The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-17
OFF An ALASKAN TRAIL
The Mysterious Fate of Sir Arthur
Curtis.
LOST IN THE WILD WOODS
Supposed 10 Have Become Weak Prom
Want OF Food aud erased by the
Sting OF Insscts-May Have
Been Eaten BY Bears.

,r.ck,sss forest that extends from
o.----u. N..,Awu., rarr,,orv Can
Sue'"'
ada. LOCO miles 10 what is KNOWN as
| the barren lands. the bones OF Sir Ar
thur Curtis. English baronet. have
- 40. IN. Gan
founo q iast resups place. says I'LL %"
Francisco Call.
The trails to the golden Klondike are
.,ravn u,,h ,ns xrscts NJ nsrt,es that
$500 -.
al the peginnihs Oh the year s'"i'e"
sneedv trim 10 the new FL Dorado.
49,. c.r,sas
o'SA"'
that nave taiien py the "aysioe' uh
able to stand the strain of the terrible
trip, reach this city. and the stories OF
their experiences go to a up the
history OF one OF the maddest gold
rushes on record.
A few days ago an athletic looking
young Englishman, whose fine hgure
was clothed In a garb that the poorest
clam gatherer on the coast would not
have envied, reached Vancouver from
up the line. His hands and face were
blistered by the sun and tanned TO a
nut brown hue, and. combined with
his striking appearance and an inde-
~scribable air of melancholy he wore,
he attracted general attention as he
sauntered aimlessly through the busy
streets. This gentleman was Roger
Pocock. intimate friend OF Sir Arthur
Curtis, who brought out the first au-
thentic new of that Inflated baronets
search for gold in the inhospitab bic
north.
Pocyck is a highly educated young
Englishman, whose yearning for an ad-
enturous life led him at the begin
ming of the present year TO leave a
II. 1. hnrEfa
expedition to the Klondike.
The party decided to take the I'M
known Ashcroft route TO the northern
gold fields and started out on its long
trip in April, the worst month they
could have chosen. The party was COM
posed OF Sir Arthur, Pocock. another
young Englishmsn and three hardy
Il in the north.
In addition to the necesssaries wine
and other delicacies we're packed over
the rough trail for the use OF Sir Ar
thur. The party obtained their pack
horses at Ashcroft. The animals were
as wild as the sea ~serpents and the
troubles Of the party commenced ear
ly. At the time Sir Arthur started out
the thermometer registered 10 degrees
below zero OF course there was no
grass for the animals AS Pocock ex-
pressed IL, they did not expec to
nave their horses starving on hay at
$50 a ton, or that all their reserve mon
ey would be swallowed up in forage
and pasture.
The horses. worked on insufficient
food. became discouraged, caught the
distemper and died. Travelling trough
quagmires and marshes the party final
ly managed to reach Quesnelle. After
a brief rest they pushed forward. strik-
t. L-N.L nA xralA1
country. Sir Arthur seemed to enjoy
the trip. He had no active part in the
rough camp work and throughout Nv
ed up to the prevailing idea OF an En-
glish baronet. Pocock. of course. was
on familiar terms with him, but the
other members of the party were kept
at a discreet istance the social line
being strictly defined by Sir Arthur.
Shortly after the start was made from
Quesnelle the horses were turned loose
every night in the measureless. impen-
etrable brush. The result was that
day after day was spent in searching
after scattered punches OF cayuse too
weak and weary for the days work,
but ~tireless travellers all night. swift
and determined in their efforts to get
back to the home range from which
The dread was on the party In their
sleep. Pocock says that many a time
a man would arouse the whole camp
in the throes of a nightmare, hunting
ghost horses through the woods OF
dreamland. One Of the party he found
one night towing his blanket around
In circles. thinking he had the bell
mare.
To add to the plight OF the party
dissension broke out and the a~rgonauts.
with the exception of Sir Arthur. quar-
relied fercely among themselves. call
ing each other names on the trails and
fighting over the washing up OF dish
and other camp duties.
As the party went north they left
behind them the alluring uplands Of
dry. full pine and sweet. dry grass,
and the forest became more dense upon
them with every drive. The bright
desert climate OF the south gave place