The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-23
Dwells Happily in the Forlorn
and Frozen North.
NOTED AS A FAST EReicHTER,
sKAGwAy. Aprs, n-rhere win ee

SKAGwAY. April N-There win be
no more nawscnises leaving the me
trorosts this winter for the coast
by way OF the Ice William E,weli. who
who was going 70 attempt the trip this sea-
son. II was even predicted at Dawson that
he would not be able TO get out over the
Ice. 20 soon did they expect the spring
breakup. But he made the trip success
fully. and outside of ten or twenty miles
OF watery zee. the open Thirty-Miie river
ard some slushy snow on the lakes. he came
through as nicely as those who started ear
Her In the winter. He arrived at sheep
Camp with his fine ssx-siog team Of huskies.
but unlike the others who have come out.
he does not care 20 visit the states. In
fact he says that he likes IL best in the in-
terror Of Alaska. and l. anxious 30 &c: back
to the land of the midnight eun OF ever
lasting snow and ice and OF untold and un-
discovered richness. He has been inside for
four years. and Is at home on the TRAIN.
He II known "a Yukon RilI'' from the
headwaters OF the Stewart river down to
st. Michael. He Is a character. the ike Of
which one would scarcely meet outside OF
some desolate wilderness Among ten
thousand he is probably tho only ore who
actually enjoys the life in this wild and
forlorn section OF the globe He Is uneasy
and restless out here ana longs TO ".n,ieh-
away" over the ice behind his fine biz dogs.
to the Arctic circle. He says the last time
he rode over the circle II was - degrees
below zero. I. may have been ssne of those
degrees OF cold which put the gray hairs
In Mr.. Elwelrs head for though but 3s
years Of age. the hardy freighser's head ID
/ literally Sfreaked with hair akin in color to
the earthss mantle In the far north. His
native place was Cassviile Wis. a little
quiet German village IN the Southwestern
corner OF the Badger state. Yukon Bill had
three brothers. and they lived on a farm
and TILED the fertile soil. sometimes for va
riety sinking A shaft III the famous lead
region TO get the heavy metal Then he
went to Colorado and spent a number OF
years In mining. Finally. four years ago.
he and one OF his brothers struck out for
Alaska. and buried themselves In hard
ships and privations. When the Klondike
excitement broke out. they fastened across
the snow ana the brother secured the first
claim on Eldorado. now considered one Of
the best on that famous creek. Yukon Bill
also got several good Claims IN different
mining districts.
But IL Mr. Eiweu had spent his time IN
digging holes into the ground and In keep
Ing himself warm in some dark cabin. he
would have been Ike too many OF the 9TH
ers and II would have taken away the
characteristics which make him interesting
now. He got out with HIS dogs and freight
ed or took his rife and plunged into the
dnsky twilight Of the midwinser To hunt
wild game.
Attacked by TimheP Wolves.
Once Yukon Bill was attacked by a hun
cry band Of timber wolves. I, was within
the dead OF winter. He had made his camp.
devoid OF tent or stove. as usual. with this
hardy traveller. and with two fires going.
was enjoying nights rest. His seven
dogs with Betsy. the leader most faith
fni animal. were resting near by. Sud
denly over the hill came the dread sound Of
the bowling wolves. Nearer they came
following ~ the fresh trail Of the Mper-
He'd listeners. In a few moments they
dashed into the camp. great, large. hungry
animals. weighing 20 70 % pounds zach.
With savage fury they pounced upon tbs
dogs while the human spectator OF the bat
tie Instantly t0incd Ii the Struggle. Betsy
stoot by her master and engaged three OF
the largest Of the WOLVES The other dogs
were not so brave. and they precips,afeiy
reiterated in different directions Some OF
them never came back. Betsy gave her life
for her master. The wolves were gone al
most az quickly ~ they had come Very
near the SPOT where Mr.. Eaweii was al
tackled a prospeetor loss thousand rounds
Of grub Last December tY wolves lie had
left his sled with the provisions down on
the trail and had gone up few rods 20
camp In the night the wolves tore OF the
covering and 9evonred the supplies
Mr.. Elweii says that he had stood In one
place and killed as high as ;hirty-fIve carl
boo. He shot 20 rapidly that his gun bar
rel got too hot for h!na 10 bear his hand
upon II. THIS was az the head OF SunnyslGo
guich. on Clinton creek. branch OF Forty
Mile river. Black ard grizzly bear hs has
cften killed. Once he counted twelve bears
I'm sight AZ one time while out hunting. A.
Forty-Nile he has stood in front o. shs
store and killed half dozen Wild ducks
with club az they came flying past.
As fresRhfer and swift messenger Yg-
kon Bits fame has long preceded him 20
the coast He once vert from Miller creek
10 F>orty-Nste and hack distance Of 1ss
miles IN three days with lao pounds OF
supplies or his sled This Is half Day
ahead OF any other record.
TTp on the headwafeys Of Sfewar. river
he once captured fwo moose calves Being
pract!red In the handling Of animals ne
tanned the two Fof1G i7aos2s ara Trained
them 10 otsv bis comnandA
Travelsng IN the Arctic.
A short time aso Mr.. Eiweil took his
dogs and started for Munook. When nins
miles from that place be met Judge Weed
and n. Wits Carr. Returning. he left MI
nook On February Is. spent a day or two
each NJ For, Yukon ard Circle City ana
Eve DAYS a. Dawson. He came 10 the coast
en- private business for a man at Dawson.
On all OF his bitter cold trips he never hal
any more serious frost bite than the tin 81
! hts noe though scores 81 others hs sssw
were severely frcxsr- At Five Fingers no
saw man wh1 rad lost both feet by freez-
Ing Late ia February man who had BEEN
ssns from Fort Yukon 10 supply the starry
ing Tanana Indians ras; his Death on The
trail He broke through the Ice ana xos
act. erzwaess Up CD the bank and froxa
/ 20 death When be had fseen out SIX days
bis aoGs came Ia wEtn rsecea OF harness
cEsng1ng to them ard a search party found
their messenger dead. Franz Ryan. on his
way 10 Circle City for grub. froze one 81
his faof Indian Luke lost foot and .
hard ~ freezing