The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-04-15
Within THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
MINERS WINTER LIFE AT DANV-
son CITY.
Stampeding to Locate Claims--A
Week in the Observation-Disclosures and
Cold Much exaggerated.

DAWSON CITY, March 1O.-rhe
weather for the past three months
has been pleasant surprise to the
people who have spent their first win
ter here. The coolest weather we
have had was between the Sth and
18th of November. the thermometer
registering 40 deg. to 50 deg. below
zero. The month of December was
ideal winter weather. the thermome-
ter then only registering around zero.
and there being no wind. so to speak,
the air was as pleasant as in Novem-
Der weather in the, Middle States.
Stampeding to relocate claims where
owners failed to do the necessary rep
Iresentation work. or to some reported
locality said to be good has been
livery frequent all winter The MAORI
ty of such stampedes, however. proved
failures: for instance. on the first
week of January, Il stampede took
place from Dawson down the Yukon
River, on which some three hundred
men and women started at midnight,
among whom were some well-knowu
! rich mine owners. who would not be
expected to go out stampeding unless
| they had some information of a posi-
| tive character. Anyone who could get
a dog or two and sled and some pro-
visions together started. After tray
| cling all night. Il council of war was
! held by those who were i'm the secret
| of the coveted locality. Heads were
Icounted, and. finding there were more
in camp than there could possibly be
claims to stake. the leaders cOnclud-
ed not to go farther. but to StarvC
out those who had brought only a
| few days provisions along. Many
came back to Dawson for more pro
visions. and started off again in the
effort to regain their former position.
Finally. the leaders made an onward
movement up creeks. across divides
and hills and, having TO make new
trails in the snow. unfortunately lost
the proper direction to the supposed
goal. They had, therefore, to beat
"a retreat to Dawson, returning foot
sore and weary, and many with frost
ed limbs, after week of fruitleSs
search.
The winter here as Il whole, in my
Judgment, is preferable to summer, as
travelling over the creeks and trails is
lmuch easier. 1t is not an uncommon
occurrence for one to travel from 81
to 60 miles in II single day with &
couple of dogs. starting at daylight
and completing the trip the same ev
lening. In summer, one must traverse
bog and moraSS, wade through
streams, and frequently get in
to muck up to the waist, in going from
here to the diggings on Dominion ant
other creeks. The freightage of ne
cessary provisions is much easier IL
winter, with the assistance of dogs
a couple of which can easily pull from
800 to 500 pounds on a sled. In sum
mer. the load would have to be packed
on the backs of mules or bronchos
making locomotion much more eN
pensive and slower. .r
The sun was lost sight of in Daw
son on the 18th of December, disap
paering from view behind the hill
and not reappearing again until thu
9TH of January. On some of thu
creeks, some Is and 90 miles from
here. where the hills rise abrupt.
from the streams, the sun was los
sight of in the first week of NOvem
Der.
The temperature on the creeks il
generally about 10 deg. warmer thar
here. from the fact that Dawson il
more in the open and is exposed t.
drafts of winds.
The darkness of winter days. lik,
the coldness of this Arctic region
has been very much exaggerated
There has been good daylight from
9 a. IN. to 3 p. M; of course. in office
and stores. lights had to be burned
all day, with the exception of "A couple
of hours at midday. This happil,
lasted but couple of weeks; at thi
date, we have daylight from $50 il
. the morning until $50 in the evening
In couple of months, we will hav,
daylight all the time.
The extremely moderate weathe
for this region has had the effect o
reducing the price of wood from So
to $15 per cord; last year, the average
price was $50 per cord.
j. c. COOK, Consul