The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-12
GOOD WORDS FOR THE PASS.
DIFFICULTIES OF CROSSING Al
sKAGWAY OVERRATED.
4 Canadian Writes to HIS Friends
That the Trail Can he Travelled Its
Entire Length on HOrseback-No

Special Dispatch TO the Post-Inte.ligencer.
OTTAWA. Ont. June u.--Writing to
friends here from Lake Bennett on May
Ii. Ii. S. White says:
Il left Skagway early in the morning
OF May in company with the Bank or
Commerce party TO negotiate the oft-de-
seribed and much-d erided White pass. The
rush has subsidized and there is considerable
competition among the packers over both
PASSES Cutting rates is the order OF the
day, and a the time We were IN SkagHay
contracts were being made at li1z cents
a pound over the White pass. and as low
as cents over the Chilkoot. Oar packer
told us OF a single deal that he had with
the mounted police lwhen the rates were
al the htgheso. which amounted 10 over
5000 Tor transportation acne, ana X IL
estimated that some OF the hay that the
police al Bennett had to bring in for the
maintenance OF their horses cost them as
much as 81. 100 ton.
SO n9ucn has been heard OF the ter
r0rs and hardsh!ps Of both passes that Il
viii surprise many 10 learn that my own
personal experience IN crossing the " hite
pass was "a most agreeable ana interest
ing one from beginning TO emu. Inc Whoie
length OF the trail can be Travelled on
horseback. and when the conditions are
at All favorable the trip one way can be
done In a day, either on horseback or on
foot. ami with no more discomfort or dif-
ncuity than many mountain ride IN the
Highlands OF scotland. or over the Ne-sh
hills The manager OF the BANK OF Com-
rnercea Is a ponderous gentleman. weigh
ing over 20 pounds. and yet with the help
Of u wagon for the first twelve miles, ana
\ sIed part OF the rest of the way. he
crossed me pass without any dithculty;
Forty miles over hills, with an ascent OF
nearly ? SEA feet is 10 joke Cor the most
active hut when II can be successfully
s[.'-,rof- tzhea in a couple OF days, under
favorable conditions. ny 2o-pound man
~ Se4ieufarv habits, Il cannot b. such
n teiieve Il 10 b. from the stories spread
sh~aaA hv chleken-hearted. wouid-be
TStnpti, Ee -4.ii!0natres who have been turn
,~a hack bv the FIRST suspicion OF hardship
a. The endless terrors OF their own lmagin-
After leaving skagway. the road 80 The
NNita pass can now be Travelled Tor the
frss eight miles in any four wheeied cor
veyar1ee \ good wagon road - u0w IN
course % construction a.! the way from
the town n the summit of the pass. ana
az IRE present time the nTsr eight miles
are Cgsnp.eged and IN very fAlT condition
'1~ the fsasSiSa 81 wagons Men may SUI
f@~ aud to4I ia t9ss la Dor - crossing the
White ra ss as they certainly sto. n}It n@1-
thsr tee5T sSIf~ringSs nor MGR toH = as
s8ghE compared 60 the terrible haTtlsE}3S
inflicted 13upa the peer brute beasts 81 bur
zen that hsve already given ~ their lives
rs The thousands IN tAetr seFVice 20 heir
rgs@rclisssS masters The tale OF suffering
f. enueatsealiy told BY me uDhgoken ssIc-
cs.@gr 81 ca rt~a%~eS n every stage OF phi
irefa~tIou that Re along he tran from end
"a era L very conservative estimate %
the number % dead horS>ss ara mules that
tie iubf7rted on tae fTati acTcSs the y bite
"a ~ places testn al fully $50 3 ore
ssreot saw p string ~ FIVE dead horses ~
inc ore behind TIE other ana s}Tsloss fouch
ing orc another ard Some liz right acro@s
ire tTaEi s2st wler> thsv Rave fallen and
dieS 60 been put out OF their misery bv
- auIie-.
~0F ire nature Of 80. tran ffsaif -. sts
ysre~@r. condition nothing more need -
sa.& than - give n shors description Of It's
most prominent features aloag Tire route
of FORTY miles from Skarvzv to Bennett.
-s have already said the frs elx<7. -zsilA~
- A.Asis HS<.A AsEaA aA~x-SA2AA fAs