Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-25
oPRlNG IN THE kLONOIKE
Conditions of Life at Present Are Not So
Very Bad.
A Washington Mans Description of
the Country About Lake
Lindermnn.


Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
LAKE LINDERMAN. n. w. T,
May -. 1888.
The evening arctic sun is tinting a few
soft clouds on the horizon with the dain-
test colors and furnishing the snowy
crests Of the mountains which appear on
every hand. gentle southern breeze fans
the bosom of the upper margin of Lake
Lindermann till it breaks into dimples and
dances in the sunset glow, while little
lower down appear masses of water-soaked
and rapidly melting ice. On the shore di-
rectly opposite my camp. in a coy cove,
nestles the tent town of Linderman, posi-
bly, 1000 tents with 5000 souls, and on the
open waters which separate US are floating
a variety of craft ready for the long voy-
age down the Yukon. The picture Is as
charming as it is unique. and as 1 sit coat
less beside my tent, over which floats the
stars and stripes, penning these few lines
and drinking in the health-laden, pine
scented ozone, L am easily reconciled TO
my temporary exile from beautiful Wash
ington-except that my home is there.
To the untraveled resident of the east
the now familiar names of Skagway. Dyea
and the Yukon suggest remote, indefinite
and undesirable sections of Uncle Sans
domain; but though separated by thous-
ands of miles, the first two named places
and even the headwaters of the Yukon
where L now am, are not as distant, rela-
lively. as was California in the DAYS of
49, or even central Arizona in the early
'os. when l first cast my lot in the midst
OF the good-natured. wild, innocent and
savage Apaches. To reach those sections
then involved many wearisome DAYS of
TaNei by stage coach. wagon or horseback
coupled with hardships and dangers pecu-
lar to the western frontier Today one
may take a parlor car from Washington 10
Seattle and cozy state room in a swift
Skasway or Dyea. Thus the dangers and
i'conVemences of travel are reduced to a
minimum while making a trip unexceIIed
Al the world Tor scenic effects
Scenic Wonders.
The masterful enterprises which have de-
Vefoped our great commercial centers. the
grand, sweeping prairies of the middle west
and the everchanging glories of the
Rockles. Sierras and Cascades furnish in
terest. beauty and grandeur which satisfy
but never satiate. AS the tourist ent.rs
Alaskan waters new scenic wonders greet
the Vision. The Steaemr glides steadily
through the narrow channels and passes.
the Icy, green waters ripple along the SOM
Der ana tenantleSs shores, an endless sveen
OF forest fringes the banks and bluffs whiIa
ahofe and beyond tower the maj sstic noun
talns OF snow, graceful, dimpled simmer
ing ciean-cut and stately. spectacle I'M
surpassed in grandeur and impressiyeness
When our fashionable American tourists
nave wearied of Norway and the Alps they
may with confidence, hope to find more
varied, extensive and Majestic creations of
the Supreme Architect i'm the silent Alas
kan mountains, mantled i'm eternal SHOWS
with their mighty glaciers of azure blue
perched, with threatening aspect upon the
proWS OF towering. crags or creeping with
measured pace to the bosom of the sea
okaguay Is now a pretentious city and
claims population of 5000 or 6OoO souls
Or course it is still cr,.de and rude but one
Can De made very comfortable there and
can live in pl. but substantial manner
at cost not much exceeding the hotel
ana restaurant charges of the states The
appointments, as might be expected are
less luxurious.
an older settlement, and stands at the head
OF navigation on Lynn canal Its general
conditions resemble those of Skagwav
These are the rival twin cities of SOUTH
eastern Alaska. The health of both these
communities has been good, and excellent
perpetrated by the shell game and sure
thing gangs head the category of crime.
Army OF Adventurers.
Since tie news Of fabulous fortunes un-
earthed on the Klondike reached ciyiliza
ton the great army of eager and ardent
adventures to the Yukon and its tribu-
taries have made the Chilkoot pass famous
as one OF the most accessible gateways to
the land Of nuggets. frosts. mosquitoes.
scenery and science. By this route the trail
leads from Dyea nine miles along the Dyea
river to Canyon City. thence five miles
through the canyon in winter. and over the
mountains low to Sheep Camp.
Ny first visit to Sheep Camp was on