The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-01-12
LATE GOSSIP FROM DAWSON.
EXPERIENCES OF TWO sACRA-
MENTO YOUTHS.
An Interesting Budget of Real In
formation From the Klon-
dixie Center.

An Interesting Budget Of Real In
formation From the Klon-
dixie Center.
DIR. I. w. Snowden of this city, who
has two sons at Dawson, has news from
them up to November 10th They
crossed the White Pass, and pronounce
it, beyond all description, a wretched
trail. About three weeks were re-
quired TO work their outfit, some 800
pounds, over the trail, and the trip
on the lakes and rivers, from Septem-
Der l4th to October LIST, was full of
dangers from fierce winds. fearful rap
ids, rocks, shoals, snow and ice They
write:
The last night of September we were
within thirty miles of Dawson City.
That night the water froze fifty feet
from the bank out into the river and
our boat was frozen solid. We had to
cut the ice away from the boat. then
cut a path to open water. The ice was
about six inches thick, and it took US
just sixty minutes to get clear.
I'VE had gone about half mile
when we were carried into a shoal. The
ice was SO thick that it was next to
impossible to steer the boat The ice
foes were about foot thick and ranged
from one to a hundred feet across We
saw the shoal ahead of us, but could
not steer away from it. We struck
pretty hard, and went scraping along
over the rocks in grand style, expecting
every moment to see a hole knocked
in the bottom of the boat, but We're
happily disappointed. I jumped out
behind, to shove the boat off the ridge,
but the ice came SO hard it took my
feet from under me, so l kept to the
boat. The ice kept hitting the boat,
and soon swept it clear Of the shoal
Inside the next five minutes we were
twice damned up against the shore,
but got off again. We roWed whenever
we could, but most of the time could
only drift with the current, until Daw-
son appeared on the right bank, about
mile and a half away, when we i'm
mediately began to fight our way
through the ice to the shore. We were
near the middle of the river, and had
to go through a whole stream of ice to
reach shore. We never worked harder
in our lives than we did then.
'Lousatown is over a mile up the
river from Dawson, and we tried to
land there, but could not get anywhere
near land until half a mile beyond the
town. My oar snapped, and I had to
work with half an oar. We did at last
worm our way through to the shore,
and landed at Dawson City on Octo-
Der l. 1897. The ice extended 200 feet
from shore.
Scott jumped out to take the rope,
and pull the boat up. Luckily he kept
hold of the side of the boat, for the
ice was very thick and he went through
up to his armpits. He scrambled ous
in mighty quick time, and made a run
for the nearest fire and got into a tent,
about 100 yards away. While he tried
to thaw out I got him an entire change
of clothing, SO he managed to keep from
chilling. He says he has had cold
deals, but that was by far the chilliest
reception he ever received.
I'VE camped for few days, and then
went up on the hill on the north part
of the town, that being considered the
only healthy part Of Dawson. In the
summer the rest of Dawson is one big
swamp. Getting logs for our cabin
was no soft snap, as the mountain is
so steep that in places one has to crawl
along like a billy goat. Cutting the
logs was easy. About fifty logs were
required, and after cutting we would
up-end them and give shove. Away
they would go for about twenty feet,
when they would leave the slide and
go crashing through the brush and
whit nn die
out, and then repeat the performance.
One day was spent in getting moss.
In one sense this trip is a delusion
and a snare in that, while working like
slaves on the trail. we promised our
selves a. rest when we reached the
lakes and rivers, but we We're sadly
disappointed, as we had to row all the
time with a strong wind dead against
u.s. We consoled ourselves by saying
that when we reached Dawson we
would have plenty Of time to rest, but
to save my life / cannot see where it is
to come in, for as soon as the cabin
is In order and the wood laid in we will
look up a lay, or more probably work,
as all the good lays are taken.
Grub is scarce. Nothing can be had
for less than 81 and 81 % per pound.
Nothing can be bought in the stores
that is, in the food line. There is
plenty of clothing at very high prices.
Poor mackinaw coats Of light weight
sell for so. Rubber boots are $12,
and none to be had now. There will
be big demand for them in the spring.
Miners get 81 80 an hour, and for the
next three or four months man can
only get in about five hours work a
day. A great many are planning to
go out over the first ice. Most of them
say they will return with big outfits,
but we do not believe many will come
back, and we also think that next sum-
mer Dawson viii see the biggest set
of disguised people that ever got to-
gether
Perhaps some one will ask you what
we think about coming in here. 1t is
too early to express a definite opinion,
but If I were a man with a wife, and
had a good living, Alaska would never
get a chance to freeze or starye me.
Situated as we are, we are glad to be
here because we have a chance to
make something. But, oh, there are
q cood MANY diSannofpfed Daop1a here