Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1898-07-28
ALASKA ARGONAUTS.
THE DANGERS OF TRAVELLING
ON THE LARES AND RIVERS
OF THE NORTHWEST.
G. W. Wylde Sailed Down Lake Ben
nett on June 2-Experiences
in Crossing Lake Tagish
Scenes in the
Klondyke.

MARSH LAKE, ALASKA, June H.
We have gotten on safely thus far.
We left Lake Linderman May 81. A
two and a half hours sail brought as
to the river connecting the two lakes
Linderman and Bennett. A tour OF
inspection convinced us that it would
be risk for the inexperienced TO un-
dertake to guide a boat down this
stream as it is filled with jagged rocks,
and has a fall of fifty feet In its q
of a mile of length, with the water run
ming at the rate of twenty miles an
hour, and the stream being barely
wide enough in some places to admit
the passage of boat. So we hired
native to take our empty boat through
to Lake Bennett, We carrying our
goods over portage. 'Tis surprising
to see how apt the Indians are at such
work. We witnessed two boats total
ly destroyed and two others upset in
these rapids-they were guided by
persons unaccustomed to the handling
of boats. The two days we were at
Lake Bennett there were ten boats
wrecked on the rocks, all worked by
white men, while forty boats were
taken safely over by the Indians.
Close by the side of the rapids is a
lone grave, where a Swede by the
name OF Matthews committed suicide
last June because he, failed to shoot
the rapids after two attempts. The
Canadian police gave the remains a
decent burial, then put fence around
the spot and placed a cedar slab at the
head of the grave. On Decoration
Day we noticed some passers-by place
wreath of flowers, composed of
Alaska myrtle, evergreen and snow
buttercups, on the mound, SO we see
there are Christian hearts even in
rough Alaska. Decoration Day was
observed at Linderman with services
much the same as in the States. On
the trail we see many things to cause
sad feelings, then IN few steps more
we have the ludicrous. For instance,
only about 100 feet further on from
l where this lone grave is stands a
log cabin, where some bachelors
thought to secure wealth by opening
| a restaurant to feed the weary ar
gonauts, but it seems they were not
experts in the culinary art, for in front
of the house Is placed sign-"Cook
Wanted, Woman Preferred''-and
just below the notice was tackled a
sample loaf of their bread-black
enough to have just emerged from
Dante's inferno.
On June End we sailed down Lake
Bennett and during the night we were
rather unceremoniously stopped on a
reef of rocks, being driven
there by high winds, about 25 miles
from our starting point. We were
compelled to remain for SO hours
waiting for a calm. June we had
a pleasant ride before the wind, being
just enough breeze to fill the sails
nicely and carry us on without row.
ing, passing through "Carribou Gross
lng," which is the river connecting
Bennett with Lake Tagisb. At this
point there were green meadows run
ming back from the river to the foot of
the mountain, one-half to one mile
distant, affording some beautiful
scenery.
In crossing Lake Tagish, and when
three miles from shore, we encount-
cred a gale, which came from the
famous "Windy Arm," and came
nearer losing our outfits and all than
we had since the start on our jour-
ney. Our boats were driven ashore
on the rocks, but fortunately without
injury. We worked with our boat
part of the time under serious diff
culties, being compelled several times
to jump out in water almost up to our
necks, in order to save our boat and
outfits. Finally we made a landing
and camped for the night, We were
here detained all day waiting for "the
wind to take rest" June we pulled
out,i company with forty other boats
The mountain sides here are covered
with spruce pines up to timber line
and huge fires were burning, giving 9
weird aspect to the scene by night
and filling the atmosphere with smoke
Occasionally one could see large blaci
bear travelling for the beach, being
driven out by the fire. At Tagish Post
we stopped long enough to allow the
customs officials to examine pur goods
for contraband liquors, but on pre-
senting our passes given US at Chill.
koot, where we had paid our duty, We
were allowed to proceed on our way
An officer here told us that he hat
registered 5000 boats in ten days ant
more were coming. This will give al
idea of the number that are coming OF
this route. To the man who hauls hi
goods from Dyea to Linderman on 1
| Picture of Health
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