The record-union., 1897-08-07
WORD FROM GOLD-SEEkERS.
sACRAMENTANs FACING CHILL
COoT PASS.
Ben Billiard Writes of the Journey
Northward From
Astoria.

The following letter from Ben Billiard
TO his brother-in-law, H. G.. Smith, writ
ten on board the steamer Elder as II
neared Juneau. viii be read with in
terest by the friends Of the writer and
his comrades, Frank Jackson, Frank
White, VIM. Ahern and Richard F'alken-
berg. Mr. Billiard writes:
Upon my last writing from Portland
I could not anticipate the adventures
that we were likely to encounter, even
on this stage of our journey, from Port
land to Juneau. wrote that our trip
from here or Portland to Juneau was
likely to be without incident of note, and
probably somewhat monotonous-
But exciting and interesting occur
rences are already taking place. The
Elder is crowded TO overf1owing- We
left Portland with 112 souls besides the
ship officers and crew aboard. and at
this port many more are crowding on.
What is to be done with them l cannot
imagine.
Last night it seemed to me that every
available space aboard was occupied
extra hunks, as also the entire floor
space. l am occupying shake-down
fed with my sleeping quarters if l do
not become more crowded than | was
last night Indeed, l prefer the shake
down to any cabin bunk, for one has
more room to flop around, his bed being
co-extensive with the entire floor space
if his neighbor does not encroach too
much upon his mattress.
Several women, besides those men
toned in passenger list as published, are
aboard. There are also 200 head of
horses, 80 borros and some 30 dogs.
AS suggested above, strange and un-
usual incidents have taken place. Some
sad, others exciting, and many ludi-
crous and ridiculous.
Ten thousand people assembled to see
us off at Portland. Bridges, wharVes,
streets, house tops and boats were
damned with a surging mass of human
ity attended by two bands of music. A
larger crowd hardly ever before, L am
told, assembled on the river front of
that city.
The river was dotted everywhere with
small boats of every description, and
Just before we weighed anchor stern
wheel steamer in suddenly backing
caught, with its wheel, a skif occupied
by a man and two ladies, wrecking their
boat and drowning both ladies. The man
narrowly escaping with his life
On the way here something has hap
pened to our propeller and we have now,
at > p. m, been hung up for repairs.
We left Portland at midnight, six
hours late. How much longer we shall
remain here 1 can not learn, but am
told we will be off shortly.
The most ludicrous features of our ex-
cursion are to be found in the various
ideas entertained by the adventures
and the methods adopted by them
One gang of four young men have
aboard a very large OK, which has been
broken to harness, and with it they eX-
pect to transport on sleds, their outfits
to Lake Linderman and then slaughter
the OK and transport it's carcass to Daw-
son to be sold at 81 a pound. and so de-
fray all expenses of transportation.
Others have oddly constructed wag-
ons with which they expect to make the
Journey. About a half-doZen have
wheelbarrows, intending to wheel their
goods (of l. 900 pounds to the mani over
and through the rocky and precipitious
Chilcoot pass.
Many have modern boats of about a
tor burden each, made in sections, that
they intend carrying on mules and their
own backs over the same rugged and
steep route.
I and my companions, Ahern and
Jackson. have no such original ideas.
We expect to follow the example of
those who have preceded us often
enough to become pioneers, and employ
animals and Indians and our own mus
cular energy in making the pass. In
other words to follow the example of
those who certainly know best how TO
surmount such an obstacle as the cele-
brated Chilcoot Pass. When we reach
Lake Linderman We regard the greater
and most expensive part of our journey
accomplished.
oh, the steerage! I have made one
trip through it, and know its awfulness,
and | think the horrors of Chilcoot Pass
sink into insignificance when compared
with those of that quarter of our good
ship Elder.
With kind regards to all inquiring
friends and with hopefulness of ultimate
success, 1 am, as ever, yours,
BEN BULLARD.
Charged With Battery.
I