Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-08-19

DAWSON Cry, July s, 1898.
WRITTEN FROM 10 TO II At NIGHT,
BY DAYLIGHT.
| have just returned from our
first tramp up to the head of both
Bonanza and EIdorada Greeks. In
the round trip we perhaps walked 20
miles.
1t is 10 miles to the principal mines
only common mountain trail for
iootmen and pack horses. 1t Is soft
and marshy in many places but not
much grade as it follows the creek
most of the way, first the Klondike
and then the Bonanza.
They are now putting up the hfSt
Telephone wire-I should have
thought they would have had that,
and an Electric line, or at least a
wagon road before this, but only a
trail wide enough TO 90 single file.
The good claims extend over about
) miles of each of those two creeks.
The mining is carried on in crude
way, the washing being done with
the sluice and rocker. Some are still
washing, though the most have finish
ed, the creeks are small, hardly as
large as Narrow Passage, and the
water is very low now.
All goods have to be packed either
on horses or mems backs, the charges
for the former is 40 cts, per pound
to the forAs where the Eldarado joins
the Bonanza which is ID miles, but lit
tie work is being done, it is slack
season just after the wash up. The busy
season begins in Oct. and Nov. when
the water freezes. Their supplies are
gotten up principally by dog teams
on the snow and ice, the price being
0 cts. per pound.
The mines, people and things II
general have not the gait ! expected
There is no mistake about tn
richness ofthe mines on those tw'
creeks, the gold is here. do no
know what the output has been TIN
season, but Judge 1t is as large as eX-
he pected. one man had 800 pound
he packed down.
The people take things moderately
don't seem to be in any rush, mea
the old timers. Some of the ne'
H. corners strap ON a big load, plck'
ne shovcls and whole Kit Of cooklnt
u utensils and make for up there mkt
III a streak Of creased lightning, the.
W. keep the trail hot day and night
VI Some travel at night and sleep in day
~ time, when yon can see them al
eI along tho road. 1t makes one swea
~ quite freely with pack on his bac
III in the day time. 1t is nearly Away
M dry and bright, rarely rains at thu
ne season. threatens a good deal some
e times but rains little.
Have made the acquaintance O
Iouite a number who have been her
~ from to 5 years. They say tn
' weather in winter is not as bad rs
80 is supposed to be, that the stream
- all freeze up the latter part OF Oct
and Nov, and that there Is no RAJ
from then until May and very littl
snow, not exceeding } it., about q,
and 10 inches falling ut time The
TO say that there is not much wind an
time and none when those very col
snaps are on, that it is perfectly DR..
las and still, that it lever gets aboy
he zero after Oct. that it will 90 to !,
.st or 20 below and stay there, and tina
~. 30 and 60 below onty lasts for a fey
his DAYS ut time, when you stay j
Ia your cabins where they say one Ina
I'm no trouble keeping comfortable an!
th time. All work on diggings in tn
to creek mines is done in the winter an
his they rarely even loose day, the waite
to prevents work on those in summer
It Is all true about the ground be
e. inc frozen. On the Hill claims, 1t
We thawed now from | to 4 it. below tn
no surface, but below that it all has t
IT. he thawed and it is big job an
yet slow and makes the work of prospee'
ed and locating very long. A man ca
Ie- accomplish nothing scarcely in on
It season.
BY We expect to load up again Nor
day and strike across the countr
n overland to- the head waters Of 4
re- Mile Creek, it is 10 to 100 miles an
EN- will be a hard trip but it is the neai
It. est and quickest way to find on
One can not boat up any Of thes
streams successfully as they are 5
sh shallow and swift.
Ia We made inquiry and investigate
re- the Pelly, White, apd Stewart river