The record-union., 1897-08-30

would lay me out, and I would not have
taken that pack through only they
were depending on it for something TO
eat. Going up some Of those wet and
muddy perpendicular banks, each step
is almost a drop Of blood. However,
took my time, and got there all right,
some three hours late.
Here the boys informed me about
the other party backing out of the
agreement, and asked me to go back
to Dyea to get Indians to pack our
stuff over. Mind you, last Saturday
the price to the summit for packing
was S15 per hundred pounds Thursday
SIT, and now $50 per one hundred
pounds. Up to the present 1 have been
unable to get packers at any price, but
am figuring on getting three horses for
$3.50, which We can sell again for per-
haps about One-half what we paid for
| them. Even if we turn them loose, we
will be money ahead, as SCI each will
| buy the horses, and packing will cost
$500 per man.
You would think that the San
Francisco newspapers We're standing in
with the Indians, or were subsidized by
the Alaska Commercial Company, in
not putting people on the right track
Of getting here. Pack horses are the
only way to get through. The horses
can pack TO the Scales, one and a half
miles from the summit, and from there
it can be gotten over all right by pack.
A man can take fifty pounds a mile
and half and not kill himself.
1T is the long pack that kills a per-
son. A man can easily take over the
summit. from where the pack horses
stop, 80 or 800 pounds a day. Two
men at that rate would handle twice
the amount. and three other men land
it at the small lake in a comparatively
short time. 1t rained here this week,
but to-day was as fine a day as I ever
experienced in California's hot summer
weather. [ never knew a prettier day
than yesterday at Sheep Camp.
Monday, Aug. 16-my Both birthday.
I nm still at the ferry, waiting to hear
| from Daniels, who is at Sheep Camp,
and that is where the horses are for
sale, that being about where horses are
| discarded. Our tent is up there, and
the boys are living on the grub 1 pack
ed up. The remainder of the provis
| ions are here, and two and half miles
! farther up. I am sleeping out every
night. but have lots of blankets and
| feel very comfortable.
This is a very pretty little place.
| We are camping by the side of a grove
of green cottonwood trees on the river
bank, and there is another young man
| from Portland, whose partner has gone
on, and another tent with two fellows
in it, one from Utah and another from
New Orleans. All are superior men,
and for the past two days We have had
more of a picnic than anything else.
| We had splendid meals, stewed oysters,
/ hot roast mutton, bacon, fried pota-
| toes, etc.
But that is not what I came here
| for. I hate and mourn the loss of two
or three days, which are very valuable
now, but am making the most of the
situation. I only wish 1 had known
/ when in San Francisco what L do now
about the requisites of the trip. l would
! have had one man and four horses 1
! never saw finer weather anywhere in
my life. It is very hot in the sun. and
! cool in the shade The moment the
/ sun goes down it gets quite cool, and
a coat is wanted, as the air off the gla-
/ ciers and snOW-capped mountains is
quite chilly. There is a fly here like
our house fly at home, which gets
around in the sunshine and bites much
more severely than a mostquito. But
/ there is one satisfaction. they are so
eagerly biting they can be killed every
/ time. At night there is nothing to
1 bother you, flies nor mosquitoes. l
wish I had known I would have been
/ here SO long. as I might have had a
/ letter from you at Dyea.
Aug live are still here at the
/ ferry at Dyea. and are now figuring on
another outfit for $50. which will run
US through in short order. I preferred
doing this to hiring Indians, as that is
clear money paid out, and you are sure
/ to get nothing back.
! Il Will write again when I get over
( the summit, which will be in about four
days from now. All our camp are IN
good health. and I am feeling great"