The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-08-13
Interesting Letter From Jerry
Real, One OF Baraga's KlOn-
dixie Gold Seekers.
REPORTS ALL ARE WELL.
Have Passed Through Many
Dangerous Places, But Met
With No Accident.

Following is letter received thi
week by Edward Real from hi
brother Jerry, who is seeking hi
fortune in the Klondike region-th
land of gold and cold. The lette
is dated "Mouth of Stewart River
June II, 1898. " 1t reads:
Dear Brother-We. arrived her
about ) p. m, after very enjoyable
and exciting trip from Tagish. W,
left the latter place seven days ago
The trip across Marsh lake was fine
sailing, then down the river tt
Miles Canyon where there were a.
least 200 boats ahead of US, waiting
to be piloted through, one mile be
low, thence through the rapids tc
White Horse, q distance of four anC
one-eighth miles. We had to lighter
and get trained across with 1,SOC
pounds, as our boat drew too much
water and the sides were not high
enough. Then we started, with Old
Glory flying from the mast head.
Some were astonished at our
audacity while others cheered as we
went flying through the rapids and
took in only few pals of water.
But at rWhite Horse we took in
about barrel. The ride was fine,
in fact, grand. We all went through
excepting Asa. Before we started
we canvased the front of the boat
back about ID feet, otherwise it
would fill entirely. Every day from
ID to 20 boats strike and they go to
pieces in a twinkling. | saw q boat
come down and try to land near us
at the head of the canyon where we
unloaded our 1900 pounds and the
current was very swift, probably
six or seven miles an hour. They
struck a scow, turned under, and
lost their whole outfit in second
just barely escaped with their lives.
Then at White Horse there were
three drowned the day we came
over. Arthur Coach and John
Cameron saw the accident, We
went on down and dried our bacon.
The trip then on to Lebarge was
devoid of any especial interest. The
current was moderate, probably
four miles an hour. We used our
sail and made good time to the head
of Lake Lebarge, where we laid over
one and one-half days on account of
too much wind. We started from
there last Monday, thinking all our
troubles and dangers were over.
But alas worse and more of it at
the foot of Lake Lebarge, which we
reached Monday morning. Here
commences 30 miles OF river which
on our map was marked slack. 1t
was the swiftest portion OF the
whole trip and also which | consider
the most dangerous. In making a
short turn we were confronted with
swift rocky rapids; one scow
aground in the middle; five boats
like our own were dashed to pieces
and the outfits complete loss.
Some of the poor fellows sitting on
the bank crying-so near the golden
streams, and after thinking their
troubles were over, such as White
Horse canyon, lakes, passes, etc.
We couldn't help them. In fact,
couldn t stop if we tried going at the
rate of eight or nine miles an hour
in places. | was in the bow with
an oar fixed to steer; Paul at the
stern; Hammond and Mcintosh were
at the oars to give us steering way
around the short bends. All that
was needed was a cool head, watch
full eve and a steady arm. Every
stroke of the oars had to count. We
made the 30 miles in four hours. 1t
has been made in two and one-half
hours, but not with boats as heavily
laden as ours was. If we ever
struck it would have been all day
with us. We came very near 1T on
several occasions, as the stern of our
boat scraped two or three times.
From there--the intersection OF
Hootalinqua river-it was fine go
ing down to Big Salmon, where we
reported to the police. Then down
to the Little Salmon, where we also
had to report. Then came Five
Finger rapids which are not dan
gerous after you once get in them,
but "a person has to be very careful
as there are eddys near the head
which are liable to draw you onto
rocks. We came very near going
on, as we were not aware that we
were so close. Then we found there
were the Pink rapids, which we
supposed, and maps showed them
to be the Five Fingers or Pink rap.
ids. But they are two difierent
ones. The Pink rapids are three OF
four miles below, and are very bad
unless you keep close to shore or
the right. The left looks the best
until you get into them. There we
waited five hours for Cameron anC
his boats. He finally hove in sight
all o. X. Then our route was dowr
through the mountains to Fort
Selkirk, where we again reported tc
the police.
-l.-t.s