The record-union., 1898-07-31

come in by way of Stikeen River and
Lake Teslin. They presented
melancholy appearance, and were
easily distinguished by their worn OFT
clothing and traces Of the hardships
left on face and frame. The tales they
told were almost narrowing. The two
hundred mile portage from Telegraph
Creek to Lake Teslin was a task too
great for human effort under the condi-
tions imposed by the Government. The
thousand pounds to be pulled over
rough country, where only a hundred
pounds could be hauled at time, rem
dered it impossible for any to make it
without dogs, and the majority left
their supplies, to which they will never
return. That was the route the Gov
ernment tried its best to boom-this
pure" government.
Time went on and people from upper
Marsh and Lake Tagish appeared on
the scene. Ice still remained in the
center, and they skirted the side. Ben
net still lay solid. Boats increased in
number-fifty a day-but no word came
from our party. There was Thirty Mile
River between US, about which they
knew nothing, and our table still grow
ing lower. Boats increased to a hun
dred and fifty day, but no intelli-
gence- Finally, after nineteen days,
our party arrived safely, although their
boat leaked badly. We spent day iii
drying our clothes, and on the 10th set
sail for Dawson.
Our trip down was comparatiyel
easy We saw few wrecks, and heard
of one man being drowned Five Fin
gers We shot without any difficulty. On
one of the rocks was man whose boat
was wrecked. There was a rescue
party trying to reach him with a line.
After five hours they succeeded in get
ting him twine, by which he succeed
ed in getting a rope, which he tied
under his arms and plunged into the
rushing torrent. The danger of being
dashed TO pieces on rock was great,
but they pulled him to shore with no
greater damage than a shock to his
nervous system which must have been
fearful. 1 saw him at Selkfrk and al
though he endeavored to conceal it vet
ne showed the strain. There are only
TWO channels at Five Finger RAPIDS.
the right and the wrong one. He
| chose the wrong-the left.
There are only two WAYS Of coming
into this country-the right way and
the wrong way. One is comparativeIv
safe and the other decidedly dangerous
The Rink Rapids hardly deserve the
name of rapids, yet it is doubtful If a
boat could live in three-fourths of the
river. However, on the right bank If
is safe, and as smooth as the Sacra-
mento River
PeIly and Stewart Humbugs.
We reached Fort Selkirk, at the iunc-
ton of the Pelly River. the 18th Some
prospectors went up that river but NOT
SO many as | expected to see. The rem
utation of that river would invite only
the most visionary. 1t scarcely de-
serves notice, although the Govern
ment tried to induce people to 60 up
to the headwaters a journey of two
years, with the hardest conditions. The
Government recommended 1.-THE i'm
maculate Government
on the 10th we reached Stewart Rfv-
er, leaving the White to the left at
noon We got stuck on a sandbar in
crossing the river, which is, since the
junction of Pelly, the Yukon, and at
tains the width of about four miles.
we encountered islands all the way
from Big Salmon, which made naviga-
tiOli uliliCull, not 1atigulnC
The wealth of Stewart River is a
myth. Somebody said it ought to be
rich, and that has been repeated ever
since. The facts are that that river
never deserved anywhere near the rem
utation it has acquired. The bars have
turned out 50 to SO a dav in some
places, which can only be worked
! about six weeks in a year. Souaw
men and rowing prospectors sometimes
turn their attention to that river to
get a little whisky money or a few
supplies. They have a certain tact for
operating bar diggings, and can do fair
ly we'll where tenderfoot, or-as they
dub him-"che- cha-co-n would
starve.
The headwaters have never been
prospected much, but it requires a two
years supply to do that One can pole
up in small boat about fifty miles
this season, build his cabin and pre-
pare for the winter, If he hustles him
self. In the winter he can sledge his
goods to point about fifty miles be-
yond his cabin, if he does not get the
scurvy, thing always to be reckoned
on. AS soon as the snow goes, which
| is about June, he can begin prospect-
ing.
| One year gone. He may find a place
which he thinks may be worth while
sinking on, so he cuts his wood, builds
another cabin, collects his supplies.
| when the ice freezes, all of which will
take till January. He will now begin
| to burn his hole. The Thermometer
will touch 20 below quite frequently,
so he can't work. 1t is dark, with no
| light for about a month. He must use
a candle, and the smoke in the hole
renders it impossible to work only
three or four days at time, for the
eyes will inflame. If there is only one
partner-for there must be two-they
take turns. They may strike the "pay
streak" in twenty or thirty feet, and
they may not. If they do not. they
sink another hole, or third, or a
fourth, and so on. according to a mans
| Authorizations and fortitude.
| When the pay streak" (Which does
not mean always pay dirt) Is struck,
| they drift. June comes again, and
they clean the dump. They may have
wages-they may have something
great, or they may have absolutely
nothing.