Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-06-09


steam barge capable OF carrying great
numbers of people. One can land in
Dyea with $1,000, and after purchasing
a years supplies and outfit and paying
his fare and freight still have 5000 left
upon reaching Dawson City.
In one day we put together one of our
steel boats and the other was nearing
completion when left the lake. When
our four boats are put together shall
paint them white and shall name them
after Uncle Sans ships, which no doubt
ere this have destroyed goodly portion
of the Spanish navy. The Goth is the last
date of papers received here, and the
people are wild for war news. The
English and Canadians are as eager for
| the news and almost as enthusiastic as
the Americans. Last Monday evening
| at Lake Bennett a social was given by
the ladies of the trail at the Union
church; about 80 ladies and 200 men at
tended. Fifteen numbers on the pro-
gramme would have done credit to a
city, and, of course, to offset that, yours
| truly was requested to affiict them for
about half an hour; at the conclusion
doughnuts. boiled eggs and sandwiches
with coffee were served; america" and
Sod Save the Queen" were sung with a
will and three rousing cheers for Old
Glory and the Union Jack were given.
About 10000 people have passed over
the White pass and Chilkoot pass-at
least two-thirds of these over the Chill
| koot-since the custom house has been
opened. This have from Capt. Belcher,
of the custom house. This does not in
clude, however, 1000 or more who have
slipped in with parties who have more
provisions than required to pass the line.
The Canadian officials are neither strict
nor offensive, and not one party in 500
have their outfits closely examined. If
| man has common, ordinary horse
sense he need have no trouble with the
customs officers, Maj. Walsh or the
mounted police.
I will just give one incident to illus.
trate. Last week a would-be smart
| fellow paid his duty, amounting to
| about SIS or $3.50. There was ten cents
due him, and the officer remarked that
he had no change. WELL" said the
smart young man, you'd better cough
| up; you can't rob me more than the
law allows" Ten cents was borrowed
to pay the young man, and he seemed
very much elated, and looked around
| upon the crowd to see how many were
in sympathy with his action, and then
remarked: Tell you what, boys, that's
biz" AS he stepped out one of the Of
fcers followed him and on reaching the
place where his goods were cached asked
if that was his outfit. That's what it
is" he replied. WELL" said the of
ffcer, ''as you are SO particular about
ten cents, suppose you open it up. It
is just possible that you may have been
overcharged. There may be, possibly,
another ten cents due you. and, by add
ing nickel, you can buy a cup of coffee
on the trail" The young man protest
ed, but protests didn't go with the
mounted police, and, after opening up
his goods, he was compelled to return to
the custom house and pay something
over $50 more for goods that were not
on his bill. The officer in charge gave
him good talking to and told him that
he would be justified in confiscating his
goods and sending him back across the
line. The tariff may be and possibly
is an injustice, and many poor, strug
Cling gold seeker can lily afford to pay
men, who are kind, considerate and
courteous, and always just; were il
otherwise hundreds of men would have
turned back who had their little all in
their little outfits; for many have been
passed through with less than half the
amount required by law.
sat in Maj. Walsh's tent at Lake Ben
nett the other evening. and he is abso.
lutte commander in the Northwest ter.
titory, when young man applied for
permit to take lot of liquor to Daw.
son. mo, SIR" said the major; INC
more permits will be granted" And
if had my way would cancel every
one that had been issued. The young
man attempted to argue with this vet
eran frontier captain who convinced
Sitting Bull in about ten minutes that
it would be healthy for him to stay
in Canada when he was chased over the
border by our troops, and although the
major had but a handful of men, Sit !
ting Bull concluded that he was right |
and stood not upon the order of his |
going. So when this young man said
to Maj. Walsh: "Major, don't you want |
to give a young man a chance?" the |
major looked at him with his kindly
eyes and in a mellow baritone voice re-
piled: Eyes, I delight in giving a young j
man chance who tries to do something !
good and manly; you are on the wrong
trail. Have you looked upon these |
struggling thousands of brave men.
women and boys. the majority of whom
have put their last cent into a grub /,
stake in the hope of finding some of the |
hidden wealth on the Yukon, and you |
ask me to give you a chance to help ruin |
some of these reckless, impulsive boys |
and men whose mothers, sisters or |
wives are praying for them in their far
away homes? No, sir; l tell you most |
emphatically that am going to do all |
that l can to kill the traffic, and even
if 1 received an order from Ottawa &c |
issue permits to sell rum on the Yukon
l would refuse TO do it,"
Oh, you mothers, wives and sisters |
who have loved ones ON this long and |
dreary trail, send vote of thanks tc |
and an honest man could resist the |
tempting brides that are offered and |
that would make him a millionaire were
he to swerve from the performance OF |
his duty. And now | must return to my |
post, my duty; great responsibility
rests upon me. Were it not for this
would be with hundreds of my western
boys. striking for Cuba and the old
flag. But | hope to be out in the win