The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-27
HE TURNED BACK.
o. j. Creven Will Prospect in Montana
Instead of Alaska.


Instead of Alaska.
Missoula. Feb. 26.-At Garrison. this
morning, a Standard reporter had an
interesting conversation with o. J.
Creven, gentleman who left st. Joseph
early in the winter for the Alaskan
gold fields, and who reached Skaguay
and started inland before he saw the
mistake that he had made. When he
realized what he had gone up against,
he and his companion turned back and
reached Garrison last night. They
stopped there and this morning took the
local train for Philipsburg, where they
will do their prospecting for time. The
conversation was necessarily brief, but
Ii was instructive. Mr. Creven said:
I'VE left St Joe with some money and
visions of fortune. We QUILTED at
Seattle and, after waiting three weeks
for a boat, reached Skaguay without
any trouble. AS soon as possible, we
pushed on over the trail, but we had
gone only eight miles before we had
enough of 1t. We had good outfit-a
tent, blankets. sleeping bags. strong
clothing, and provisions for a year and
a half. The provisions we left where
we turned around, and they have prob
ably gone TO relieve the hunger of some
other pilgrim before this. Our blankets
and sleeping bags we brought with us.
Our experience cost us 5000 apiece and
| do not think that we shall try it
again. There Is plenty of room up there
for all who are going if they succeed
in getting in, but the trail is blocked
for miles now and is getting worse all
the time. The people in front have gone
as far as they can get at present, and
the ones behind are simply packing in
in the rear. We saw great many
women and, strange to say, they seem
to stand the trip better than many of
the men. All that is necessary to guard
n grD gfoCf i- 1n t,Ix - II
is no other sickness at present among
the crowds. The weather Is frightfully
cold. Those that say that it is mild up
there do not know what they are talk
ing about. / never saw such cold
weather in Montana, and / have been
The wind blows there with fearful
force. You may rot believe it, but it is
a fact, that / have seen the spray of
the ocean carried for miles inland by
the. gales. 1t is hard climate.
There Is quite a town at Skaguay,
mostly tents. You can get a bed III a
tent for So a night. We, preferred to
pitch our own tent, and we lived in
that while we were there. Travellers
might as well begin to rough it at Skag-
uay as to wait longer for they will
have to begin soon after they leave.
i did not see any suffering from
hunger, as the people that / saw were
tHI WIGS tiiot were just IlIIS iHidHu.
but we came down to Seattle with IA
man who had cleaned up s50,GJ0 and
who had come out from Dawson City
and he said that he passed hundreds of
men on the trail who were begging for
something to eat. 1t is impossible to
begin to relieve the wants of these poor
men, as man will soon have nothing
left for himself IL he does.
1T Is possible that we will return to
Alaska later, but l do not think that
we Will. We have decided to prospect
here In Montana for a time. This is
good enough for us. We will stop at
New Chicago first and go into the
mountains from there. l tried to talk
with some of the men that / met, who
were on their way to Alaska, but ii is
not possible to make any impression
upon them. They are determined to
find out for themselves. and they will
certainly do SO before they have gone
far"
Mr.. Creven is a young man, appar-
entity not more than % years old. He is
we'll educated and a pleasant speaker
He had the good sense to start back
before his money was all gone.