sicE- Wa could not have Eoas