The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-07

IN the 1tlo Vista News. 1t Was udteu
Stewart River, December 9th. and gives
pretty clear insight into the condi-
ton of things as they exist on the
Yukon. Mr.. Jones writes:
Having an opportunity to send out a
letter, l will keep my promise TO you,
etc, ETC. The Pond party left some
days before we did, but had bad
weather all the way down, and had
hard trip but all arrived safely. We
struck a good spell of weather and had
fine trip down. Soon after leaving
Linderman we fell in with boat con-
taining a party of New Workers. They
had only two men who could handle a
boat, one being Norwegian sailor who
was an expert at running rapids, and
we decided to travel together for
mutual help and protection. The men
are Bud Beale, who is a prospector and
miner of Washington; George Bowman
and William Johnston, travelling men,
and Sid, the sailor.
Lake Bennett is a nasty piece of
water. and all people should be very
careful in coming through 1t is long
and marrow, surrounded with high
'mountains, and the wind sweeps in
from all directions at the same time.
There have been several lives lost here
that we know of.
After leaving Lake Bennett we had a
kine trip to the Canadian Custom
Hlouse, on Lake Tagish, where we paid
$40 - in grub (having no money! = on
our outfit. They seem to size people
up and tax them for what they think
sdhey can pay. The Pond party, which
WAS the same size as ours, with the
exception of a suit of furs a piece eve
having none), was taxed S1lo. Others
dave had the same experience, some
aeing cinched for all they We're worth,
and others getting off very cheaply.
We came TO the canyon on October
n4th 1t is wicked looking place,
where the entire volume of water is
confined ina narrow channel about for
ny feet wide, high granite walls rising
straight up and the water rushing
Through at the rate of about forty
miles an hour. Most people tighten up
their boat here and portage around,
some taking out all of their goods;
Others taking part of them along in
their boats. Our boats had about
4,600 pounds in each. Sid, our Nor
wegian sailor, said he could take them
through all right, loaded or unloaded,
80 SlQ lCDk the sweep, DUN man oiie
oar and [ tire other, the other boys
walking around
We went through about half way,
when a big wave came along over the
bow, wettng the goods, but before We
had time to think we We're through all
night, pulled into the eddy on the
right hand side and went back after
our other boat. We nailed a tarpaufin
over the bow of this boat, and again Sid
took the sweep, De Back one oar and |
the other, and went through without
skip and on down to the White Horse
Rapids, two miles below, the other boat
following
The river between there and White
Horse Rapids is rocky and swift Land
ing at White Horse, we took a look
at it. There were q number port
aging and letting the boats down with
a line 1t looks worse than the cam
yon, as it is wide. shallow and very
rocky, except near the foot where the
water boils through a narrow channel
and the combers raise up eight or ten
feet. Sid said he could make it, and
having confidence in his ability, Bow
man and myself again took le oars
every one there lined up on the bank
TO see if we made it. We went through
the first part flying, but just as we
reached the narrow part our punter
tabout forty feet long was coiled UP
on the bow went overheard. sheered a
aittle, and big wave came over our
port quarter, struck me in the back,
filled my rubber boots full of water
and deluged the goods, but I'D caught
her up and landed her all right.
We then went back for the other boat,
in, h rfa 4
] at the oars. and brought her through
without shipping more than a bucket
full of water Three other boats then
came through safely, but fourth was
wrecked and all goods lost.
White Horse Rapids really means
dhree minutes or three days If the
imam at the sweep is cool. keeps his
Glead and knows his business you can
shoot the canyon and rapids all right
8ut unless you do have such a man
would advise anyone to portage their
goods, for you may we'll lose your
aife as your grub in this country.
From there down we had a fine trip
having good luck on Lake lie Barge.
which is wicked piece Of water. Two
Finger Rapids are easy, just keeping
rhe right hand channel and following
the right hand shore to Rink Rapids,
five miles below, which is easy The
rivers here are an swift and rocky and
one must be constantly on the lookout
for rocks and bars. We struck into
ice coming out of Pelly River and after
going about thirty-fve miles below
Fort Selkrk we laid up as we thought
it unsafe TO go any further, our boat
was simply moving along with the ice
and il would sometimes take us two
hours to get to shore. Three boats
landed here together on the Selwin
River and We prepared To go into winter
quarters The thermometer stood AT
j. degrees below zero and 1t was get
ting quite cold.
We did some little prospecting here
and found good color in several places,
but the weather warmed up bit and
after four days the ice was open
enough so we decided 10 come on down
and arrived al our destination. the
Stewart River. October 10Th We We're
three months making what the papers
said would take thirty days and we
considered ourselves very fortunate as
people are scattered from here TO Lin
derman.
We found the Pond boys here. having
arrived twelve days before US. with
their cabin nearly built. We built our
cabin next TO theirs and then formed A
joint stock company. There are four
cabins containing nineteen men in our
company. We send ont a party and
when they see a good cgSek they stake
orr claims for all and w. then send 9.