The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-04
IN THE YUKON VALLEY.
Captain Richardson's Trip from Circle
City 70 Eagic civ. Alaska.

City 70 Eagic civ. Alaska.
WASHINGTON, May Especial
Acting Secretary OK War MeiN.ejohn has
received from captain W. u. Richardson
Eighth Infantry. an interesting account
OF a trip made by him February last from
circle city 20 Eagle city Yukon city,
Yukon river valley. Alaska.
Captain Richardson left Circle city
on his Journey on February 18th, accom-
panied by three white men. one Indian,
thirteen dogs and three sieds. Tho tenn
porature az the time he commenced his
journey was twenty-three degrees below
zero. Several times during the trip the
temperature fou much lower. Captain
Richardson was dressed for his trip IN
heavy underwear, ordinary trousers. blue
shirt, mackinaw coat fur cap, moose
hide mittens. lined. German stockings
over ordinary w0ollen socks and mecca
sins with ins0les OF heavy w0Ollen cloth
and carried with him wolf-skln robes
and a blanket for sleeping purposes.
on the first day he traversed sixteen
miles over a fair trail During the night
a high wind rose and blew the trail fuH
Of snow. making hard travelling for the
first eight miles the following day. He
saws he met two sleds coming down that
day After making twentv-One miles ne
The next day February 18th. the
temperature was twenty-four degrees be
low zero. but the weather was clear and
tho trail fairly good. He travelled only
twelve miles that day on account OF one
OF his companions suffering from lame
feet
Ou February 18th ho made an early
start ln high wind and deep snow. The
Mind was 90 high that be found the trail
blown FULL which made tho travelling
very hard and disagrcosbie he proceed
ed only with much difficulty and was
compelled 10 pun mp FOR tho night AT
Coal Creek after making only six miles.
On tho way he met Mr.. Redmeyer. who
has charge Of the Government herd N
reindeer. Redmeyer reported that the
herd was two miles distant from where
they met
February 10th Captain Richardson left
Coal Creek on a very heavy trail and six
miles un met the reindeer provision train
coming down The trail grow better as
he proceeded and he made ten miles that
day stopping FOR tho night az bunk
house an the mouth Of Charlie river The
next day. February 9th Was too cold for
travelling the temperature being fifty
two degrees below zero. Tie reports thar
"a small town has been started az the
mouth OF Charlie river called lndopen-
danco AT the time Captain Richardson
visited the place 10 possessed eight or
Ton cabins. About sixty men were re-
ported as working up in the sulches ana
small streams tributary 20 the Charlie.
The prospects of Toid's Creek Captain
Richardson SAYS promise well az the gold
pans out thirty cents go the pan iu gravel
seven feet down. At Sans Creek. one
and half miles below independence me
prospects are De reports. about the same.
on the next day. over very fair tran.
be reached Indian Jims thirteen miles.
distant. whore he remained an hour ana
then resumed his journey to Washington
Creek. five miles further on. where he
stopped for the night. Captain Richard
SON saws no met a strong wind on the
latter part OF the trail and that the
weather was very cold and the travel DIFF
hcuit lie found number OF people de-
tained az Washington Crock on account
of the storm, but be got shelter Ia
small cabin. ten by twelve. with seven
other people on February -2d. he could
not travel ~ AN on account of Che high
wind. which was blowing down the
stream. The trail was reported as being
very heavy. The wind had ceased the
next day so that he lefr Washington
Greek at 1855 in the morning. the weather
being clear and mild but the trail very
heavy. lie. however. made fifteen miles
aud reached the mouth Of Schley creek.
He unched and then continued ON ms
journey 10 lyey, az the mouth or fouilh
OF July Creek, six miles distant where
he found a good cabin belonging 10 the
Arctic Express Company.
Tie left Ivcy the next cay az a. NJ
over heavy and unbr0ken trail Tie
stopped for a while at Nation city, TWO
and a half miles up Nation and lvev
were established last summer or the
strength Of prospects found on Fourth
OF July creek The captain SAYS that
the winters work up 10 the date Of his
visit had developed nothing of imp r.
ance. There were seven or eight cabins
I'm each of these places. That day he
travelled fifteen miles.
February 2jth re iourneycd 10 seventy
mile creek arriving there at night The
latter part of the trail was good and be
made a distance Of twenty-one miles.
There Is star post0fiice located two
miles below the town ot seventy-mile
Good prospects are reported from the
seyenty-mne district diggings. The cap
tain saws about two hundred and fifty
peoole are reported 10 be I'm the district
THE A e.. Company has q good store in
the place which is good town site
and Possesses between forty and fifty
cabins.
Eagle city was safely reached on Feb
ruary 26th. Captain Richardson arriving
there AZ 4.30 z. VI. the day mentioned.
lie reports that Eagle city has about
two hundred and hfty cabins and claims /
population Of one thousand 20 twelve |
hundred including the eu.ches, tnoug" !
he estimates the population az six hun
drad