The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-14
a SILENT PARTNER.

In the first place, he made a mistake.
He selected the trail from Skaguay over
the White pass to Lake Bennett. Now
that was bad, but lnotiso bad as his fext
error. Ho would not give it up and 60 to
the Chilkoot pass, though be heard Chill
koot was much easier.
Olaf had a hard time on the trail,
though lie didn't know it-that is to say,
any other man would have thought 1t a
hard tims, but Olaf. expecting bad things,
had no "kick, Z as he expressed it, against
adversely.
Olaf was an exceptional man on the
trai1-phenominally exceptional. For on
a trail where each man had one partner at
least, and most many, Olaf preferred hay
ing no partner. "Anodcr ma in the party
besides nc won't du,' he said. II might
wantto do one thing and him anoder. Be
sides. I dom want no pardner, nohow.
Partners always means trouble
The experience of many onthe trail con-
frmed the wisdom of Olaf S views. Moth
ing discouraged Olaf. When misfortune
overlook him, he set to work to do what
he could for the best" Up before day
break, he cooked u substantial breakfast
for he believed in feeding himself WE'LL
and with 30 pounds more on his back than
any other man could carry started off on
the trail, climbing over rocks and wading
through mud. keenina al ii ali day with
a short interval for lunch.
1t took him ten days to move his outfit
from station to station. Difficulties too
great for other men never prevented Olaf
from moving forward. If he could not
make ten miles he made five; if not five,
he made two. But he always kent moving
forward When some Of his provisions
were stolen. he sarustled., J, as he called it.
and worked for others until he had earned
enough to repiace what had been stolen.
Then he moved on his own outfit. When
at last he reached Lake Bennett. he built
a boat and calmly set sail without any of
the excitement which Others exhibited.
Men wanted to buy a passage in his boat
and assist him to manage her, but Olaf
said, mol don't want no passengers,
and / guess / can handle the boat myself =
At the Tagish Lake custom house Olaf
worked four days to pay for the duty on
his goods. and went on his way without
the delay rufling his temper. He sailed
his boat around the point at Windy Arm
when 80 other boats hauled up on tho
beach. Approaching Miles Canyon men
shouted to warn Olaf to land and tighten
his boat and wait for the pilot. That's the
CANYON ?, they shouted. miles Canyon.u
ssIs it?', said Olaf. s'I'ye been watching
for it all day.'' And he took his boat
through and on through the White Horse
rapids without moving an eyeIid. But
now floating ice began to impede Olaff's
progress. fII'n keep going till she freezes
up, 2 he said. And he did. She froze up
when Olaf had got to Five Fingers, and
Olaf went into camp. He built a shed
and ate I'D his grub until he had left what
he could pull.
About Christmas Olaf started for Daw-
son on the ice with more on his sled than
any two men could pull. He made slow
progress. but he said. II shall come there
some time if I keep moving" -Four miles
a day doesn't seem much. but if persisted
in it commits up. and at last Olaf arrived in
Dawson
He Immediately moved up the creek
and went to work prospecting. To his
surprise a lead pencil prospector Jumped
his claim. Olaf moved to another loca-
zion. found GOOD prospects and reported.
Tbon ho b,,ilt ascabin and settled down
"a work He mt in IL solid hours a day.
His claim was 500 feet. and as he looked
around he felt pleased. He had all the
pold he wanted. he Thought. and it was all
his own. He congratulated himself daily
on having no mariner.
Some stampeders camped one night at
Olaff,s cabin and discussed the mining
regulations. MS stampeders win. Yukon
stanpeders arc strange. Yukon mining
regulations are still stranger. Olaf
learned. to his dismay. that half his claim
did not helong Ia him. II belongedto the
o,,een the stamneders said. Olaf was
NIGHTLY troubled. He stopped working
and tbought over the situation. Then lie
went down to Dawson. took his place in
line behind some hundred others outside
tba commissioner office and waited pa-
t;entIv far aduittance The THERMOMETERS
,aoistere5 n below hut Olaf sswanted to
Coo tho o,,ld c-on,,nissari ), and that was d
detail he co1,ld NOT remedy.
Aftsr wa;ting two bo,7rs and a half he
oot in ~ want to see the o,,Id com,nis- |
esr; ), cold Olaf To q worried looking man
saa+od behind a rough1v made desk and
49, na1d sasIas a an, the yold co,nu,is- |
s;aaor ), vas tba renlv awbat do von
-rants., at want 10 knov tba ~n,,een,s nd
srass J, said Olaf ssso,nnbodv,s always
n,antna r. tnor sonatbing said the
commissioners. uWhat do Won want with
A. a,aan,s adarosss,s ssWell = said olafY.
sstha aYaan and no i nardnars m . claim
arsa,r 80 r don,t ,yant - no tnrS.
- ru;th tha ansen M longeyf 81 I want
80 ~ - H. n,een r. lneSv If sbe,ll INV
" aso sso+ - saI1 bar 95o feet n me- +
/ E1O 1CO0O vi Gil 'LRL @tV INV ~