The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-11-22

worfii In belts. .ivkets to Seartle were
procured. and the Following day. after
q hearty farewell to the big-hearted
skipper, b two young men started or
their adventurous trip. es.ss
AT Seattle there was no stealSSz&a
ready to sail for Dyea and they decided
to continue to Victoria, where they
learned they would arrive in time to
purchase their outfit and catch the
steamer Islader. which sailed on the
18th Of the month, and was due In Dyea
five days later.
AT Victoria they found the streets
thronged with men, each with an earn
est look on his face az he hustled
about. They were from all walks in
life, but all animated by the same pur-
pose. Some were buying horses, others
learning to secure packs with the IA
nous diamond hitch" which alone
vii lanswer the purpose. Others We're
purchasing heavy woolens, belts to
wear about the waist, with flaps that
bnttoned down oyer the compartments
Exposed for sale on every hand We're
buckslSin bags to hold gold, heavy
iron-shod shoes, moccasins of moos
hide, with socks as thick as a mans
hand and reaching to h knee, nit
tens, hats, coats, flour, bacon, saddles.
coffee, sacks-and everything was for
the Klondike!
Men talked and thought of nothing
else. All We're interested. Many of
them were to sail on the Islander with
our friends, who We're fortunately in
time to secure passage. Some were go-
ing by one route and some by another
after reaching Skaguay, but no one
seemed to mention the Dalton trail, q
fact which both Tom and his friend
marked with satisfaction.
The purchase of an outfit would have
been a 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
soon found six good animals which
promised to serve his purpose. To get
these and the other purchase on board
the steamer In time kept both men very
busy, but 1t was safely accomplished
at last, n they saw Victoria fade
away astern as the stout steamer made
her up the inland channel two
days later.
The voyage Of nearly 1000 miles was
made without accident, but our friends
We're anything but comfortable. The
steamer was packed with miners and
the hold was full 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 preserving
those he had bought, as they We're vast
ly superior to most of their compan-
ions.
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 prefer
aable to sightseeing. In fact, for the
previous two days h seemed to have
entered a land OF perpetual Fog and
rain.
At the entrance of the Lynn canal the
captain vas obliged to anchor on ac-
count of the fog, and the passengers
took advantage Of the delay to arrange
for the landing of their goods, for the
transportation company took no re-
sponsibility more than to deliver them
at the rail. This was soon done. n a
votoe OF thanks passed the captain Tor
his courtesy on the voyage. Then some
one started a song and all Joined with
q will till the air ang with the un-
usual noise.
Suddenly the fog lifted from the
frowning hills. the anchor was weighed
and the argonauts saw q number of
vessels ahead of them. while just be-
You'd was a faint streak OF white
sparkling In the f1tful sunshine across
/ O iAktlS NAAiGy CT NV o8S .SAl
the right hand. with the steep hills ris-
ing on either side, their tops lost in the
canopy of clouds.
Beyond the line Of white were green
trees. and far away stretched q level
valley, winding among the hills and
growing faint and blue In the distance.
THAT Is Skaguay bay" said the cap
tain to the eager questioners, and you
can see the White pass way of there
In the distance.
A shout went up at the welcome
news, and then as the steamer moved
slowly into the little bay the white
streak resolved itself into tents
space of half a mile and fronting the
water.
As h anchor chain went rafting
through the hawse pipes the steamer
was surrounded by o. feet OF rowboats
and Siwash canoes, trying to pick up
passengers. On the beach could be seen
the large scows used. for unloading the
to go ashore. This could not be done,
however. Until the captain came back
with the customs officer.
The beach at Skaguay is low, and
runs out several hundred yards before
dropping off into deep water. AT low
tide this is all bare, so steamers are
forced to lie outside and try to unload
at high tide.
Tom and Green were to continue four
miles further to Dyea, but as they
found 1t impossible to secure a scow to
tow their horses and outfit to that
port. they were forced to leave them
on the steamer until she finished her
trip after unloading the bulk. OF her
freight at Skaguay.
CONTINUED Next week.)
SHE'S A QUEER FAIRY.