The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-12
IN THE KLONDIKE.

The following letter from Mr.. Will
H. Egerter, Of this city. now in Alaska.
written to friend in Scranton. Pa,
onpeared in the Tribune OF that city,
md will be read with interest by his
wheeling friends:
aIn Camp on Klutlna River. Z /, (,
Via Port Valdes, Alaska,
Hs. January 20, 1899.
NV dear frienl and all the kind friends
wh5 remembered me: ti
Your letters came to hand yesterday,
ard II am expected to be candid !
must say that they caused several
drops OF moisture to appear on my
wel-hardeHed cheek. don't know how
10 thank you. must not forget you,
hut In return I'll do what I can to in-
,erest you in the brief time at my dis
posal am now preparing to start
across the mountains to the kousina
river, description OF which l will give
later. s.ist
Al present am nurse to Bart Het-
Ter, OF Michigan, who has been very
sick all winter. Scurvy Is his trouble.
He Is failing every dry, and besides
taking care OF my own camp. which Is
by no means a small job when one con-
silcrs the wood necessary to keep Mr..
Frost at q distance, am acting to Mr..
Heller IN the capacity OF wood chopper,
fire maker. keeper-up, water carrier,
cook, chambermaid and performer Of
any other jobs that may turn up. Ills
appetite. is not good. OF the twenty
one who are camped In this neighbor-
hood very few are affected. but they
think hay, touch of 1t. but / won't
1--WE In unless 1t gets much worse than
il now Is. Ny partner, Bob Hawkins,
OF Iowa. has It and started a few days
ago 10 try to reach the coast in COM
paHy with some others. so l am a
bachelor now and will continue my
weary way alone. .sL
The route We made this spring Is first
across fiat for two miles to high
ridge perhaps 1000 feet high: over this
into what we call Independence valley.
Over this hog back Is perhaps six or
seven miles. After reaching the valley
We Keep up steam for five or six miles.
when we again start up the next noun
tain toward n divide. The distance is
about ten miles to the summit and Is
$500 to 4.c0O feet high. Then We go
down to Mauker Creek valley, five miles
from the summit; then down Mauker
creek to therfoot Of kousina lake. At
this point we cache our stuff. My out
fit Is not near as heavyJas when i
started from Valdes last. SPRING Then
II weighed nearly u ton; now 1t Is not
over $40 pounds.
Every inch OF this trail must be made
over eighteen to twenty feet Of snow,
and packed so sled can be run over
It, We cover the ground with snow
shoes and shovels after trail has been
decided on. Then to reach the top Of
the hoS-back q block and tackle Is
used. There will be five or SIX OF us
to try to reach the Kousina by this
route. Our greatest danger will be
snowslides, as we pass through several
bad canors. l am perfectly acquainted
with the route. as have tbeen over 1t
no less than dozen times. my last
and most dangerous trip being made
in November last. having had a close
shave from falling down cliff into
Marker creek, Again In returning
left AK. provisions and blanket on Maui
kerr thinking to reach camp that even
Ing. but the snow was over two feet
deep on the mountains and l played
out after crossing the summit.
My boots.were frozen to my feet and
"hip-Iack' / had brought for lunch
was so hard couldn't bite 1t. There
is no wood from Mauker. to Independ-
ence. managed to pull myself to-
g"ther after a-time. and reach timber.
wheresI lighted some brush. thawed
my lunch and continued on my way
10 camp. reaching here about midnight,
nearly played out.
In making these trips one must pack
everything from frying pan to a
shovel, and from gold pan. which
does service to mix pan cakes when not
being engaged In the more dignitied
occupation Of panninE dirt. to piece
Of bacon. A pack weighs from thirty
10 forty pounds and usually four or five
men go together. but not over eight
or nine days grub Gun be carried.
Now that am acquainted with the
country l do not hesitate to say that
know where there Is gold, and IL you
would find the right place You might
notice a stick or two Of wood flattened
on one side. and on closer examination
writing would be visible. Read this
and you would not fail to recognize the
signature of yours truly"
4 word about my winter quarters
will perhaps interest you. My home Is
built on the antique plan of lumber
with the bark on and Is quite cosy. 1t
is eight feet high In the front and six
feet behind, and ten by twelve feet in
side. | only wish 1 were artist enough
TO give you an idea OF how II looks. 1t
has one door, no rear entrance at all
and no windows except two eight by ten
paneS In the door. II
There Is an addition on the outside
sort OF dug-out in the snow, where
my dog stays. He does not seem to
feel the cold and fifty degrees below
zero does not affect him. as he Is a
siwash Husky. or native dog. He is
small and quite intelligent. He Is be-
ginning to understand some English.
too, some sentences being quite suiIs-
Client TO cause q change In his appear
ance. For instance, Oh you" will
cause his tail to drop at once. AT pres
ent have hanging In front OF the door
a porcupine and several ptarmagan.
The latter are species of grouse.
Ihey are beautiful birds. but very
hard TO see In the snow, as they are
perfectly white except two or three
feathers In their tail. which are black
or IN summer partly brown.
can't tell yet when will got to the
states, and while l am satisfied with
my chances OF success here still I will
have to return to the United States for
supplies before any real work can be
done. One year Is hardly enough to
make rich man. even in Alaska. All
are satisfied that have claims known
10 contain gold in one or two years.
III surely try to get east to see my
friends on my return, which I expect
Will be some time this summer.
With my best regards to yourself and
all inquiring friends. ! am E
Sincerely your friend
WILL II. EGERTER. +