The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-08-05
LINES PTNTR

Il
after one OF the officials of the Hudson Bay
Co., by the famous old pioneer, Robert
Campbell. Campbell was a servant of the
Hudson Bay Co., aud was the first man ever
on the Upper Yukon. He came down the
Pel!y River and reached the Lewes in 1912.
Later on he returned and founded the old
trading post OF IT. Seikirk IN 1917. This
post is situated at the confluence OF the two
rivers.
We continued down the Lewes rs far az
the junction of the Hootaliuqua, where We
eamped. This Is distance OF 80 miles, and
1t IS considered TO be one OF the dangerous
passages, on account of the great swiftnss5
OF the current and the number of rocks and
shoals However, we traversed it very
easily, as the river was in full food. Twice
only we grounded ON sand bars bat soon got
Off Directly opposite our tent stood .
lonely grave. 1t was that of poor fellow
who was drowned near here in an upset.
These melancholy incidents are very num-
erous, and every day so far we have passed
the grave OF some unfortunate traveller.
The next day July 1, we passed Big SAL
mon River. This is a navgable tributary,
about one hundred yards wide at the
mouth. We passed on as far as Little SAL
mon, a distance of II miles. and then
camped. The storm ON Lake Labarge had
scattered all the party, and we did not meet
any of them until our arrival here, when
we reiOined the Geological party, and from
them we got news of the others.
FIVE FINGERS AND RINK RAPIDS.
The next day we arrived at Five Fingers,
after run OF 81 miles. This is the name
given by the miners to short rapid, where
five huge columns Of rock are strung out across
the river. This obstruction is also situated
immediately around sharp bend to the
right, and the landing must be made in an
eddy some 20 yards above. After we had
climbed up the rocks we found a beautiful
view spread before US. / think that this
spot presents the fairest scene on the Yukon,
and after we had spent little time admir-
ing IL, the boats were run through. The
course is by the channel between the rights
bank and the first rock. Although the riff
fe is very short, still a number OF fatal
accidents have occurred here.
Six miles below Five Fingers brought Us
to the Rink Rapids. This obstruction is
one mile and half long, and is caused by
chain of rocks, or rather a low ledge, which
extends diagoDally nearly across the river.
Although the Rink Rapids are very noisy,
yet they are the least important obstacle on
the river. The little space lett free is along
the right-hand shore, and the passage ia
perfectly safe. The Rink Rapids is the last
obstruction on the river, and from here
down 10 the sea the Yukon presents an I'M
broken stretch of navigation.
We continued for several hours, and
camped on high bluff, after having made a
run of 80 miles. / had named our camps as
we went along, after the letters OF the Greek
alphabet, aud this was Camp Sigma. rs
trc1 he. 10
count of the agony we had to suffer from the
musketOes. We made smudge By allowing
lot of moss to smolder in a miners gold
pm. Soon the tent was filled with dense
smoke. We were obliged to stretch our
selves fiat on the ground and press our faces
to the earth in order to breathe. Although
gasping and half suffocated, it was neyerthe-
less most welcome respite from musketo
torture
PELLY RIVER.
The next day we travelled for IA hourA
About p N. we reached the mouth of the
Pelly River. The confluence of the Lewes
and PeIIy forms the Yukon. Here stood
the old post OF Ft. Selkirk, which was
raided by the coast Indians in 1852. There
is an immense lava flow here, which forms
the most conspicuous feature In the land
scape. 1t extends for Is miles along the
right bank of the Yukon, and il is believed
to have come from a volcano some thirty
miles up the Pelly River.
From Fit. Selkirk to the mouth of the
White River is a distance OF 81 miles, and
we did not accomplish it until the next
evening. This tributary is as yet entirely
uuexplored. 1t is great river in itself,
carrying vast volume of water, and has a
current of eight or ten miles. Its water
l.. Il III
and discolors the entire Yukon.
Throughout the whole country watered
by the Lewes and Pelly there is layer of
volcanic ash from two to six inches deep.
This layer of ash lies directly beneath the
surface of the soil, and we had noticed it all
along our journey. According to DIR. Daw-
son, the Canadian geolOgist, this layer of ash
extends over an area of probably $4,000
square miles.
As the mud brought down by White
River exactly resembles this ash, it may
help TO confirm the rumor of the existence
of an active volcano near its headwaters.
Ten miles below White River, Stewart River
enters the Yukon. This stretch, which is
fully mile wide, is filed with islands and
sand bars. We camped near the mouth Of
the Stewart, which is now entirely deserted.
At the time of the Arehbishop's journey
there was a trading post here, which has
since been removed to the mouth of the
Pelly.
FORT RELIANCE AND FORTY-MILE CREEK.
On the following day we made IA miles,
and camped at spot known as Fort Reli-
ance. Formerly there was a trading post
here, but not a yestige remains. On our
way we passed Sixty-Mile Greek, where the
first great gold discoveries were made which
have attracted so many sturdy prospectors
to this remote region. The name of this
creek came from the miners, and designates
its distance from Fort Reliance. The next
stream which We passed was the Klondyke,
corruption of an Indian word, Tondak,
meaning salmon stream. There is small
native village here, and at the time of our
passing the few inhabitants were anxiously
awaiting the coming of the salmon.
We left Fort Reliance early on the fol-
lowing morning, July 6. We were in high
spirits, for only AZ miles yet remained to be
accomplished, and We took to the oars with
the pleasant feeling that our long journey
was nearly completed. Five hours steady
pulling, assisted by the strong current,
brought us to the famous mining camp of
Forty-Mile Creek, which was our terminus.
As soon as we landed we heard TO our great
satisfaction that the river steamer had not
yet arrived. Father Judge had already
gone down, but we soon found the key OF