The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-19
FAMOUS YUKON PILOT HERE.
cart. RsLrH SMITH WILL SPEND
PART or WINTER IN SEATTLE.


Capt. Ralph Smith who for the nasr
three years has followed the perilous &c
cupaiion OF pilot on the Yukon In White
Horse rapids and Miles canyon. is q, the
city ana VIII spend part of the winter
mere. He # a former Seattle man. He
plioted the heavy machinery for Dawsos,'s
electric light plant down the river. and is
considered one OF the best men I'm hts
profession. He has a wide acauaiutance
with the gold miners and business men os
the north
Capt. Smith has had many thrilling en-
periences In Alaska. He first went north
In lsS leaving Seattle for juneau in an
elghteen-foot saiiboat- with a companion
named w. Ensnunger. Arriving AZ Sk4ena
river In British Columbia they xeft deer
hunting and separated for a short time
with the result that EnsnunErr misfook
the captain for deer and sent a $50 rifle
BAN Through his left side. CAPT Smith
was in hospital here for two months in
consequence
In the summer Of 1884 Capt Smith sailed
for juneau again In hfa little boat. reach
iug his destination safely. and for three
years prospected along the coast In 1897
he started for The Klondike He packed
,mo pounds from tidewnter ar Dyea to
Lake Linderman. where he built boat
and started down the Yukon with two
friends
When they reached the mouth Of the
Hootaiinqua river the Ice was so thick
that they we're compelled to stop and
make camp Capt Smith here met with
an accident the like OF which few men
have lived to tell He stepped into an air
hole In the river Zee. and. to the horror OF
his companions disappesred. lie realized
that he was In a serious predicament but
being an expert al swimming under the
water, before he had been carried very
far with a.desperate effort he arrested his
progress and peered around About ten
feet away he saw clear. bright spot
which he knew 10 be the air hole. and
swan with great trouble back 10 1t.
At first he made no Roadway. and he
thought his last hour was at hand. lie
redoubied his cxertions and commenced
To make progress Al last. when chilled
through by the Try water ana nearly ex-
hausted by his efforts. he reached the AR
hole and WIS rescued by his friends. who
had given him up. b,t who we're vet I'm
geYing around the place OF hs disappear
ance lie was carried half iifeless to the
cabin. and II was several weeks before he
recovered
on his recovery he was iaughipgly told
By his friends thai he would make gopd
pilot on the White Horse rapids, and
thus II was that he came TO enter the pro-
fession they returned 10 pyca for more
provisions. and In their absence their out
nc was stolen. leaving them stranded,
In the spring Of isas capt Smith became
pilot During his first voyage the boat
he was taking Town the river was turned
around four times IN Miles csnyon. The
second time this occurred twice, but or
the third occasion all went we'll Despite
many dlscoura gements he stayed In the
business and has the reputation % never
having lost q boat in the rapids or can
yon. lie took down boats Ut all aescrip-
tons barkes and steamers with invaria-
BILE success. In i89 he took down the
Dawson electric light plant. four barges