Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-01-11
BACK FROM ALASKA.
Ex-senator Matlock Returns From a
visi, to Skaguay and Dyes.

Visit to Skaguay and Dyea.
Ex-senator w. +. Matlock who is
now an Alaskan, was asked about his
experience and plans, and said to an
East Oregonian representative:
II will give you a brief sketch of the
trip and Of the country over which L
travelled. l left Portland, November
IL on the steamer, G.. w, Elder. with
d complete outfit for brewery aud
buildings, billed for Dyea.
"The trip as far as Skaguay was
uneventful, but from there l was un-
able 20 proceed on account of the ice
at the mouth % the Oyea river. The
lighters had been frozen in aud IL was
impossible for me to unload my outfit
so | concluded to locate at Skaguay. L
am not sorry, as L believe it to be the
better place of the two for my busi-
ness. The capabilities of both places
we're fully tested to accommodate the
tens of thousands of people who col
lect there before crossing over the
mountains to the lakes, which will
not be open before April Is or May l.
"For the purpose of establishing a
business at Lake Bennett and to see
the trails for myself | concluded
to cross the trail. So on December 3 |
started oyer the Skaguay trail, or
White Pass, with three Others. The
adventures 'swe experienced we will
never forget. or care to encounter
again. The second day on the summit
of the mountains. we met with a
binding snow storm, aud it was al
most impossible TO travel. The wind
blew a blizzard, and>the drifting snow
| filed the trail so that il could not be
followed, although it Is staked or
tagged every huTdre1 yards. We could
not see from one stake to another.
One of us was compelled to stop at a
stake while the rest went forward.
One stopped in sight of the first man.
and the rest went on to the next stake,
We worked that way all day, so we
could only make eight miles aCd had
to stop on the summit without food or
shelter. We started early in the
morning without anything tC eat and
travelled until 8 O'Clock in the evening
before we reached the lakes, in weak
and famished condition. We found a
I nice cabin and some genial boys, who
treated us Loyalty.
IL found from three to four hun.
dred. men comfortably quarted at the
lakes for the winter. All have good
cabins. Ilocated at Lake Bennett, put
ND a small log house, and expect IL
start trading post there. L went
back by the Chilcoot trail, and found
it about goo feet higher but ten miles
shorter than the other.
"The Skaguay trail can be Travelled
almost all winter with horses, and is
better than in summer, but l would
advise people expecting to go into the
interior to remain beside a comfort
able fire until February l at least
before going over mountains as they
will have plenty of time to get outfits
over before the lakes open.
"Skaguay is lively little place
with the population of about 2OOO
people, AlthOugh'it claims 5000 OF
more L think 1000 is the safest esti'
mate. They had an election there
last month, and l think they polleC
as many votes as Pendleton. Dyea II
about the same size. The towns are
about four miles apart, and no road
nor trail to connect them. People
pass from one to the other by water
They are connected by telephone
line, and Skaguay already has electric
lights. 1t boasts of three wharfs
while Dyea has one. Skaguay is yer.
compact, while Dyea is strung alonl
the bar for two miles. There is plent,
) of good timber and water at boil
places, and good prospects for town"
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