The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-06-17
BOUND FOR ALASKA.
Capt. Jack Crawford Writes En-
Route to Yukon Gold Fields.
Interesting Incidents OF His Trip and
Valuable Information for Those
Mho Contemplate n Slim
liar Journey.

| began a letter description of my trip
and experience between Seattle and
Lake Bennett, and find that it will make
a good-sized book. So i will reserve
most of it for future generations, and
now give a plain, truthful, unvarnished.
brief statement hat will benefit anyone
who may contemplate a trip to the
Yukon.
In the first place, | refused TO act as
special correspondent of calf a dozen
journals who offered to pay me for ex-
elusive letters, simply because there
are a dozen or more editors who are my
personal friends. This letter goes 10
them without compensation except
what has already been given, in kindly
favors and pure friendship. Then there
are over 200 personal friends who de-
serve letters, but who will read this and
know il must take the place of such let
ters; for IL is q fact that outside OF two
letters written 10 my wife and our pres
dent, Mr.. Frank b. Vrooman, l have
had no time to write, and scarcely time
to jot down notes in my diary.
While in Seattle I consulted people
from Juneau and Taiya regarding sup
plies and their cost in these places. and
was satisfied that could purchase here
or at Juneau at as reasonable rates as
I could at Seattle; and outside bacon,
crystalized egg. and some other con-
densed foods and hardware, i was per-
mitted TO try the experiments. ! have
purchased $500 worth in this place
cheaper than / could have done in Seat
tie. Portland, San Francisco or Victoria.
and / had complete lists from each OF
these places. Only what little hard
ware lacked was a little higher. left
Seattle April IL, with six men and about
four tons of goods and machinery, be-
ing compelled TO leave our dredge on ac-
count of reports which stated that 1t
would be impossible TO get pieces weigh
ing as much as 500 or / 200 pounds over
either Of the passes. This report ]
found to be Incorrect. as two weeks ago
pieces weighing more than 1000 pounds
were taken over without much trouble.
On leaving Seattle I was handed a letter
by our president containing sealed or
ders TO be opened at sea; at first
thought perhaps he expected us to meet
and annihilate the Spanish fleet. and on
opening these orders the first line read:
"Avoid the Chilkoot pass If possible" ]
knew the presidents motive for this
wa not a selfish one. but because of the
slide which had just occurred. he
wished us to avoid the reported danger
from other slides. We were bound fol
Skagway, where we landed on the
morning Of the 10th. l requested Capt
James Durie. of the good ship Brixham
20 hold my goods until / went up towr
10 investigate. / had letters to the lead
ing transportation companies at Skag
way, and on presenting them. was in
: formed that IS cents per pound was th'
:. very lowest that they could put m.
: freight TO Bennett for. and that in a da!
!, or two the rate would probably be is o.
90 cents. I tried several other com
/ panies. and the best I could do with re
sponsible parties and everything at m,
: own risk, was 10 cents. ] returned 4
the Brixham. Capt. Durie agreed to TAX
my stuff to Dvea. give me an oppor
tunity to go uptown. see what could
!, and II not satisfied take me and my out
fit back TO Skagway.
But few gold seekers have this priv
lege. Landing at the ID. X. L. Co.'S whar
: at $3.50 p. m. l started for town owe
one of the worst reads / have ever seer
up and down hill. through mud. slusl
rock and corduroy. We reached Dyes
three miles distant, about ten p. IN
made a hasty investigation and return
ing over same road reached the ship q
-. yxls1. - sLa AAfaA ~ fh
ID. X. L. Co. on their wharf. ! was tall
ing of returning TO Skagway, when
:, Young mar in the office informed IN
that he represented the above compan.
and would make n contract TO take IN
y stuff from Dyea wharf to Lake Benne'
"A for ten cents per pound. and guarant'
:, ii. This was rather a surprise. as ] wa
= told at Skagway that the freight WI
! higher at Dyea, and that they woul
= guarantee nothing; hat other destru
tive slides might come at any momen
/ then offered the ID. X. Il. represent
tive nine cents per pound If he wou
guarantee to land my freight with
ten days. He Immediately went to Il
telephone. called up Superintende
-, Hammond at Canyon City, made know
my offer, and asked him what he cou
do about IL. "How much freight has
"a got?' asked Mr.. Hammond. "Abo
-. 10000 to 10000" | replied. And after
moment the man at the phone
formed me that Mr.. Hammond won
contract at that price and guarantee
land my freight az Bennett within Gig
days. barring storm or accident. :.
-. right" said 1. make out your contra
while l tell the captain of the ship
,u unload" And at nearly n o'clock
. the morning the good captain had
stuff landed on the wharf. while
liz sought my stateroom after havi
, Il, saved my company between 5000 a
500 in freight alone.
We staid in Dyea nearly a week. p
or chasing groceries and many oil
things that had been overlooked. q
,ed leaving Canyon Cts on Sunday mo
ing. April "a. with two Of our boys.
nod Wflcoyson and J. Crook. we reacl
Sheep Camp about ten o'clock in a b