Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1897-09-29
ON THE skAeuAY TRAIL.
freseatt Woman PoFtzAYs seas ef she hsrdships aad PeFiis Eacsaatered
 In the search ioE Gold

SKAauAY Than, Alaska. Sept. g.
 EDIroa JoraEAL- MINER. Here we are, three miles on the famous Skaguey, or White Pass trall, and no pen eau picture the situation, care not how famous be tho writer.
 Last Monday there were fourteen hundred and three horses on the trail packing, and twice that num- Der of men, and quite a number of wOmen--on a ttail of forty miles in all. Everybody was struggling oh, struggling 60 hard -- to get through; and there were almost as many more turning pack, diseouF- aged and broken down, Who could not go another milo 4 great many more will turn back before they get to tho summit. There is a most faithful sight all along the trail. You can soe dead horses, and horses with broken legs, some of them, poor things, just left to one side of the trail to live or die. There Is no choice between the Dyea and Skag- uay trails. One is terribly bad aud the other is far worse. Yesterday they brought one man down en a atretcher, wrapped in hts rubber blankets, cold ln death. He had gotten over the pass with one load and came back for another, when he gave up, just exhausted. He could do no more His poor wife came on to return homo alone. hroAeu heart ed. He was an ex-SheFilI of Snoho- mish, Washington. His name was Van Buren.
 One Is constantly meeting with such scenes on this trail, aud how often we hear them trying to hum "Oh, miner, poor miner,p but tt ls not tho miners only. We nave met so many correspondents, and law yeFs, doctors, bank cashiers and boys just out of their fathers offices or some one else's office, who know nothing of hardship and start out so brave, but must turn back or die. lt Is not question of courage or bravery, but question of endur- aoce. Can we stand the hariships one must endure to go over those trails, with slush and mud or roots and mossf One cannot possibly pie ture it unless he sees It. One must climb, from the time you start, up and down. We are here and our party has seven hors,s. Two Jerome boys arc along with Us. We will keep moving on, unless forced to stop. God only knows fl we will succeed. We have solved one ques tion-that is, that the only way to reaeh the Klondike IS to take boat, go in the spring direct to your des- tiuation, unless one takes chances oi life or death.
 Skaguay is a town of about five thousand, and on the trail there are about the same number as in Skag- nay They are building some fine hotels ahd business houses in the town. It is very qulet considering that they have moro than one whis- key street, and the people all seem to be very hospitable and kind. but you may go on street in the nsnrn- mg and next mornisg you will Rai think 1t the same place. as they arr building as much by night, with lanterns. as in day time. One will hear as many hammers going all night as in the day time. Wages are from $500 to $7.00 per day and board. We are hoping that when l We reach Dawson City we may find 1 some Prescott papers and a number of letters from Prescott friends wait ! ing fer us. I am writing on U box, and not a very good box either, and l ask you Co please cancel all blum ders. Respectfully,
 MRs. JosrPH JoHNpREw.