The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-29

fr lghs ard merchandise 10 go up the
n koE. In addition 10 crew OF seven
al carried six passengers. a. e. Austin.
Il r. Carr. II. III. Honnen. j. y. iyleF.
W. Williamson and myself
Little occurred 20 relieve the monotony
Of the voyage. On the Pacisc more CAIN
tnan stormy weather. made the trip a SOW
one. and on the twenty-fourtn day onf
We entered Tnmak pass, IN the Aletitian
islands, the firs. land sighted after ieav-
Ing Vancouver isiand. In Ber'ng sea one
severe storm and more calm were eiicoun-
tered. but Oh August is. thirty days out.
We ran into the harbor for which We had
been heading. There We found mall from
Seattle. brought by the Portland and
Cleveland. both having left the Sound
later than our expedition
The town OF 81. Michael Is small ham,
Let located on rocky point or a bleak.
timberIess island 81. Mtchaei harbor -
very shallow. and is said to freeze solid
during the winter months, the ice usually
stopping traffic about November l and
breaking up about July /. Traffic on the
Yukon ordinarily begins ana closes
month sooner. giving only about TOUR
months for operations on the river.
Al that time the town was composed OF
the warehouses. stores and auxiliary
buildings OF the Alaska Commercial Com
pany and the North American Transpor-
tation and Trading Company. the latter
company having given their part OF town
the name Fort Get There.
Several expeditions were N the harbor
In the months OF August and September.
ana the passengers from the various
boats. together with the activity in boat
building on thu shores OF the island, gave
che little town a genuine boom" appear
anca
After orr arrival nearly month was
occupied In completing ard loading the
May West. which started for the Yukon
en- September Is. Via the Canal" or In
side route. thereby avoiding the wind that
u 80 prevalent CA Boring sea at that sea-
son Of the year. Snow had fallen and the
weather continued cola ana disagreeab.a.
% that all on beard were only too glad To
kid 81. Michael farewell. Ga the third
day. after delays occss,oned by shallow
water In tho canal. We reached the north
mouth OF the Yukon. and were 10 FORUM
as as 10 cross the bar without trouble.
getting into the river just before dark
For tha first two or three hundred miles
fuel IL scarce along the yukon. but travel
has been So light that we experienced no
difficulty IN securing plenty or wood from
the natives. on cur entire trip having 20
step tho steamer only once 10 have wood
cut by The crew. On the tower Yukon
there Are few settlements Of Importance,
although trading rests are established az
Andresfskl. Anvik and Nu'ato. and Greek
and Catholic missions are maintained ut
other points.
Anchored by ley Fctters.
As We proceeded Up the river little OF
notable interest occurred until on Sep
TENDER 30. about forty miles below Nun
COX. We encountered floating lee so thick
tia, there seemed 20 be no alternative but
20 flnd suitable place for winter quar-
tsgs. The weather hal been gradually
growing ooIder. although It had been clear
and pleasant, 50 IL was not a great sur
prise when the ice began 70 meet Us. Capt.
worth had been keeping an eve out for a
location where the steamer could get out
CT the cAanr>l oe tire Yukoa 50 as not 20
lie exposed 10 the {cs foe in the spring
The Tosikakat river. eighty-ave miles be-
low Munook. Is the only suitable place
on that part of tha Yukon. When it was
found dangerous - proceed further
against the current. TIE Nay West was
headed dowa stream fer that haven c.
safety.
shortly the Seattle Ne was ssshte,..
and SHE turned hack. heading for ;he same
pcigt. and "a wa re2 o1ed the mouth OF tie
TexikaSRt the Hettls y, a San Francisco
expedition, came ~. Thai night the three
steamers were anchored by iyv letters
doomed TO hold them fer etgAs months
with oaxsengegs Ter town oe 800 in
hshlfants.
As soon as colo weather 49, 81 50 Il was
evident that Il would be impossible 10
resume the Zip ap the river. cabin butit-
ing was 81 order. The passengers ard
crew - tho May West united and butt,
a cabin - fses by Zoo feet. divided sslto
sections Tor fToiga: room. bunk room and
kitchen. II was rot lorS ceraro ali hands
were settled comfortably for fae winter.
TIE timber ana vegetation oE the Yukon
were surprise - Ess. Il building this
large cabin logs varying from twenty
sevea 81 forty feet ID lengca ard six 20
ten inches i'l diameter at the small enS
were used. ard ccnlpa ratlvely !'ttla d{fH-
Guilty was experienced il getting such logs
as were suitable The principal thinker is
spruce. the trees growing close togetber.