The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-13

rsru. and nothing but . hinnkst osoh and = drs
Of spruce and poplar batrsen them and dcnth
~ freezing: one or more OF the partners Sleep
ing while = watcher remained mp 10 mean WON
Such has been the experience Of many Of
hit the trail" Charles Mc5onagle reached
Little salmon with a leg severely frozen, another
man SUFFERING from scurvy, anotncr Mitn an
arm badly frozen. doIans OF others with rust-
bitten, faces. hands and feet, and q poor fellow
named Byrne lies now in a cabin near Five
Finger Rapids with both legs amputated below
the knees. This man hobbled wv snty.nve miles
over the ice with no action in his legs rom the
snkies down and a portion OF a tToaen toS
1t 70 come against the ice.
Many reached the Little Salmon almost des.
dtute-une party OF four with a hair oar or
bread and two pounds OF shank OF dried meat
between them. Fortunately the Government
posts there and at the Big Salmon and the peo-
pie clmped along the river have been able to
give considerable relief and avert more serious
disaster. The horrors Of the march out rom
be listened to with thrilling interest at many
nrcsides for years. Bruken-down constitutions
ceptibie marx Of SUFFERING has ret appeared.
As over 800 have already passed the half
way point. the condition Of the trail has greatly
improved. A few snow fails and stray clips
from passing axes have bad their etect Paths
over sloughs have been discovered. and long
strips OF dead water protected from the current
by projecting points along the stream AFFORD
good travelling. With the falling OF the winter
along the shores and cavtng in OF the ice. new
49, INV NatAS -
been truZen over. The result is that many with
doK teams arc now coming ont at twenty niles
n day, carrying provisions for the trip, a tent,
n mail sheet iron stove. and robes enough 10
travel IN comparative comfort. Most lor-
%tuDatoly. although in November jOo below zero
was not Uncommon we have throughout De,
ceniber enjoyed such mild weather that traveh
over the trail is now much more easy 70 enGure.
Had the very cold weather of November con-
tinued. Enthusiastically many deaths from freez-
ing would have occurred.
But while the movement from Dawson Is pc
corning much more easy Of accomplishment. IL
must not be imagined that IL is possible 20 reach
the digEings with any large quantity or pro
demonstrated is that a man or a party or men
can carry enough provisions by dog sleigh TO
maintain the party and the dogs during the
trip. Putting the ratiuns for a man DER day at
men with Tour dogs to carry their outfits. would
require twenty pounds per day for thirty Or
forty days. OF from 900 to 800 pounds IN al.
while u proper load over the toughest zee should
not exceed $50 pounds, OF SEQ pounds Tor the
four. Then the weight OF the siaigh has 70 be
taken into consideration as we'll as that or tho
stove. tent. bedding. and clothing. When so
many have Joined the flight that those
LETT behind will have sufficient provisions IA
last till the middle OF July. when the first boats
point will have been passed. At present too
many are contentlnR themselves with n stock
OF provisions tnnt will last till May. Stnrva-
con-lf starvation there Will he-is likely 10
come with the spring months. 1t Is difficult for
men 70 walk out. but II Is lmposslhle Tor oags
OF Hour ami sacks of bacon 20 walk in. Those
VINO arc anxious for the welfare OF the hlun-
dixie people can best bring il about by Undue
ing even greater numbers 10 leave the threat
ened district. The Canadian authorities on the
spot will probably see that the available pro-
visions are salrly distributed.
FREDERICK CoArE WADE.