The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-17
CROSSING cHILKoOT PASS.
Some of the JOYS and sorrows of Life
in the KIondiIce.

Yukon has climbed the thousand icy steps
Of that precipitous stairway which com
pletes the final ascent TO the summit of
Chilkoot Pass, he has reached a line
which not only divides the flow of waters
and the domains Of nations, but where
the conditions, interests and ambitions OF
the people appear to change. The busy
world, the march Of nations and the for
tunes Of war seem to be instinctively con-
hded to those who remain within the range
of civilization and its marvellous facili-
ties for transportation and communion
ton. The Yukoner is not seeking the
glory of war, but the glitter of gold; he
does not lack patriotism, but the facilities
for displaying that splendid virtue are
woefuly lacking. Battles may be lost or
won-he cannot change their course. he
does not even know the result for days
and even weeks after the roar Of the great
cannons has ceased and the~ dead and
wounded anxiously numbered. A Few pa
pers with the --latest news" reach camp
at irregular intervals, and although from
eight to ten days old they are eagerly
snapped up at g cents each. The latest
paper have seen at this writing was one
issued at Seattle on May Is. After leaving
Sheep Camp there is only monthly mall
except by private carrier.
Hence it is that the YukOper accepts
with more or less gratitude whatever
news he can obtain from home and the
war, but his energies are expended in the
construction of his boat; his affections are
centered upon her symmetry and sailing
virtues, and his ambitions and hopes car
ry him in his day dreams to far Off
undiscovered country, where there are
nuggets galore, and thence back to a
home of plenty and unalloyed happiness
Such visions yield cOntentment and in
sure industry, and thus It is that in these
long arctic days, which extend from 2
O'Clock In the morning till 10 o'clock at
night, hear the incessant sound of ham
mer and saw. Labor with its hundred
hands seems not only to KNOCK at the
golden gates of the morning" but also to
be pinnlng down the curtains of the alb
breviated night.
These are the boat builders. In the tent
cities of Linderman and Bennett and in
the little camps which line the shores the
great army of Klondike crusaders are
building boats, boats by the hundreds
yes, thousands.
Each camp is a shpyard and each tenn
porary habitation has its own boat in a
more or less advanced stake of compile
ton. 1t is wonderful sight-unique, in
teresting, impressive.
In company with my son I am under
taking the trip to Circle in a stanch Pc
terboro canoe. Being solicitous lest our
ship might be harmed in transit, we I'M
dertook to sled it from Chilkoot Summit
to the foot of Long lake. The night Of
May is we passed on the summit, and
the next morning we shipped our outfit
by dog team, and started in a binding
snow storm. We shall not soon forget
the varying fortunes with which We pro-
ceeded down the steep trail. We slid,
and pitched and rolled in the abundant
snow, but finally emerged in good order
upon the frozen surface of Crater lake.
with the sun shining brightly and a brisk
north breeze. We are much attached to
our canoe and approaching a good thing
we proceeded to push il along over Crater
lake, Deep flake and Long lake. From
the canyon at the foot of Long lake We
had it carried over the summer trail-a
very rugged one-and placed in the waters
of Lake Linderman.
Many of us who are accustomed to
mountains and mountain climbing would
regard il an exciting and exhilarating ex-
ercise to cross the Chilkoot Pass, untn-
numbered, on a bright day, but when the
tempest shrieks ana the snow blinds and
the frosts scar the boldest and hardest
are driven back. The pass has not been so
formidable for the Yukoner to cross in
hardships in transporting their supplies
between Dyea and Lake Linderman. Such
penance IS no longer necessary. A tram
or cable is now in operation from Canyon
City to the summit, nine miles and
freight is being rapidly transported from
Dyea 10 the pass at a cost of only three
and one-half cents per pound.
1t may be of interest to mention the fact
that supplies are now retailing in Dyea
and Skagway at very reasonable prices.
For ham and bacon 1 paid IS cents per
pound; butter, 80 cents; flour, 31a cents;
dried fruits, 10 cents; excepting raspber-
ries, which were % cents; sugar 9 cents.
etc / paid S. for yukon" stove, which
cooks and bakes quickly, and so we are
comfortable and well-fed I'm camp.
Upon my arrival a Lake Linderman on
May q persons were still crossing on the
ice to Bennett, though 1t was considered
dangerous. a week later the ice was all
broken up. Then came a strong south
wind, and in two days every piece of ice
had been swept out of Lnderman and to
the lower end of Bennett. The celebrity
with which this ice was disposed of was
amazing to the tenderfoot.
Since leaving the summit the weather
has been delightful each day, excepting
an occasional high wind, after the sun has
been so persistent as to render coat a
burden and the shade grateful. But the
though sleeping In good tent upon q
raised bunk, and with ample blankets, ]
find a night wardrobe very necessary. Fol
a cold night l don suit of heavy under
clothing, a buckskin shirt, sweater and
a long flannel night robe. which few gar
ments. together with wooden socks and q
wool cap, serve well to aid me in my con
tests with ole Tack Frost.
I believe Alaska produces the mosl
! beautiful variety of MOSES in the world
1 have only seen two real flowers, which
plucked last Sunday. Birds are few
| in number and species but there is one
| variety with a very sweet whistle in three
notes. Insects are few, and although
have seen specimens of the elephantint
Yukon mosquito, none has yet attempted
| any undue familiarity.
| A humble bee flew into my tent the
other day. which I at once undertook tt
| capture as a specimen. / knocked it dowr
with a saw, tread on 1t gently, drowned
! it three times in a cup of water, and Their
! laid it out on a log 60 dry. When 1 weni
after it the bird had flown The Smith
sonian missed a rare specimen, and en-
| oil 70, only that tbpra a 20