Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-02-11
fl TRIP THROUGH RLRSKA.
An Interesting Letter TO the Herald From An
Old Grant County Boy.
(CoNTNUED.)

hunting grounds without having
tried our aim at the large bear that
inhabit this region. We killed none
though game was plentiful and marks
men true.
As the ice had not yet moved in
the lakes we viii load all our things
in boats on sleds. and travel as long
as the ice is sat and generally reach
Mud Lake. We have put Chilkoot
summit sixty miles in the distance.
The country around Mud lake and
Takow lake seems suitable for graz
ing 1t is surrounded by mountains,
of which Mt. Logan. 5000 feet high,
is the principal one. This mountain
is used by the Takish Indians as a
weather guide. Ii they can see its
summit they can tell if they can
make Chilkoot Pass, while on their
their way to the coast. Lewis river
leads out of Mud lake. 1t is about
one hundred fifty yards wide. very
sluggish and deep until we reach Mil
Ter canyon. This canyon like most
Others is very dangerous. 1t is about
one hundred feet wide, three fourths
of mile long, with banks of solid
rock varying from one hundred to
two hundred feet in heighth; not
many attempt this pass, and for others
there is skidway built by the min
ers to take their boats around. Our
party of three, my two brothers and
were just two minutes from the time
we entered until we landed in the
whirlpool below.
From here on the current is twelve
miles an hour. Three miles farther
on are White Horse Rapids or Man
Trap. The name suggests that it
might be dangerous to run these. and
the graves Of several miners here,
proved that death was the doom of
4llose who attempted it. There is a
skidway by which things can be car
ried around. The fall OF the river at
this point is six feet for every fifteen.
We arrived at Lake La Barge, May
16, 1895. Finding the ice solid. we
loaded our things in boats, and boats
on sleds, hoisted a sail, and crossed
the lake. which is forty miles wide.
in six hours.
There is an island in the center of
this lake, where most Of the travellers
generally stop to have an Easter, as
wild duck and geese eggs are found
here in abundance but as the wind
was in our favor we passed on. At
the foot of Lake LaBarge we overlook
a company of about one hundred fifty
who had gone out about two months
ahead of US. All had their boats
built and we started down the
main Lewis river. The first twenty
seven miles of this river has cur
rent of seven miles an hour, and the
many rifles. rapids and huge boulders
that project out of the water make it
not smooth sailing. These rapids are
called the Hoodalink. The Hoodallnk
river puts in on the right bank. 1t is
some three hundred miles long, and
navigable for steamboats,. for two
hundred and fifty.
Some golqs found on its bars
but not in paE7fg quantities.
Fifty miles below the Hoodalink
river is the Cassiara Bar Here is
where gold was first found in the
Yukon Valley.
A large quantity Of gold was taken
from here. The output OF two sea-
sons being $3.50, 600. As we pass
along our attention is drawn to the
large cut banks About fifty feet
above the water, and one below the
surface of the earth. Is a deposit,
similar TO air Stacked lime, perhaps
aSnes tfom volcanoes. as here ii has
all the appearance Of being a volcanic
region at one time. Several lava beds
can be seen. one of the most import
ant is at Five Fingers. The river IS
divided into three channels. A reef
rocks extends two-thirds OF the way
across, causing rapids. II the mid
die of the river are two large rocks of
solidlava which were formed from
active volcanoes or deposited by
glaciers.
Fifty miles from Five Fingers the
Pelly river joins the Lewis, and the
uniting Of their waters forms the fam
oUs Yukon. On the left bank was
T. S31t.;-f- ebo,,c-L ~. l. 49, ,.,,,,, =, -