Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-06-30

Horse Rapids On inc lc0, Dut Couiu
not, as the ice was getting rotten in
places before we quit shedding, and the
river between Tagish and lake Marsh
has already broken up, but We are
ahead of most of the crowd and it is
impossible for them to overtake us as
shedding is all stopped and the lakes
here will break up before they do be-
hind us; SO you see we have got the
start of most Of the crowd and will be
among the first to reach Dawson.
There were four men drowned q few
miles below here one day last week.
They were trying to move their outfit
and the ice broke and they all went
under the ice never to rise again. You
have no idea the amount of risk some
men will take. They seem to run right
into danger and at the time they are
liable to be killed. And there has been
30 many killed on the trail between
here and Dyea, but they seem to
all about danger and plunge
into certain death.
guess you read an account OF the
big snow slide on the other side of the
range that buried 30 many people. I
think they took out about 55 and there
are several more missing that will not
be found until the NOW melts and
maybe not then, as they may wash
down the river to the ocean, as there
will be nobody to look for them.
don't know what to say about our
prospects ahead, but one thing is GER
tain: for every ounce of gold that is
brought out of the Klondyke there
will be given In return one pound Of
suffering and q ton of sorrow. / hope,
however, that I may be one of the
lucky few and strike 1t rich, but I am
not near so confident of success as
when / started, and il 1t were not for
the transportation companies who are
making fortunes out of the fools who
are rushing to this country you would
hear very little about the Klondyke,
but as I have started and gotten this
far I would not do like Ben Franklin
and Bud Alexander, but expect to get
enough to pay for the time I have lost
or I will be in Alaska a great many
days. hope that when get there ]
will find this different from what
think, but I don't see much chance fol
a fellow to get a good claim in that
country, for everything that is known
to be of any value is already stakec
and one will have to hunt some new
stream that has not been prospected
and, In order to do this, he has got te
travel hundreds of miles and carry hii
supplies with him, and that will take
all this summer, and maybe when hs
locates a claim and spends all winter
In sinking to bedrock he may find hi
has drawn q blank and then he is II
q pretty ix-all his supplies gone
his claim not worth a cent and hin
busted. You may think this is pictur'
ing it pretty black, but such has beer
the experience of the majority of TIT
miners who have rushed into thiI
country.
But, on the other hand, If 1 SHOULD
happen to be one of the lucky one
and strike it rich it would pay me biz
for all I have had to 60 through ant
that is saying a whole lot, for a mai
has no idea what he has to go through
when he starts on this trip, and Ihop'
I will never have to experience /
again, but the worst is over and l thinl
I will reach Dawson in good shape an,
hope that I will be lucky enough t.
make q stake so I can be able to com,
back to my family by next fall a year
as I don't think I can stand to sta!
away any longer.
Mr.. Ridgewsy says he is gong t.
stay here for five years providing h
don't strike it sooner, but I think tw,
years will satisfy me, for I believe i
I can't strike 1t in two years there vii
be no use in fooling away any NOR
time, but will come back to Missouri
and 60 to work again by the day ant
try to be satisfied without e fortune
for q man who has got a little famil.
like I have and all of them healthy ha
got q fortune at home If he only ha'
sense enough to know it.
guess the wal Is on in earnest b,
this time. I hope 1t will make bette
times for the farmer and / think /
will. The last account we had wa
that war had been declared. 1 expec
TO be able to get another paper whel
I take this letter to the police station
They have established q CANADIAN
p~ostofice nine miles from here and
am going to take this letter there t.
mail it, 30 l think 1t will reach you a
right. I have not heard a word from
any one since Ben Franklin left, blu
know I have several letters at Ben
nett, as that Ii a. far az the mail car
rier from Dyea comes. That is owe
40 miles from here, 30 I guess I vii
never iget them, but I am going t.
try to get the police to send for then
for me and ii may be I will get then
before ! leave for Dawson. I am yer,
anxious to hear how everything 1
back ut home and how the election
went; hope Uncle George got tn,
nomination.
Well, pa, I hope you are gettini
along ali right and that I will yet b.
able to help you to pay some of thos'
debts that kube and I caused you {,
owe and I also hope that ma is abl'
to walk al right and il stout ant
healthy again. think of you botl
often and would give anything to se,
you, but guess the time vil soon rol
around when I will again be with yoI
and my little family In the grand oh
state Of Missouri.
Ihsve not heard Q word from Ton
since I left Seattle, although 1 hav,
written him three letters. I expec
he has written to me but they hav,
been mis-sent, q nearly all the mai