Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-01-06
HUNTING FOR GOLD.
q Letter From Harrg McGrads To His wife
mad Young son-Mrs. Mocrads Is The
Daughter OF Mr.. Ghas, Harvey OF lancaster.
(coNcLUDED.l
MOUTH OF BIG SALMON RIVER. ]
Northwest Territory, b. c..

ii While yet we uld not nave VIM
e ugh to sail the waves came side
ways against us fully ten feet high.
Luckily we were near shore and land
ed as best we could, but before we
got our boat unloaded it was full of
water and goods were floating.
Everything was wet and we lost our
salt, sugar and part of our tobacco.
and damaged quite lot Of other
stuff. But we were lucky. just
ahead of US was party of three from
Frisco and before they could get their
boat to shore it was full of water and
two were drowned and fully half of
the goods lost. The party consisted
of an Irishman. Frenchman and
Cossack. The first two were lost so
we arranged with the latter, Hatha-
way, and went with him and built
camptires and were two days trying
to dry our goods. People were
camped there who had been there a
week waiting for the waves to cease SO
they could go on. We believed they
never would cease and so loaded up
and had Mrs Howard walk along the
beach and Frank took the oars and l
the steering oar and pulled against
the waves about one hour making
about mile and getting by the Arm.
1t was risky and white caps would hit
us in the face and toss our boat as if
it were feather, but we made it
without damage and pulled to shore
and got Mrs. Howard into the boat,
hoisted sail and went beautifully
through the lake into and across Car
ibou Crossing, which is nothing more
than slow, shallow stream running
from Bennett into Lake Tagish. On
we sailed in Tagish until dark having
made about fifteen miles.
Next morning we were off at daylight
and with nice breeze sailed rapidly
through Tagish to the British Custom
house. which is at the foot of the lake.
Here is quite little village made up
of the officers. policemen and post
master. All goods bought in the
United States were gone through and
a duty of 25 cents of the original cost
paid. This took us the rest of the
day and we camped on March L. We
sailed again next day and were MAX
ing good time, but as the waves came
from windy bay and as the lake is
very shallow and is likewise very
rough, we had to land about noon.
This camp Mrs. Howard christened
Bear Camp for as she was hunting for
a camping place she almost ran into
a big black bear. We tracked him
but could not get him.
Next day we had to row all day but
got through the lake and camped at
the head OF Sixty Mile river at the
mouth of the McClintock. This IS
the beginning of the gold belt and we
found many people there going into
winter quarters intending to prospect
the McClintock.
Next day we tioated down Sixty
Mile river to the mouth of the Takuna
from which came the first floating ice.
1t was safe though, and caused us no
trouble. The river is slow but we
had either to row or sail. All we had
80 do was to steer and admire the
scenery. The surroundings seemed
like large valley now as the noun
tains became lower, but are mountains
still. We camped that evening with
party of six and chased a silyer-tip
bear about three miles and got him.
He weighed about 900 pounds and
was a beauty. We divided him up
aud are going to have the last roast
for dinner today.
The next day we reached the Grand
Canon. You have probably read
about this grand piece OF water and
know more about it than | can tell
you. You cau imagine its depth and
swiftness when a river one-fourth mile
wide closes into 40 feet, and the walls
are solid granite and as straight as
the Masonic temple, fully 100 feet
high. We examined it thoroughly
and next morning took out all but 700
or 500 pounds to balance the boat and
Frank shot the canon. 1t is three
fourths OF mile long aid he was just