Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1898-07-28

packing Dy DurrOS IrOm Dycd W Dou
nett for cents per pound.
This summer two steamers will ply
from Bennett to Miles Canon, max
ing tri-weekly trips, while two other
steamers will ply below the canon and
White Horse rapids to Dawson City.
From Dyea to Dawson in twelve
days will be about the time. The
steamers are from so to so feet long,
are trim built and will make good
time. At Miles Canon and White
Horse rapids portage of two miles
will be necessary; this Is crossed by a
tramway.
Parties can now get to the gold
country more quickly and comforta-
bly,, il they have plenty of the need
full. 1 have met several miners from
Kiondyke and they all say a man can
do we'll if he has the endurance and
pluck to stay with it. We have pros
pected along the lakes and found
some color, but not sufficient to pay
to work. I can say for the Canadian
police that they are doing a good
work in keeping order and protecting
travellers from gamblers. Allthe way
from Dyea to Chilkoot Pass the trail is
swarmipg with three card monte men,
shell game men and often the unwary
ones are beaten out of their last dol
lar.
Gambling is not tolerated here. If
one is detected he is promptly impris-
oned. They also fine every man who
overloads his dogs that draw the sleds
or Is caught abusing them. A party
was caught with stolen goods; he was
given a two years. sentence. The
police treat man kindly who is try
ing to do right, but woe to him that is
found up to anything tricky.
There are thousands of people going
in, but still we think no one will starve,
as every boat is loaded to the guards
and firm at Seattle is shipping in fat
cattle by the hundreds. They are
shipped to Dyea, then by slow stages
to Fl. Selkirk over Dalton trall and
thence to Dawson City by boat. 1 saw
80 head of good beef cattle at Bennett.
They were loaded on barges and taken
to White Horse Rapids by steam tug,
| where they will be slaughtered and
shipped to Dawson City. To day a
steam tug passed up Marsh Lake, hav-
ing in tow three large barge loads OF
fat cattle; 30 the Dawson people will
soon have q feast of fresh meat-at
what prices l am unable to say.
Very fine grass grows along the
lakes and the woods are full of wild
strawberries, gooseberries, currants
| and cranberries. Lovely flowers dot
| the lake shore. We think in this
locality many varieties of vegetables
could be grown with proper cultiva-
tion. The lakes abound with fine
trout and salmon. Occasionally we
take time to catch mess of these fish.
They are most delicious.
We do not see as this part of Alaska
is so bad if we could only do away with
the pesky mosquitoes. June 10, as we
pulled into the west side of Marsh lake,
we found lot of wild onions, tender
and nice. AS we were very hungry
for salad We gathered some to eat with
dried food and bacon, it being the first
| green vegetables we had seen this
year. They were eaten, or rather de-
voured, with relish. To one who has
never lived on salt meat and dried
foods exclusively, you cannot imagine
what treat fresh fish or vegetables
is to a man who has not tasted either
for months.
One day while sailing on Marsh lake
we became becalmed and had to row
our boat for several miles, but we had
a merry time for fully so boats were
along side. Some old veteran soldiers
sang military airs and one old fellow,
seated on his grub chest, enlivened
the occasion by blowing his regimental
bugle, which sounded nicely on the
smooth water. Another old Scotch
man with bis bag pipe rendered some
fine old highland airs of 'sye olden
times" And so it goes, one day we
will have pleasant sailing and good
times, another day high winds and
hard work, but we are pressing on.
We expect to shoot Miles Canyon and
White Horse Rapids to- morrow morn
ing, June 13. Will soon be in the gold
diggings. Will try to write you again
when we reach Selly River. To all OF
my Missouri friends send greetings
| Respectfully,
| G. w. WYLDE.