The record-union., 1898-03-21

young man that was shot Tor shot
himself) was not a criminal by ma
ture, and his acts We're inpelled by
necessity. as l can learn. But the
offense of stealing is looked upon as so
heinous that death will only compen-
safe for it.
1t was > o'clock when we reached
Sheep Camp. The canyon grew more
shallow until it passed into a mountain
gorge like an amphitheater, four miles
from its mouth. Here is situated the
widely known place called Sheep
Camp, and many a gold-hunter looks
forward to it as if his greatest diff
Guilty would then be passed 1t is on
the verge Of the timber line, and the
valley IS covered mostly with hemlock.
Winds blow almost continually, but
yesterday afternoon it was pleasant.
We are comfortably situated.
Through the kindness of a young man
who was born in Scotland and who
has lived in SO many places that it is
impossible to know where is his home,
We found a place to camp. City prop
erty runs high here, and they some
times quarrel over lines the same as in
Sacramento. This lot-fifty by I don't
know how much. perhaps the whole
length of the peninsula-is valued at
500, with nothing extra for climate,
which SO attracts the Eastern pur
chaser in California It is six feet
from the floor Of our tent to the
ground. and on the icy bed we have
one luxury-sawdust. When our can
die is pivoted between nails on a stick
three feet long stuck in the snow, we
are quite easy indeed
Yesterday it was beautiful. In the
afternoon [ concluded to make a tour
of exploration to Stone House. The
Scales and the Summit 1t is only
three miles to the first place. one mile
further to the next and $500 feet to
the latter. 1t is uphill all the way.
but turning the point I struck a terri
tic wind. about a mile from the Stone
House. There was q string of packers
with sledges and dog teams. One
hauled outfits and men with packs On
their backs. The wind grew harder,
and the snow beat with violence.
/ met some coming back. They had
dropped their packs and abandoned
their sledges by the wayside. Dog
teams turned and would not face the
storm, nor horses go another step. The
last half-mile I crept coul? see
nothing for the sleet in the wind.
would go a few feet, turn my back to
pick out the trail. and blindly stem the
storm. [ reached the Stone House. but
could go no further. The storm in
creased with greater violence. and the
whole pass became invisible 1t was
a trip of a lifetime The Alps could
furnish no more fearful experience.
When [ got back to camp I was
partially deaf, and my head felt as
though 1 had gone through a cannon
aiding, from the impact of the sleet
and wind. My heaviest clothes were
penetrated by the fine icy needles, and
my face smarted as though burned by
a fire. I went as far as any living
creature that day. Another l will go
to the Summit
/ like the country. There is Il fascin-
alton about it that approaches intoxi-
cation. No one here speaks of the
gold fields unless you question them.
They only refer to them as the in
terror" There is no excitement or
frenzy, but a serious determination to
reach the other side" as they call it,
and every act speaks of the firm faith
they have in the wealth of Alaska.
This is a battle-ground where fearful
achievements are performed and the
most hel ole enterprises undertaken.
There seems to be engraven in the
armament above the Pass the words
of Dante; Leave hope behind, all who
enter here" But once here it does not
seem so great. Like all difficult un-
dertakings, it simplifies itself Pa
tience and perseverance will place one
over it without any trouble and with
out any danger.
1t will take US about ten days of
good weather to accomplish the task.
nor do l anticipate one particle of
trouble. 1t is amusing to hear the
finely drawn plans of those sin Sacra-
mento who are contemplating coming.
to this country, but once here they
Will do just as the rest of US do-just
as we can.
When the snow melts it will be al
most impossible to get into this coun-
try with the required amount of pro-
visions. Every pound must be packed
on your back through snow knee deep,
and by the time you move 1,2lS miles
it will test your courage. We came ir
the right time
There has been a series of misfor-
tunes attending the rush to this coun-
try. The Rosalia, the Utopia and
perhaps the Al-Ki are wrecked The
Oregon was swept upon the beach at
Douglass Island. This storm has been
fearful on navigation. At Skaguay
barge with livestock, five men and
some hobos was wrecked, and perhaps
all perished. I had always thought
hobos belong to the genus homo, but
the man who related it to me evident
ly made some distinction. This coun-
try is sure death to those human par
asites. California is their flower gar
den, where the climate is congenial and
the charity never failing.
The death rate at Skaguay is appall-
ing-as high as ten to twelve a day
out of varying population of 5000. l
have not seen any of the cases, but
they call it cerebro spinal meningitis.
1t is epidemic and sudden in it's ef-'
fects 1 am inclined to think it is in
the water, as thousand of dead horses
infect the supply.
Dyea is not so sickly. but we drank,
black coffee or snow-water We have
gained weight since coming here, and
both Of us are greatly taken with the
country. We have had such good for
tune amid so many catastrophes that it
almost startles us. BY the way. the
National City, on which the RudelIs
were to sail, has not been heard from
mere. mans a fool who will sail
with new Captain and a new ship
on dangerous voyage, as I consider