Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1898-08-27
KLONDIKE LETTER.
Written by A. A. Hill For the American
Press Association.


when we leave Lake Labarge and
take the open water of Thirty Mile
river, where we resolve to travel
night and day until we reach Daw-
son, going ashore only long enough
here and there to get wood for cook
ing. Culinary work on board boat
or scow, where space is precious and
where puffs of wind come from all
directions, is not wholly easy or con-
venient, but we soon learn to accom-
modate ourselves to circumstances.
The water of Thirty Mile river is low,
and we occasionally run upon rock
or a sand bar, which necessitates the
usual going overheard and lifting be-
fore we can proceed. At the Big
Salmon river we stop to do bit of
prospecting, but the results are quite
as fruitless as / expected. Nothing
has been discovered there thus far
that approXimates pay dirt.
LONG RANGE SHOOTING.
The river broadens as we proceed.
After taking the waters of the Hoo
talinqua, or Teslintoo river, the Big
Salmon and the Little Salmon, it be-
comes mighty stream, with an ex-
tremely swift current, which in places
is not easy to navigate. Landings
are made with great difficulty. Once
we strike the bank with the force of
a catapult and succeed in shipping
hogshead or so of dirt and gravel be-
fore we can make fast. When we
wish to land. we decide upon place
below where the land is most favora-
BILE, and then the oarSmen s'puli for
the shore'' with all their might. Of
ten the current is so swift that the
boat will go far below the place Sc
lected despite all our efforts, and an
other attempt must be made further
down stream. When the boat nears
the shore, some one stands in the bow
ready to jump. If he lands on the
river bank, he is lucky. He usually
jumps into the river, and then come
scramble for the shore and a.race
down stream until he can find con-
venient tree or rock with which to
fasten the line. Duckings and falls
are thus the rule and not the eXcep-
tion.
Thus we proceed down the Yukon.
/ occasionally shoot at stray duck
or goose just to let it know / have a
gun, but shooting from an open boat
at long range is not usually product
i've of favorable results. When the
wind blows down stream, we hoist
our sail. but there is no pulling with
the oars except to make landing, as
stated, for the current carries us from
four to six miles every houEsof the "a.
One man is on watch constantly at
night and another by day, although
there is little darkness at this season,
and that not strong enough to make
the print of a newspaper eligible.
THROUGH FIVE FINGER RAPIDS.
Five Finger and Rink rapids are
not so black as they have been paint
ed. We carefully make note of time
and distance as we float down, so that
we may know when we are due to
reach the former. The current gets
swifter. Bits of white foam and
whirling eddies appear. There is a
sound of rushing waters ahead. Two
giant pathways ale soon seen, one
near the center of the stream, the
other to the right. The rapids have
evidently lost their dIgits, as we see
but two fingers. The right gate, or
channel, is the safe one. We expect
to get a ducking, however, and cover
our goods with tarpaulin for protec-
tion. Quickly and smoothly we glide
into the narrow gateway. Then comes
a sudden dip. sharp turn upward, a
roar of rushing waters, and in less
time than it takes to tell it we are
shooting along below, leaving the
foaming breakers far behind. We re-
ceive gentle sprinkling of spray,
and few cupfuls of water are thrown
into the boat, but that Is all. Just
as we pass through small boat with
but two occupants comes tearing
through the center channel, which is
considered so dangerous. From in
formation gained subsequently we
learn that they tried to make the
right hand channel, but were unable
to do SO on account of the swift cur
rent. They expected to be wrecked,
and, as far as could see, they were