The evening times., 1898-07-14
KLoND1KE WOMEN.
An nIinoi. Girl and Her Aunt Have
Staked Out Their Claim Alone.

Staked Out Their Claim Alone.
Two women. now at Dawson City, start
ed last Summer for the Yellowstone Park.
They caught the Alaska gold fever and
went on to the Klondike. They made the
trip alone. rarely with an escort. The
younger writes:
THE Winter has passed rapidly, and
I do not remember ever at home to have
experienced a more pleasant March. The
days have been bright. sunshiny and not
at all cold. / do not know whether told
you in M, other letter that 1 am organist
at the Catholic Church. We have a good
choir: two of the gentlemen in the choir
are from New York. and sang In choirs
there; they have fine voices. The high
mass we are practicing for Easter has
some beautiful solos in 1t. We have q
violinist. who is good musician. and
this adds much TO the music. Sunday II
one of our busiest days. Aunt Lou plays
the organ at the Presbyterian Church.
We both have to go to choir practice in
tie afternoon and to church at night. so
l told her the other day that between
our religion and stampeding We would be
used up.
II will have to tell you about our last
stampede, which Is one of the hardest
trips we have taken yet. We went down
the Yukon to a creek called Ballarat to
stake. in company with Mr.. and Mrs. Lo-
gan. of San Francisco. who came on the
same steamer with US. but have been win
tering near the mouth of the Pelly River,
and only recently came to Dawson. We
left here on Monday morning at half past
. O'Clock. After We had gone about three
miles the wind began to blow and drift
the snow. so We had to break trail from
o, kur.
about eight miles from Dawson we
stopped for lunch on the river bank
had a campfire. cooked bacon, warmed
our beans and made tea. and this re-
freshed US for the rest of the journey.
which was to reach the orly cabin we
could for the night. twelve miles further
on. We travelled along. still having to
break trail. and finally reached II. at
$50. pretty well used up. There were
only thirty-three persons in the cabin
that night. but as usual the men were
solici.ous for the comfort and welfare
of the women; SO after our suppers we
had our beds made down on the floor In
one corner and here soon rolled up in our
blankets and slept well.
THE next morning We were up bright
and early for the rest of our journey.
about eight miles up the creek This was
a hard trail too. for II you stepped OF
wet. and that is serious thing in this
country We made 1t all right. however.
Aunt Lou stalking on No. 10. below Dis
covery. and l on No. 16. above. two very
good locations, We think: We had tips on
these before we went up. Mr.. and Mrs.
Logan had to go further up the creek.
so Aunt Lou and 1 started back alone.
When we were within about three miles
of the cabin we were very tired and hum
Kry, and concluded we would stop at
the Indian village. to see If we could
get anything to eat. AS soon as we had
stepped into one of their skin tepees
think the entire village turned out to
see US. and the tepee was soon filled with
men, women. babies and dogs galore
..One of the young women understood
English, so Aunt Lou handed her some
silver and said Something to eat The
woman dropped her baby into the arms
of an old squaw sitting near by. rushed
out of the tent and soon came back with
soome NOSE meat which she proceeded to
cut in small pieces-they have fire in the
middle of these circular skin tepees. with
an opening cut in the top to let the smoke
out. She put on the frying pan with some
caribou fat in it for lard and soon had
our meat cooking nicely. peppered and
salted IL, asked us If We would have some
tea-they use no bread-and this. with
some frozen cranberries. was our repast,
and as we were tired and hungry 1t salts
ed us, and the novelty of the situation
repaid us for 1t also. We reached the
cabin in short time. and after good
nights rest were ready for our return
trip to Dawson.
at had showed the night before and
was showing when we left in the MORN
ing. so we had to break trail all the way
again until We stopped for lunch at the
old place After lunch the snow ceased.
the sun came out. and the Indians who
had been to Dawson with their sleds and
dog teams came along. and as their sleds
are built like a toboggan they made the
trail much better, and from then on. we
made good time. Reaching Dawson at
$50 at night, we recorded our claims
next morning and sent them out by one
of the discoyerers of the creek who was
going over the ice to Chicago and New
York to be sold, IL he sells any: SO you
see IL we do not make any money here 1t
is because of our lack OF energy.