Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1898-04-16
EUREKA's -KLONDrKEKs,
They Have Reached the ChfIeoos
n aud Expect 60 Meet Many
DfHicuftfes.

Pass aud Expect Q % Meet Many
Difficulties.
H. A. McKim has received an interest.
ing letter from Bob Mcmillan, one OF the
party Of the gold seekers from the Base
fange, dated at Dyea, Alaska, March Is,
from which we take the following:
81 was up on the Chilcoot Pass yester-
day, and find that IL is q hard game to
tackle. 1 have read a good deal about IL,
but 10 ia worse than 10 has been described.
When We leave Dyea there are nine miles
OF canyon. Most Of the way the road
runs on the river bottom and crosses the
stream very often. but there is not much
water in IL. After we strike Canyon City,
which is built up with tents and log
houses, we get into the canyon. which is
eight miles to Sheep Camp, and up this
canyon the wagons must travel in the
bed OF the stream. II Is very narrow, and
in places they must wait for one another
to pass. There is no snow along this way,
but there is q little ice along the river.
A string OF people line the whole course.
Most OF them have their freight hauled 10
Sheep Camp for two cents . pound, and
from there to the Scales for another two
cents, and then on to the Summit for two
cents more. About Q mile above Sheep
Camp We strike the snow, and it is very
rough and siding In places and difficult
to get along. Now and then someone's
s6d will jump the trail and go off tumb-
ling down the canyon, but is gathered up
and started along the way again. There
is q place below the Scales that Is pretty
steep, but q man can haul up about 100
pounds If he is stout most of them. how
ever, club together in crowds Of six to
eight, and after driving q stick OF timber
in the snow, and fastening q small block.
run a long rope through 1t, at either end
OF which are sleds, one loaded and one
empty; then five or six men pull the
empty sled down the hill, which takes the
loaded one up. carrying from 100 10 300
pounds. The greatest difficulty, though,
Is TO get their freight from the Scales to
the Summit. where,the trail is so steep that
in 800 yards il rises 1,400 feet.
1.-THE scenery from Canyon City TO the
Summit is the grsndest imaginable ; it is
too beautiful for description. The whole
length Of the trail is crowded with people,
horses, oxen, dogs and goats. The ami
mails are hitched up in every con receivable
way sometimes a man, dog and goat, all
pulling together, Is g common sight. Now
and then a man is pulling q sled and Q
woman pushing, and as l came down the
trail l saw two m pushing up a heavy
sled. The women who are going over
that trail with their husbands are having
q hard time Of IL. The long line of people
are so CLOSE that there is hardly q foot be-
tween them. and sometimes they have to
wait twenty minutes to get in line. There
are steps all the way, and q rope on the
side TO hold on to ; il a man should lose
hisfooting there is nothing but the bottom
70 stop him. There is q vast amount OF
supplies on top Of the hill. do not know
what all the people will do. Several boil.
ers have been abandoned along the road
BY people who had started to take them
over the Pass. I don't know whether I
will get mine over or not. / started yes
terday morning and walked 10 the Sum-
NIT and back to Canyon City last night,
and this morning In two and half hours
10 Dyea, and I am now sure that I will
have to have my rig packed over, as il will
be impossible to work II on account OF the
number Of people on the trail. The
tramwsy is working for half a mile over
the steep part, and they haul the freight
tina, far with horses. but il is exceedingly
rough. Our stuff 10 being taken of the
lighters to-day"
: A letter has also been received from
George Mullins Of the same party, who
were all stopping at the Chilcoot Hotel at
Dyes, which Is being run BY Dan Nc
Donald, formerly Of Eureka. Mr.. Mul.
Inns does not advise any one 10 undertake
the trip just at this time /; that the hard
ships and difficulties are much greater
than published !; that everything Is much
more expensive than is represented, and
that anyone who is thinking Of taking the
journey should provide himself with
double the amount Of funds he is told he
will need.