The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-03

and the hot sun thaws the ice and the
ground under the moss. which makes
travelling with 50 to IS pound packs
very unpleasant. i am sorry to tell
about he greatest drawback. but then
1 must. The mosquitoes are the most
tiresome n worrying of all. 1t is pitt
ful to see how some men suffer from
the annoying insects. as some of the men
are not well enough protected with
gloves and good MEETINGS over their
faces. 1t requires experience to know
the torture these insects infiict. The
further down the Yukon the more nu-
merous they seem to be, but they are
here by the million. n after the mos
quitoes are gone and the gnats come
and then the lonely winter. As I nave
stated. wages are SIS per day now. Ten
dollars were the standard wages before
this discovery had been made. This
has brought nearly all the miners OF
the whole Yukon to this district IN
the reader may know that they are in
abundance. 1t is true that last winter
men were very scarce in this locality.
but after the news reached Circle City
that the trip was worth the trouble and
hardship Of a 270-mile journey in mid
winter, dog teams We're secured and
many men came in that way. The price
Of dogs went up $3.50 to $500 apiece. My
partner and I left Circle City Nov. "a
n were headed for American creek.
We were out So days, and as we had to
take a winter supply. we were obliged
to double-trip the entire journey. At
the time of our departure not much
was known about the now famous dig
gings. but by the time we got to our
destination the Klondike fever had
spread, beyond all medical skill, and
as we were then only so miles from the
seat of excitement. il was decided to
go single with the dogs to see how
things were The supply of provisions
were very scarce. flour was out and not
bic under any circumstances;
only beans n hardware were on sale
at stores. Flour was afterwards hauled
with dog teams from Circle City to
Klondike and sold at 81 per pound;
fruit. $1.50 per pound; moose meat,
brought in by Indians. soc per pound.
Money seemed to be plentiful, but still
the craving for gold seemed to be worse
than ever. Every day men came from
adjoining camps. most of them COM
ing light, just to see If they had heard
the truth. Many were compelled to re-
turn to their old winter quarters. The
journey up the Yukon was tiresome,
lonely and cold. The first 100 miles we
had good going, and after that snow
and wind made the journey disgusting.
Tent and stove every one carries with
them, bed and supplies also. There are
no hotels or cabins, so everyone must
look out for himself. One or two teams
generally start out together, and stay
together. Snow shoes must be worn
by one when. there is a fall of snow, or
otherwise the dogs canno see the trail.
The river is rough with damned ice.
During all of the excitement here of
last winter, no one was frozen to any
extent. which may seem strange to the
reader: but the most singular fact Is
the seemingly mild winter the Yukon
valley attained very near all through
the otherwise cold season. March Is.
16 and II, 1897, was the coldest-60 M
20 degrees below zero, and seldom it got
lower than 30 to 35 degrees below. Had
the people had the previous winter there
would have been much suffering, for
nearly everyone had to live in tents all
winter on the creeks here, and very
little sickness was Known during the
winter. During the past summer sew
eral deaths occurred. Several persons,
who sold out for large amounts, got
down to Dawson to take boats to go to
their homes, died very suddenly, the
cause being laid to previous hardships
and constitutions. Typhoid
fever also figured prominently, but most
everyone withstood the same. The
country in general is very healthy; but,
as stated before, several ways are to
be found to break down strong, healthy
men. Outside papers advise that MOTH
ing but good, robust men should try to
undertake the trip to the Yukon. This
10 eOcN NJ IA oAAS CHS VI NIC III 1
but Is not a proven fact hat such men
are the most successful. Any kin of
a mar is just as apt to make a fortune
as a specified class. Small, meek-look- |
ing fellows have Just as much pluck as
a good many 20~0-pounders. I have seen
them endure hardship better han some
who look to be adapted for nothing else
but the same.
II nave stated before how the Eldora-
do claim owners happened to get their
fortunes. and a small man can stake a
claim as well as another; and people
who buy property require the money,
so the first thing to do Is to stake out
ground. Buying a good claim is a diff
ferent thing. Money is required and
also knowledge to know what TO buy.
In regard to this I read a clipping from
the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. of July
%, 1897. written to I. NJ. Phelps by ex-
Gov. Alfred p. Swineford Of Alaska.
The governors letter Is truthful for a
man who has never been i'm the Yukon.
1t is surprising how he could write the
say the governor is all right. Another
letter written to the same paper of
same date. told the public that a large
outfit to take into the Yuko was not
necessary now: that the two companies
doing business here: namely, the Alas
ka Commercial company and the North
American Trading & Transportation
company. had gone into competition and
were selling everything below cost.
Now this is untrue. Both companies
raised so per cent. on flour alone and
raised all around on everything for the
simple reason that goods have to be
shipped to st. Michaels by ocean boats
and then up the Yukon by their own
to Dawson. Formerly all
goods came to Circle City and some to
40-Mile Post. Circle City being on
States soil. and therefore no
duty on goods, and both companies be-
ing American, would get their goods
from the United States. but Circle City
being nearly deserted all goods have to
up here. These companies have
to bring these goods abou go miles
and the demand Is so great
that IL a few more fail to be up
there will be a great problem for
people here to Somewhat will they
live on the coming winter. this being