The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-24
TRAGEDY ON THE TRAIL
BREEZY KLONDIKE LETTER FROM
III. j. GREGORY, OF ANDERSON.
He Has Seen Six Suicides, Three
Lynchings and Eleven Murders on
the Way to the Gold Fields.
special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
ANDERSON, Ind. Oct 23.-Four months
ago H. ]. Gregory, prominent contractor
and mason of this city, "grubstaked'
by friends and started for the Klondike.
The first news received from him since he
reached the Alaskan coast arrived last
night in letter dated ION the trail, Sept.
TO-" ITO start with says Mr.. Gregorys
letter. our party, which originally con-
sisted of four has dwindled to Benson, an
old miner and myself. One, an experienced
miner, and the other, tenderfoot, lost their
sand and quit my pard and L buying their
outfit. We have lost all but two of our
horses, and they won't last much longer.
1000 dead horses on this trail. When
horse starts over he is simply going to his
DEATH and that is all there is about it. A
horse can pack only about 125 pounds. 4
man carries from fifty to Seventy-five
pounds. When L first started out thirty
pounds was ali l could manage, but now L
am able to take my seVenty-tive pounds and
walk off UP hill with comparative ease. 1t
is hard job, this trail, and L believe it is
the worst in the world 1t is over a rocky
mountain with great holes filled with mud
and it is impossible to keep out of the mud
In fact, it is about the only safe place in
which to STEP for the rocks are so slippery
that one can't step them without danger
OF going over the cliffs. That is where most
of the poor horses go. Three of ours went
over, pack and all. Two broke their legs
and had to be shot and the other died from
exposure.
we have been regarded as lucky fellows
AOr our PROVISIONS are in good COnuItlOn and
we nave plenty Many VINO started on this
journey ana nave worked like slaves nave
lost their entire outfits because they did
not Keep them dry. There are any number
or men who nave got their outntS part of
the way over and Inen gave il up, started
back and let their STUN go. We kiiled a
large cinnamon bear yesterday that
our traL bears are plentiful here. We saw
seven one day last week. We are not going
20 be able to get through this winter, ana
will build a cabin and hole up until the
snow crusts, which they tell us viii be in
February or March next, and then we will
go on with Seds. From what we can now
learn we expect to go up the Peily river
which is east of the Stuart and is said
to be very rich for placer mining We will
not be able TO make 1t before next June,
so you see / will have been on the Journey
more than year before L can possibly get
located.
1T is we'll though that we started this
season, as we will become accustomed to
the hardships. We are looking forward to
a long and lonely winter. 1t gets dark now
at 4:5U D. m, and the days are shortening
very rapidly, and am told that in Decem-
Der there is but an nour OF daylight. We
have plenty of excitement along the trail
were hanged and eleven killed. besides a
NUMBER OF deaths from exposure. So far
We have both been well and able to eat our
ratonS the minute they are ready, and
We have made ii rule to cook good meal
every night. The lack of proper food is
what makes most of the sickness. Men
come into camp so tired they can hardly
stand neglect TO cook and endeavor to get
along on lunches, but that won't work out
here | think at present more men are
gong back than are going on, and not
more than per cent. will reach the lakes
this fall. We will be able to get about half
of our store of provisions and material over
to the timber on the other side, where we
Will build our cabin. 1t SHOWS every day
or night on the summit, and every day
gets little colder and the snow lays a
little lower down. 1t will take us more
than week to get our outfit together. You
will understand why it taxes SO long when
we tell you that we have about $500 pounds
ana the best we can do is to move 400
pouncs SIX miles day. so it takes good
many trips and good many days to make
much progress
The stories concerning high prices have
not been exaggerated. Flour at Lake Ben
nett brings 800 a sack and bacon 81 a pound.
A good pair of shoes will bring almost any
price. and overallS go quick at S. each
Every other night we get dry Clothes ot
clean, but dry. We build a big fire and
hang them up to dry, and every other night
we sleep in wet clothes, and on the ground
every night but the worst is almost over,
and we will soon be able TO live in a cabin
even If it is without floor window and
has a roof of poles covered with moss If
L had known all the hardships through
which we would be compelled to pass l
don't believe would have started, but
have not reached the point yet where | am
ready TO quit, and don't think that l will
/ have received but three letters since I
left, the last dated Aug. II. There is no
telling what the future will bring TO us
but having started we will be among the
last to give up. and then only because we
don't find pay dirt. Don't advise any of
nay friends to undertake this trip"