Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-06-09
BOUND FOR ALASKA.
Capt. Jack Crawford Writes Er
Route to Yukon Gold Fields.
Interesting Incidents OF His Trip ala d
Valuable Information for Those
Who Contemplate a Sim
liar Journey.

Just one month ago to-day (May I'D
began letter description of my trip
ond experience between Seattle and
Lake Bennett, and find that it will make
| a good-sized book. So l will reserve
most of it for future generations, and
now give plain, truthful, unvarnished,
brief statement that will benefit anyone
who may contemplate a trip to the
| Yukon.
In the first place, refused to act as
special correspondent of half dozen
| journals who offered to pay me for ex-
elusive letters, simply because there
are dozen or more editors who are my
| personal friends. This letter goes to
them without compensation except
what has already been given, in kindly
favors and pure friendship. Then there
are over 200 personal friends who de-
serve letters, but who will read this and
know it must take the place of such let
! tiers; for it is fact that outside of two
letters written to my wife and our pres
ident, Mr.. Frank B. Vrooman, have
had no time to write, and scarcely time
to jot down notes in my diary.
While in Seattle I consulted people
from Juneau and Taiya regarding sup
| plies and their cost in these places, and
was satisfied that could purchase here
| or at Juneau at as reasonable rates as
/ could at Seattle; and outside bacon,
crystalized egg, and some other con-
densed foods and hardware, was per-
mitted to try the experiments. have
| purchased $500 worth in this place
| cheaper than l could have done in Seat
| tie, Portland, San Francisco or Victoria,
and l had complete lists from each of
these places. Only what little hard
ware I lacked was little higher. left
| Seattle April II, with six men and about
four tons of goods and machinery, be-
| ing compelled to leave our dredge on ac-
| count of reports which stated that it
would be impossible to get pieces weigh
! ing as much as 500 or 1000 pounds over
| either of the passes. This report I
| found to be incorrect, as two weeks ago
| pieces weighing more than /, 200 pounds
were taken over without much trouble.
| On leaving Seattle I was handed letter
| by our president containing sealed or
| ders to be opened at sea; at first l
! thought perhaps he expected us to meet
| and annihilate the Spanish fleet, and on
| opening these orders the first line read:
s'Avoid the Chill1oot pass if possible"
knew the presidents motive for this
was not selfish one, but because of the
slide which had just occurred, he
wished us to avoid the reported danger
from other slides. We were bound for
SkagWay, where we landed on the
morning of the 10th. requested Capt.
James Durie, of the good ship Brixham,
to hold my goods until 1 went up town
to investigate. / had letters to the lead
ing transportation companies at Skag
way, and on presenting them, was in
formed that Is cents per pound was the
very lowest that they could put my
freight to Bennett for, and that in day
or two the rate would probably be IS or
80 cents. I tried several other COM
panies, and the best could do with re-
4ponsible parties and everything at my
own risk, was 10 cents. I returned to
the Brixham, Capt. Durie agreed to take
my stuff to Dyea, give me an oppor-
tunity to go uptown, see what could,
and if not satisfied take me and my out
fit back to SkagWay.
But few gold seekers have this privi-
lege. Landing at the D. K. T. Co. wharf
at $3.50 p. H., started for town over
one of the worst roads l have ever seen,
up and down hill, through mud, slush,
rock and corduroy. We reached Dyea,
three miles distant, about ten p. H.,
made q hasty investigation and return
ing over same road reached the ship at
midnight. While in the office of the
D. K. I. Co. on their wharf, was talk
ing of returning to Skagway, when a
young man in the office informed me
that he represented the above company,
and would make a contract to take my
stuff from Dyea wharf to Lake Bennett
for ten cents per pound, and guarantee
it. This was rather surprise, as | was
told at Skagway that the freight was
higher at Dyea, and that they would
guarantee nothing; that other destruc-
tive slides might come at any moment.
/ then offered the D. K. 7. representa-
tive nine cents per pound if he would
guarantee to land my freight within
ten days. He Immediately went to the
telephone, called up Superintendent
Hammond at Canyon City, made known
my offer, and asked him what he could
do about it. How much freight has he
got?" asked Mr.. Hammond. About
$4,000 to 14,OOO," I replied. And after
moment the man at the phone IN
formed me that Mr.. Hammond would
contract at that price and guarantee to
land my freight at Bennett within eight
days, barring storm Or accident. ''All
right" said l, make out your contract,
while l tel the captain of the ship to
unload" And at neArly one o'clock in
the morning the good captain had my
sought my stateroom after having
saved my company between 5000 and
$500 in freight alone.
We staid in Dyea nearly a week, pur-
chasing groceries and many other
things that had been overlooked, and
leaving Canyon City on Sunday morn
ing, April "a, with two of our boys, DR..
Wilcoxson and j. Crook, we reached
Sheep Camp about ten o'clock in a biz
card and snowstorm.
Leaving the boys in store in Sheep
Camp to follow on foot, 1 rode horse
back over the snow, the trail being
fairly good; but owing to the fresh fall
of snow, and on turning out for packers
coming back, who warned me that it
was dangerous to go on, my horse broke
over with me, the second time his head
and mine coming together, but outside
of a small spot above my left eye, like
a bump on log, arrived at the Scales
O. X II was fearfully cold Not q