Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-02-15

At Victoria they found the streets
thronged with men. each with an earn
est look on his face as he hustled
about. They were from all walks in life,
but all animated by the same purpose.
Some were huying horses. others learn
'ng to secure packs with the famous
diamond hitch" which alone will an
swer the purpose. Others were purchas-
ing heavy woolens, belts to wear about
the waist, with flaps that buttoned down
over the compartments.
Exposed for sale on every hand were
Duckskin bags to hold gold, heavy iron
shod shoes, moccasins of moose hide,
with socks as thick as a mans hand and
reaching to the knee, mittcns. hats,
coats, flour, bacon, saddles, coffee, sacks
and everything was for the Klondike.
Men talked and thought of nothing
else. All were interested. Many of
them were 10 sail on the Islander with
our friends, who were fortunately in
timc 20 secure passage. Some were GO
.rc " one route and some by another
after reaching Skaguay, but no one
seemed to mention the Dalton trail, a
fact which both Tom and his friend
marked with satisfaction.
The purchase of an outfit would have
been serious stumbling block but for
the advice of the storekeepers, who,
however, were not only very honest,
but very well posted as TO the require
ments of a miner. Toms knowledge
of horses came in very handily, and he
toon found six good animals which
promised 10 serve his purpose To get
these and the other purchases on board
the steamer in time kept both men very
busy but il was safely accomplished
at last, and they saw Victoria fade
away astern as the stout steamer made
her way up the inland channel two
days later.
The voyage of nearly l 600 miles was
made without accident. but our friends
were anything but comfortable. The
steamer was packed with miners and
the hold was 1 Ill Of horses. the latter /
being cramped for space owing TO the
great number shipped. They required |
great care, but although many died /
On the trip, Tom succeeded in prescrv I
ing those he had bought as they were /
vastly superior TO most of their com
l&hionS.
An hour or two was spent at Juneau,
where the steamer stopped. but the
rain was falling in a steady drizzle,
which made the steamers deck pref
cradle to sightseeing. In fact, for the
prpyiaus two 61Xs Sha 60, mol 10 Iava
entered q land Of perpetual fog and
rain.
Al the entrance or the Lynn canal the
captain was obliged 10 anchor ON ac-
count of the foe. and the passengers
tool, advantage Of the delay 20 arrange
Tor the landing Of their goods, for the
transportation company took 10 re
possibility more than TO deliver them
II the rail- This was soon done. and
.ote Of thanks passed the captain for
us courtesy on thevoyaec. Then some
me started a song and all joined with
VIII I'LL the air rang with tho un-
'su1i noise.
Suddenly the fog lifted from tie
ROWING hills, thearchorWa- .igEcd
eva '''. t' -'.'.'.''' .'' ' i..''.i'.A 60
esscls ahead of them. while just bee ;
oHd was a faint streak OF white {
parking in the ftful sunshine across {
little valley at the edge Of bay on J
he right hand, with the steep hills ris-
ng on either side their tops lost in the
anopy Of clouds.
Beyond the line Of white were Green {
rces and far away stretched level ,
alley, winding among the hills and a
rowing blue and faint in the distance.
"Ihat is Skaguay bay" said the cap
ain TO the eager qucstionerS. land you {
an see the White pass way Oft there in i
be distance /
y shout went up at the welcome |
ews, and then as the steamer moved Q
.owly into the little bay the white
freak resolved itself into tents a
tretchcd across level plain for a =
pace or half mile and fronting the /
alter. {
As the anchor chain went rafting =
lrough the lavSc pipes the steamer \