The Philipsburg mail., 1898-12-02
"TRIP TO YHE kLONDIkE
Continued from First Page.

rs lnder crosswise. A party of Scandi-
navians were rebuilding their boat, and
their goods were spread out ON the
ground or hanging on the bushes, dry
ing. They told us that their boat had
struck on the rock and capsized, throw
ing them all (including a woman and
child) into the river, but no life was
lost. A Dawson paper states that the
rock referred to had wrecked over 900
boats and caused the loss of several
lives this spring.
The river is very rapid, and it wea-ies
ones eyes resting on it for days and
weeks, and it reminds one that men
may come and men may go, but go on
forever. Gliding rapidly and silently,
or nolsily rushing over rocks and shall
lows, around the base of cliffs which
rise 1000 feet aoOve the stream. OF un-
dernining its banks of rock and sand,
with all its variety and change of seen
cry and conditions, it wearies one with
its everlasting rapidity and energy.
Landing to cook, one is glad of the re-
lief OF not having to watch for rocks,
shags and Overhanging trees that are
uproOted and stick out over the stream
like fish pole.
Passing the Little Salmon, we saw
a great many people camped there,
awaiting the return of a company.
about 100 in number, which had start
ed under the guidance of an Indian
who promised to lead them for one
dollar each to where white miners
were taking out lots of gold. They
went with him for several days jour
ney and then the Indian disappeared
during the night, and they came back
pondering on the unsearchable ways
of a savage and vowing vengeance at
the Big Salmon and the Stewart riv-
ers. Many moro were camped, dig
ging and panning, and some waiting
for something to turn up. A few
weeks later the majority of them
reached Dawson and either took the
river steamers for the outside world
after selling their outfits or passed on
down in their small boats bound for
st. Michaels. Of all the acquaint-
ances the writer made on the trail,
two only have remained here. Daw-
son, in the latter part Of June, had
large population and the banks of the
Yukon were lined with boats, four to
six deep, for two miles, but they have
departed. Some men were, it is said,
given passage on the steamers out of
the country)on condition that: they sign
a statement that they had taken home
$50, 900 or $50. 900 in gold dust, when
in reality they had not enough to
board themselves for le week.
Granite county men to whom the
writer has spoken admit having the
blues, and one Basin creek miner says
Montana offers greater Inducements to
a prospector than Alaska does, The
newspapers are to blame for much of
the misrepresentation, and the trans
portation companies and some of the
dominion officials may shoulder the
rest. The yield of the placers has
been very much exaggerated, the San
Francisco Examiner and the Seattle
Post t-Intelligencer to the contrary not
wlthstanding. Many ruined and mort
gagged homes may be charged to the
above named culprits. Gold in pay
ing quantities has not been found ex-
cept in certain localities of compare
lively small area, and there is no
placer ground here equal to Alder
gulch. Montana; Balarat, Australia,
or Gabrie's gully, New Zealand. The
bars Of the Stewart river, here, which
miners were assured would yield them
wealth, will not average two dollars
per day per man, and that is not
enough for food in this country.
Last evening the people of Dawson
retired as usual. to be awakened at
dawn on this unlucky Friday, the 14th
of October, by the startling cry of fire!
n building known as the Green
Tree, - adjoining the police station
and postotfice, was seen to be smoking
around a stove-pipe that projected
through the roof, and in few mo-
ments the flames burst out. Much
valuable time was lost before line of
men to the Yukon river was formed to
pass buckets of water. The building
was by this time glowing furnace.
A company of infantry and all the po-
lice appeared on the scene, prevented
theft and arrested some men crazed,
apparently, by the excitement. The fire
spread from building to building, and
the intense heat ignited the buildings
across the street. jewelers. shops and
hotels, saloons and general stores, were
reduced to ashes, and fire was king un-
til a fire engine, not yet unpacked,
was hastily put together, run down
to the river bank and tardily but in
time to save the most of the build
ings Oh First avenue, threw stream
of water that stayed the flames. The
loss of property will amount to proba
bly, $780, 900 to S3, 600, 600.
If you have followed me thus far
you must be wearied. for when l be-
gan to write this narrative the solar
rays had much heat in them that
would be welcome now. The autumn
leaves have fallen; the Indian sum-
mer as well as the salmon has come
and gone the ''northern lights, - like
a search-light, stream across the sky,
and all nature, including the bears, is
preparing for its watch below.
-Starboard Watch.
THE WISCONSIN is IAlINCHFD.