The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25

nnaiiy Withdrew. We stood q picket out
return"
A HARD JOURNEY.
Mr.. ]. @. Baker was worn out by the
trip across the divide. and had to return
with the Indians to Wilson's trading post,
when peace had been made with them.
They took good care of him on the trip, and
he made 1t without incident. The Indians
carried about one hundred pounds to the
man across the divide in going over for
which they received SO; some of the strong
er men carried more than one hundred
pounds; squaws and Indian boys carried
about fifty pounds. The rate of SIS per one
hundred pounds for packing over Chilcat
pass had been the charge for years and is
yet
MT }. L. Baker continued from the head
waters as far as Lake La Barge the pro-
VISIONS Delng hauled on seds. 1t required
L"9' men TO handle one sled. ana two trips
had TO be made over the entire distance in
order TO carry all the provisions. At Lake
La barge the party made boats to be used
vi me Yukon when it opened The lumber
WaS sdWSu out with WhipSaWs. While in
camp al Lake La Barge with all the men,
DeIS OF the party at the camp, they heard
eiIG report OF a gun This caused consider
S1NIc SAcltei5ent, and one of the men, Selling
gun, flred twice; there was an answer
ana haH an hour later white man walked
INTO camp. He was one of a party which
had crossed the divide a month earlier and
was camped about five miles away. The
Two camps We're shortly afterward consol-
1dteu on d little stream emptying into the
lake. Some of the men PANIED on this
stream at intervals, being able to take out
81 or S. per day.
While here j. L. Baker was stricken with
SnoW-pHndness, a common complaint in the
YUKON -Four of the members of the other
party We're 1ncapacitated for one cause or
announcer que to the hardships of the trip
and life in the interior, two of them being
TOO teeble TO recroSS the divide. The other
two with Mr.. Baker, determined to return
to the coast and were accompanied by old
miners TO the top of the divide, whence they
made their way to Wilson's trading post.
They carried back only enough provisions
to last them for the trip, and, becoming lost
on the way, were three daVS without food
except grouse, which were plentiful. They
reached Wilson's trading post seven days
after feaVlng the top of the divide, and Mr..
Baker soon afterward sailed for San Fran
CISCO where he met his brother, who had
been there month. They both returned to
Kansas City, and both are willing that 9TH
ers shall secure all the benefits of the rich
ness OF the kIondyke and all other interior
Alaska ana Northwestern British Columbia
placer fields.
Their trip, so far as either of them went,
was over the same ground that will be traV-
ersed by thousands this summer and fall
in their efforts to reach the KlOndyke re-
gion, Chilcat being the most available of
all the passes from the coast to the interior
OF Alaska. The trip via sea to the mouth
of the Yukon, thence by river boat to the
interior is beset with much fewer hardShips,
but the transportation facilities are so
meager that 1t can only be made by very
limited number. The Yukon river boats will
be largely loaded with freight rather than
passengers.
Both of the Messrs. Baker are hardy
men, accustomed to exposure and manual
labor, and were much better able to
dure the hardships of Alaska than many
who will be attracted there by the gold
fever. But even they could not stand the
rigors of the country.