The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-09-02

prospective miners have decided to re-
main until spring. There are very few
who have been discouraged at this
prospect Of wintering IN the shores Of
Alaska with only tents to shelter them
Dom the snow storms and the bliz-
Yards. On the contrary the majority
OF these people are quite content. II
u doubtful, however. il, of all the men
AZ Dyea and Skagnay, even one-half
Will get through the passes, even when
spring has come. Yet the crowd at the
passes are satisfied to take their
chances. and so they have decided 20
satue down for the winter.
Town lots are being staked out and
squatter's rights prevail and some
a these who have sQuatted on desir-
able lots often have an opportunity TO
sell them TO those who are well sup
piled with fruits and funds. United
States Commissioner Smith who is To-
eAted here, and his two assistants at
Skagnay, are the busiest men in the
section. They are engaged in record
ing the claims Of lot holders. Next to
these are three surveyors, who are
xept hustling. Dyea has an eating
house which the prOprietos calls ho-
tel, while at Skagnay there are four
restaurants. Some OF Juneau's busi-
sess men have decided TO build wharves
Ar Skagnay. and II looks as II SkaSnay
would be the coming city.
At Dyea the tents o; the gold hun
:ers are scattered from the head of the
inlet to Sheep Camp, distance of five
miles. At Skagnay the settlement is
more compact, extending from the bay
for distance OF about five miles TO
the beginning OF the pass, but most OF
the tents are grouped on the new town
stte near the water. Among those who
went down from here in the Alki is
e. Snowden, robust young man,
slightly lame OF leg. His home is Ma
salno. b. G. He crossed and recrossed
Ehilkoot Pass this season and he is the
trst man who has come from there
within the last three months who has
accomplished the feat. Snowdon ac-
eomplshed the last in FIVE days. He
rame 60 Dyea just before the first of
this month. He thus tells OF his ex-
verience:
When l first reached Dyea l had
l.S00 pounds OF supplies. decided to
make a trip over the pass to see what
the prospect was for getting some Of
ny stun through. I concluded to pack
over portion Of my supplies, and l
made up pack OF 68 pounds. With
this i started OF. From Sheep Camp
one begins the ascent TO the mountain
pass. 1t is like climbing up the face of
huge bare hill, the trail zig tagging.
II "a hard ana slow job, and in some
places one = has to use hands and
scramble along the trail on all fours.
When / reached the summit | decided
TO continue my journey light, and TAX
ing only few pounds of food went
down TO Crater Lake. the first OF q lit
tie chain OF lakes, each about a mile
long. Then | went to Long Lake, and
thence to Lake Linderman, the first OF
the chain OF big lakes"
Mrs. Mary Holmes is the first wo-
man who, as correspondent of a news
paper. has attempted the hardshlps and
hangers OF the Chilkoot Pass. Her frs,
letter written from Skagnay gives q
vivid description OF the conditions pre-.
vailing at that place. She is by this
time on her way across the pass. Mrs
Holmes is travelling with her husband
through the mines. She writes:
@io''s4OhS are Icing ISIl all alOn
the trail. a newspaper seems to be tht
most desired article now. Every on,
Is pleading for paper. The different
stories told are enough TO drive on,
distracted. Some say il rains like thi.
all the time tin snow sets in, and 9th
ers that this IS the first rain in weeks
Though the prospecJors are alread,
urging newcomers not to land If the,
have no horses, all seem determine,
10 do so. Only a few are going /,
Dyea. | have just learned that The shil
Is short OF hands, a number having de
serted 10 so to the hlondike. AT Ju
neau alone three Quartermasters de
serted. one conceded hiEs self In tn
null and has just walked on with hi
pack My waiter Informed me q
luncheon that he would not again serv
me. but would leave the ship as soon a