The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-08-25
KIONDIKE
Experience OF a South Dokotan in thu
Country OF Gold.

citizens, who went to klondike early
in the wear writes of his eXperisnce
othe Woonsockes Times. Hisna
is John r. Hopkins, ard he lived in
SanbGra CoGGsy.
Dawson City, July 9th, 1898
After tedious journey over the
Chilcoot pass, and building ourboat
at the head OF Lake Iinderman, we
were prepared to begin our Journey
by water. On Wednesday, June
both, at , clock T. NJ. we loaded
and started for Lake Bennett. The
wind had been blowing from the
south all the time Tor month, but
before we had goaa two miles it
changed to the opposite direction,
and we had 70 row The rest OF the
way. Lake Linderman is six miles
long and from one hal. to one mile
wide. We GOT 20 Bennett river, and
landed at 10 o,c,ock We then went
to see a raft go down Bennett river.
This river from Lake Lindarman to
Lake Bennett is a hnif u mile long
and is about as wide as the Jim river.
Ii is full OF rocks in one place, and is
very swift. In enc place it takes n
quick turn, ana the passing boats are
Liable TO be east either on the rocky
bank on one side, or TO BE- thrown
on to the sand bar ON the other. |
had my boat taken through by a
pilot, for which | had to pay S3.T5.
also hired my goods hauled in II
cart to the mouth OF the river n dis
tance Of one mile. and | paid the
same amount for the hauling. We
remained at the head OF Lake Ben
nett Thursday, Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday waiting for the wind to
change, and | thought | would not
start until Monday. | had room for
another passenger and took in one
here. HIS name is Virge. On Mon
day, June 18th, we started down
Lake Bennett. The wind was nice
and we sailed along until 10 p. NJ.
when we landed and went into camp,
having made about fifteen miles that
day. We camped on the right hand
shore OF the lake. On Tuesday the
14th, we sailed very slow until in the
aftern Don when we came out
on WINDY ARM,
where the lake swelled out several
miles wide. Here the waite always
gets very rough, but we got across
it after tossing around for several
hours on the big waves, and finally
pulled to the shore for the night, al
though it never gets dark. The sun
sets in the evening at hall past ten,
and rises ut half past one in the
morning, but it is SO light that you
can read paper all night. On
Wednesday at 10 O'Clock we came to
Carriboo Crossing at the foot OF
Lake Bennett. Wethen sailed along
in a swift, deep and crooked stream
to Taggish Lake At IL a. NJ. we
came to the police station where the
North West Mounted Police officers
and the custom house officers exam
inc the contents of the boats, and
take the names and addresses of all
the passengers. Here every boat is
given number by the officers. Our
boat is thirty one feet long over all,
and seven feet beam, and four feet
and two inches on the bottom. 1t is
nicely pointed at eithor end and is
forty two inches high. 1t is one OF
the best built and fastest running
boats on the route. We use sail
and when the wind is right we fairly
fly. VIII Chamberlain got sick yes
terday and is now Tying in the boat.
The Custom officers looked at him
and said. Lay still old man." and
then turning to me said that there
was no liquor or cigars on board.
They gave Us our clearance papers
and we got away mt two O'Clock u.
NJ. Here we saw four
INDIANS ~ tH.qNs,