The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-01

tainty of being carried over into one of
these holes and whired quickly out of sight
from where We first camped all the way to
the summit, and where the way winds
around and between these holes there is
difficulty in one sled or animal passing an
other Goodness knows what trouble there
will be when the rush is fully on a month
hence. You see a blockade is caused by
either of two things. too great a number
going up with loads, trying to get past 9TH
ers running down light or some one party
having trouble The others cannot get by.
so all have to wait. Thank heaven, We are
out of It in good season. in advance of the
rush. We are among the first to arrive al
this point.
lone of the most unpleasant features be-
low our present camp has been the con-
slant danger of ice giving away under one.
A huge shelf of ice gave way one morning,
just ahead OF us. and dropped six pack
horses into the icy water Fortunately the
r-Ner was shallow al this place and the
animals were saved with great difficulty.
We had no accidents except with one load.
The ice cracked under the head steer in a
narrow place. He jumped and saved him
self and all buf the rear portion of the load,
which slipped into a deep hole / caught
sight of it as it was being drawn under
IN the whirling water. The recent snow
storms have doubtless improved the canyon
below. We have to wear ice creepers to
keep from slipping as we handle our loads.
The steers are acting splendidly. Recently
dog team undertook to dispute the road
with us. We had the right of way, as we
We're loaded but the dog driver cursed our
steers and 'sicked' his dogs at old DoX-
ology, the leading OK, which I was driving.
Old 'DoX' just lowered his head and
charged. The air was filled with tossed
dog for moment and then the way was
cleared.
Having all our goods cached five miles
from our first camp, we broke camp and
came on, expecting to reach this spot the
same day, so that should only have to
make two camps between Skaguay and the
lakes. Three men joined us to help in re-
turn for the help our oxen gave them. We
were caught in q furious snowstorm, and
had to make camp at the first available
place, which was about three miles below
here. We were a cold wet, hungry and
bedraggled lot that night. We came on
here next day, and are now hauling our
stuff from the cache to the summit, two
and one-half miles above. When all our
goods are at the summit we shall take no
more five-hundred-pound loads, but shall
put on ton to the OK and make rush for
the first timber on the other side, which
is twenty miles. That done, we shall con-
slider half our journey to the Yukon accom-
plished Some days, like to-day, it is i'm
possible to approach the summit, owing to
the storm raging there. We may be de-
layed for some time, should a period of
very stormy weather set in. but we have
cattle feed to last fifty days, and we are
cOntented in the knowledge that the hard
est part of our journey over the pass is
done. We are well, and my appetite is
enormous. Have been anXiously looking
for letters from you, but none has arrived
as yet. My light is going out, so must
Stop,"