The Philipsburg mail., 1898-12-02

thOse south OF Phll1psburg. Lumber
which had unnecessarily brought
from Vancouver as it is plentiful at the
lakes-for two boats--was hauled over
the pass, and 1 sold half of it and ex-
changed half interest in the remain
ing boat fol provisions-cheaper than
packing. The lakes We're busy ship
yard as several thousands of boats were
being con structed, and the blows of
hammers were heard from d. III. to II
p. m.
After building the boat my comrade
and self awaited the breaking up of the
ice, which began to travel seawards
about June 1st, closely followed by
many boats. Over 5000 We're register
ed by the Northwest mounted police,
and each bore number, so it is not
surprising that every boat had plenty
OF company. No multitude on any oc-
casion in the past which | can recall
had such confidence of success or 50 un
derestimated the difficulties. Some of
the boats and their occupants were pho
tographed and then moved off to the
strains of band of music, but there
was a rude awakening for them on
reaching here. and they were sad, de-
| jected crowd and very few of them are
in the country.
! The first day was very hot and calm
the lake that caused lively race for
refuge at aribou crossing, and we
camped with good daylight to aid us at
II p. m 1t is pretty place--like pic
mic groves, shady hooks and pebbly
beaches. During the summer months
the river banks are as inviting as those
OF Rock creek, and at various points
one can without much imagination
fancy himself on the st. Clair, Detroit
or st. Lawrence river and lower down
its banks and clay cOlored water remind
one OF the muddy Missouri. at some
| points the river banks are mountains of
granite. md farther down, foI many
scores of miles, the river is apparently
cutting itself Il deeper channel through
former deposits OF sand, gravel and
mud. Such places are the resorts Of
| swallows the nests of which in count
less numbers are visible in the soft soil
so situated that their enemies cannot
modest them.
| AT Tagish all boats We're hailed to
land for customs inspection-easily per-
formed. Nine thousand letters were
| spread on blankets, mailed from vari-
Gus points on the trail, and many eager
men were scanning them. olX-mile
river, the cleareSt water on the route,
begins here, and my cOmrade said he
felt nervous at seeing the rocks ten or
twelve feet below, as we rapidly foated
down the stream. Mosquitoes We're
rather troublesome here, put not worse
than in many places i'll Montana, and
the precautions taken by the ma alOrity
OF klOndlkerS were unnecessary. There
have been no mosquitoes at Dawson all
summer
Reaching the police post at the en-
trance TO Myles canyon late in the
evening, we were refused permission to
proceed and given all in lmation that
we ought to take a pilot. One police
man was making over 500 per day,
running boats through. We Inspected
the ugly hole next morning More in
vlting places the ancients nave repre-
sented as the home of monsters, de-
mons, etc Five boats were wrecked
during the b,ief space we viewed the
Sc enc. Returning to tn boat we dashed
a tent over it 10 retain the cargo in
case Of disaster. placed my gun and
valise On shore, but this act alarmed
my comrade and he decided to remain
on dry lana and portage himself The
suspense was no5 long nor the expert
ence unpleasant. A rapid rush between
high, rocky walls Il sousing with
spray; the sound of many waters in
ones ears; through whirlpool and out
into the broad river, with q hard pull to
the shore to embark the delinquent.
! he canyon is not as wide as Main
street, Phillpsburg, and the walls are
80 or 80 feet perpendicular. 1t must be
very deep, as the river above is several
hundred yards in width, is rapid, aud
all the water goes through the canyon.
Going to the white horse rapids, we Sc
cured the boat and walked down the
bank TO see the troubled watcr-not an
inviting place for boating, as the waves
run five or six fee- high and il may be
described as water gone frantic. A
crowd Of several hundred people We're
on the banks, watching the boats run
ming through; but in case of disaster
they could render no aid. My comrade
said tee water was too lumpy, and de-
cided to walk past the Objectionable
point. The boat went through like
surf duck and shipped very little water
The boat ahead or me was less f-rtun
ate, though well manned, and it rolled
over and left its crew and cargo in the
river. One of the men was drowned
and most Of the goods lost. We saw
the boat next day, many miles down
the river, bottom upwards, with some
bags of merchandise fast to It. We
got across Lake LeBarge in a gale that
caused the loss Of one boat and the
lives Of its crew-twO men. We re-
ported at the police post, and while
waiting card an officer hail a passing
boat and inquire the numbe- of passen-
gers 1t Carried. Receiving their reply,
he told them that including their pas
sengers ''353 ladies had passed down the
river since May lst'
Running down Thirty-mile river, W.
noticed ripple that suggested danger
and sheered the boat away from it, and
then saw boat wrecked below the rip
pie, which was caused by very dan
gerous, barely submerged rock. The
boats crew We're rapidly bailing water
out Of the boat and throwing goods
ashore. We signalled danger to boats
in GU wake, and We're observed, but
disregarded until too late to avoid the
fant-ar an1 .La az ha