The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-13

"sxaguay Is . hard proposition said
George allen. son Of ex-Untted States
Senator John B. Allen. yesterday after
noon- Mr.. Alien. as he repeated TIE above
sage remark. settled comfortably back
among the siiken cushions Of 6ivan N
the drawing room Of his fathers hand
some residence on Columbia street Mr.
Allen went to skaguay. intending to cross
the White pass 20 Lake Linderm2n. July
r. While ne intends 20 go again next
year. he wal not attempt Skaguay. but
viii go to Dysa and through the Chiikoot
trail where he says ne already has a
tender 20 deliver his freight from salt 70
fresh water" as the expression goes on
the beach, ar Y cents pound. This tender
Is made on the assumption that the ca Die
system for hauling goods over the worst
part OF the trail will De in operation.
We succeeded IN reaching q point TWEEN
ty-seyen miles from Skaguay." continued
Mr.. Allen. land there disposed of our out
ct latter finding that about third Of IL
had been stolen) to advantage. Our only
loss besides our time was on our horses.
We took I've from here and bought three
more up there. Then We rescued one horse
that was stalled in the mud. whose owner
had abandoned him. which was a sort OF
salvage deal, and he proyea TO be one OF
the best OF our animals.
The condition of the trail is frightful
Az times we were encouraged TO believe
that there was a betterment owing 10 the
mems efforts 10 corduroy the bad places
and the occasional glimpse OF sun, but q
nights rain would undo II all. and the
morning would show II worse than ever.
Tire horses founder over the bouiders and
through the mud. which is nothing more
than decomposed vegetation and break
their legs. Then they are shot or knocked
on the head. Lack Of animals. and par
ticularly the fact that II Is impossible 20
move supplies. has led many TO split up
their outfits and hurry on with barely
enough to last them until they reach the
river camps.
There is bound 70 be great suffering. I
asked men what they intended TO do. They
answered that they were going TO Keep
going Those that reach the lakes viii
find II miIder than on the slopes, but those
who do not succeed in getting their sup
plies TO the lakes will have 70 retrace their
steps 10 Skaguay. The question after
crossing is TO be one of shelter: there viii
DE an absence of timber. and tents will be
inadequate. OF course those that have
supplies can make dugouts or ourrow IN
the ground. but there will be nothing else
that will answer.
eft has been almost impossible to get
boats across. although l have seen
couple of Peterbsro canoes and one or two
party will reach the lakes. but II has cost
a great deal Of money. They have had
seven or eight men at work at $40 day
each for a long time.
Half has not been told of the horrors
OF the Skaguay trip TO the lakes Horses
dead and dying line the trail and "a fod-
der becomes scarcer they eat moss and
the roots Of wild parsnips, and are sick
ened and poisoned. There are meadows
of wiry marsh grass, and this grass,
think is worse than no fodder at all.
managed very well on a limited supply
of oats. Three Of our horses are now
running wild in the marshes. the others
we had to kill with one exception, that
was a mare that l used 10 pack but
small amount of my supplies with.
There is no knowledge UP on the trail
OF a scarcity of provisions at Dawson
City, and / saw a British company press
ing on to the lakes with only enough to
keep them alive till they reach there.
think that a man ought TO have at least
81 o09 TO cross the Skaguay trail and reach
Dawson City. and this does not include
his outfit. Money is absolutely necessary
TO getting along.
Il have no idea what men mean by con-
tinuing. The other side OF the pass Is
worse than this. On the sea side of the
mountains there are mud and boulders;
on the other side the boulders are covered
VII AiDSo' "lANh - silpPeu on easily.
On the sea side II Is raining, and on the
other side the damp mists and fogs settle
down, accompanied by icy winds of the
glaciers.
The party OF Seattle policemen. head
ed by Capt George Hogle. say that they
wiz reach Lake Linderman They are
making better Roadway than any other
party on the trail. Policeman Bates left
skaEuay and went over TO Dyea. intend
Ing 10 cross Chilcoot pass. / think he will
get through. The party that Wesley
Young Is with. called the Diamond "
crowd. will probably get over the White
pass TO the lakes. Before left snow had
fallen 10 within few feet OF the tran
and IL was very cold on the slopes"