The Lamar register., 1898-06-15
}. A. Downing Writes from the Trail,


Thinking perhaps some of the
friends in Lamar would like change
in diet tnewsl from the regular war
news, We have taken the liberty Of
letting the world know, through your
columns and by your leave, that we
are not dead if we are speeehless, and
although far from telegraph and rail
road connections. we get the war
news in shape of daily papers. To
be sure they are from week to ten
days old, but tind ready sale at 2Jc
per copy
Lake Bennett is at present busy
city OF tents with population Of
perhaps 5000, and most of them en-
gagged in building boats 10 float them
selves sud grub stakes down TO the
gold fields when the ice goes out in
the spring, which will be in three or
four weeks. or about June l. A man
told Us yesterday that he had been
down the lakes aud rivers 100 miles
below here, with dog team, and
found the banks lined with tents
and lumber OF the gold seekers, all
trying to take TIE lead Some have
been on the trail since last fall.
The general health on this part Of
the trail is good now, but many have
fallen by the wAyside, and it is q
common saying here that il man
gets sick he had better make his will
for his chances are slim to recover.
We have been on the trail since
April 3 and have never seen a scrap
or shooting rnstch yet The average
klondiker is an honest hard working
man. who attends TO his own buriness
aud lets bis neighbor do the same,
And, since we have passed under the
British nRg. we have never seen a
shell game or sure thing man on
the trail, but / am ashamed to say
such things flourish 10 remarkable
degree on our side Of the line, They,
ing j. almost unknown on this side.
| for If detected or caught with stolen
goods, the man Is arrested by the
nounted police, and his goods sold
at auction, and he is escorted back 10
tue line and ordered not TO come into
this country again
MaRKKr RErORrs.
II may be interesting 10 some tn
know the ruling prices in this north
land Lumber is selling at $3.50 per
thousand feet; -four Sl4 per hundred,
sugar 25c per pound; bacon the same
best coffee 75c per pound: beans l5ci
butter 5Jc, aud other things IN like
manner, the cost Of transportation
causing the high prices. A mans
wealth is estimated here, not by bis
cash, SO much as the size of his grub
pile.
SOCIAL
We had the pleasure of attending
church services 90 last Sunday, held
IN large tent owned by the Cana
dian Presbyterian Missionary Board.
A large and attentive audience was
present in which was fair sprink-
ling OF the gentler sex, and on last
evening We held u church social al
the same place and had an enjoyable
time. A long and interesting pro
gram was rendered, the leading actor
being no other than the noted Capt.
Jack Crawford, the poet scout, who
is on his way to Dawson City and
who gave us some OF his best poems,
being encored again and again Capt.
Jack is a fine specimen OF the west
ern scout, and although never having
seen the inside Of school house he
is well educated man and ine
speaker. an education gained as he
says, by knocking agin' the rough
corners OF the world. Among other
things he took firm stand for TEN
perance and Godliness. After the
program came refreshments free, and
in spite of the high prices OF coffee
and sugar, coffee was passed time
and again through the crowd'with
cake, pie and sandwiches. Everybody
was busy getting acquainted, and the
meeting closed with singing "Ameri-
ca" and ''God Save the Queen to
meet again next Monday evening.
Well, as we are out of paper, and
4 I-.NE A.