The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-29

dog teams and sled. Having a Travelled
trail enabled US 10 double the distance We
could make in day. and in the last two
days before reaching Fort Yukon We trav-
eled over fifty miles,
At Fort Yukon.
At Fort Yukon we found all quiet, the
men who had contemplated . "hold-up"
OF the provisions there having been
supplied with outfits by Capt. Ray, and
set to cutting wood along the river. OF al
lowed to go prospecting. Capt Ray had
taken possession of the two cargoes OF
goods cached there in the name OF the
United States. and rationed out supplies.
taking notes in cases where applicants
had no money 10 pay for outfits. These
amounted TO about $l75 and were approx
imateiy as follows: 80 pounds flour, 20
pounds beans. co pounds bacon. 30 pounds
sugar, 80 pounds rice, i6 pounds, butter,
80 pounds dried fruits, dozen tomatoes,
dozen corn, pounds salt, pounds cof-
fee, 3 pounds baking powder. l dozen corn
beef. dozen roast beef. 2 gallons syrup.
ii cans OF milk. 1 pound soda.
Al Fort Yukon and the cabin OF Senator
Range, ten miles above the fort. We spent
ten days and. on January Is, resumed our
journey. starting with about LOO pounds
and only nine dogs. We let Capt. Ray
have team Of five. OF our load about
half was dog feed. We had been SO for
tunate as 10 secure a supply of dog fish
at the fort. During this stopover we ex-
perienced the coolest weather Of the win
ter sixty-three degrees below. Between
Fort Yukon and Circle Csty We found
most OF the way we'll travelled trail and,
although we frequently had to get into the
harness and help the dogs, the distance OF
eighty miles was covered in five days.
At Circle City we enjoyed the hospitality
OF Capt. Dickson, of the steamer Bella,
and. after two days spent ri repairing s,eds
and exchanging provisions so as 10 i'm
prove our variety OF supplies, we left en-
January 70 for Dawson. In this 800 miles
We experienced what might be termed the
ups and downs of the trail Starting with
an excellent trail. We soon encountered a
wind storm that blew all the snow off the
Ice in many places. Then fresh snow fell.
entirely celebrating all trace OF the trail
in many places. Having. no guide now we
put the loads both or one sled. trailing
the empty sled behind and doubled up
me team so that on , man could handle
dogs and sleds, while The other went ahead
to ind the way. After three days of this
we met a team and found a better trail.
Inc next day We reached Seventy Nile
creek. From there we had a good trail
10 Dawson, as stamIeders from Dawson
had oeen coming doyTa1 as far "a American
creek and Seventy Mile. On February IL
Dawson was reached and we felt that orr
trip was at least tyFo-thirds done
On the morning OF the day OF our ar
rival al Dawson. my nose and cheeks were
frosted while facing 3 slight breeze. with
the mercury at twenty degrees below. /
was not aware that my nose was frozen
until / happened 10 touch IL with mr.
bare hand. During our twelve 1ay stav
IN Dawson the mercury WAS frozen most
or the time, and Il was not uncommon 10
see frosted nose or cheek. One everin~
on the street l met man whose nose
was white and. as Is customary. inform
ca him that II was frozen. II know IL,
was his curt reply, az he hurried along
evidently Intending 10 reach his cabin he
Tore stopping 10 thaw out We saw en-
many Seattieites in Dawson that Il seeroea
as II We could not be very far from
nome. Although we were abe n Sc,
nearly all the provisions We needed fo-
finishing the Journey. we bought a faw
articles at what may be termed specula.
tors prices, and from wha. / saw. carns
70 the conclusion that everything had a
value, excepting he gold dust, which ia tha
medium Of exchange.
At the KIondike Mines.
In visiting tho creeks was much In
terests1 IL the process Of burning dou,n
the caly plan yet discovered for unlocking
tha fabulous treasure vaults OF thar vas,
region where the summer sun never .haws
the earth more than two or threa fee,
Sepeath the surface. a hole, or SHAFT,
about four by six feet. Is started. by build
ing fra on thu surface The earth thr,s
melted = III rown out and a s4w FIRE
started. and 50 On until bedrock Is reached.
htieen % thirty feet below the surface. IL
tAs showing IS satisfactory in the Day
streak. wA;oh ss the stratum CO gravel Just
above bedrock. drifting s. begun Tshis il
simply melting the dirt IL al directions
from the central SHAFT by putting in a
fire a. night ard the dirt can De hauled
up the next day and deposited on the
dump, 70 b= siuiced when the so-tnr
f-ssast comes. After drifting about affe,n
fGot In each direction firm, rrs SHAFT ,sy