The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-01
IN AND OUT OF DAWSON
P. j. Holland Narrates the Ex-
periences of His Journey.
NO DANGER OF FAMINE.
The Dawsonites Have Enough Grub to
Last Them Until Spring, But They
Are Short of Candles and
Little Work Is Done.

The terrors of the klondyke are di-
minished by half, according to the views
of Patrick j. Holland, a well-known
Butte miner. who has just returned di-
rect from Dawson City. Mr.. Holland
says there will be no starvation in Klon-
dyke this winter, even if no relief eXpe-
dition is sent in, although the inhabi-
tants of the country will have to hus-
band their stores and, perchance, may
have to reduce their rations somewhat
in order to insure their supplies last
ing through the winter Neither Is the
journey to the new land of gold so ardu-
Gus as has been painted, says Mr. Hol-
land, who met with little difficulty in the
trip. He scouts the idea of the feasibil-
ity of the government sending in Il rein
deer relief expedition or any other kind,
in fact. He does not believe the scheme
of j. S. Lancaster of this city, and
which is favored by others as well, to go
in on the ice with horses and sleighs,
can be successfully accomplished.
Mr.. Holland left Butte on Aug. Is
last journeyed To the Klondyke, re-
manned nearly two months at Dawson
and in the diggings. and arrived home
night before last as hale and hearty as
when he left. In relating the crcum
stances of his trip and his impressions
with regard to the country to Il Stand
ard reporter yesterday Mr.. Holland
said:
II left here Aug. 13. At Tacoma l
formed the acquaintance of Joe kast-
ner and George Mclaughlin of Helena,
and we pooled interests. We sailed to
Skaguay, intending to go in by that
route, but found the pass so blocked
with people and horses that it was inn
possible to make any progress. so we
came back to Dyea and went over
Chilkoot pass We had about 1000
pounds OF provisions, which we hired
packed over the pass. paying 3S cents Il
pound. AT the head of Lake Under
man we fell in with two other parties,
and all hands turned in and got out logs
with which we built three boats. Ii took
MS five days TO build our boats, and
then we all started, the three parties
journeying in company to be of assist
ance in case of emergency. We rugged
up lugger sails. and by good fortune got
fair Winds which carried US down the
lake in excellent time and without
meeting With any difficulties of any
kind. We reached Dawson City in just
IL days from the time we left the head
Of Linderman. There We're great
number of people on the way and al no
time We're we out of sight of party.
We worked all the way, rowing to as
sist the sails or to make progress when
there was no wind, and made much
better progress than most of the parties,
who preferred depending on their sails
or allowing the current to carry them
along until they reached the river
I'VE made such good Roadway that
during 10 days of the time we passed
an average of seven boats q day. and
the day we went into Dawson we passed
II boats. When we reached Dawson we
set about finding the best plan of opera
tons and decided to lease, which we
did. We got two or three lays, as they
are called, sunk three shafts to bedrock
and found we had good ground, and
then, after staying about two months,
found we would not be able to operate
to advantage this winter so we sold
our outfits and came out to wait until
spring before beginning active opera
tons. The reason we could not work to
advantage this winter was due to short
age of candles, which were very scarce.
and selling at a dollar apiece and very
few TO be had at that. This fact win
greatly diminish the output Of the coun-
Try this winter.
In the early part of November we
started back. There We're five in the
party. my two partners. a man named
William King from California and
George Root of Flathead. We had 200
pounds of an outfit each upon starting.
which we packed ON sleds, and each
one drew his sled. The Yukon had COM
menced to freeze before we started. so
we decided to come out by the same
route by which we went in. We trav-
eled on the ice along the shores for 165
miles Then the ice jams got so bad it
was impossible to haul our sleds: so we
abandoned them and threw away every
thing we did not absolutely need. NV
two partners and Root thought il safe
To come lighter than King or myself
did so we parted company as. with their
lighter packs they could travel much
faster than we could. King and | re-
manned together and Travelled easy.
which accounts for the others getting
home ahead of us. We packed 80
pounds each and made the journey to
Dyea in just 36 days of travel and 40
days from the time we left Dawson, as
we laid up two days FOR ice gorges to
break and two days TO rest.
I'VE carried no blankets, but had a
bearskin sleeping bag big enough for
us both to get into, and when night
would come we would cut some boughs,
lay our bag on them and crawl inside
Then we would draw the mouth up
tight and in 20 minutes we would be
as warm as though we were i'm a beu
at home. Then we could open the
mouth enough FOR air and sleep perfect
~ comfortable.
our provisions lasted untilwe reached
the Little salmon river 800 miles from
Dyea, where We encountered the Cana
dian government expedition. consisting
of the newly appointed authorities for
tho klondyke country the presiding
judge, the queens solicitor and mining
recorder With a retinue OF subordinates
and escort of mounted police. had got
as far as that point with their dog
trains and Were just about giving up
the attempt 10 get in, but | don't know
for certain whether they tried to go
farther or not. They We're very kind
and allowed US To replensh our sup
plies, and after resting a day we pushed
on. Twenty miles further along we met
Governor Walsh, the newly appointed
governor Of the Alaskan Northwest tor
ritories and party, consisting of the Off
cials who We're TO collect the royalties
imposed by the government. and a
number Of stenographers. clerks, etc.
They also Travelled by dog train and had
a mounted police escort and Indian
guides. 1 am pretty sure Governor
Walsh had given up all hope OF getting
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