Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-11-23

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 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 O miner. Toms knowledge
of horses came in very handily, and he
soon found six good nina which
promised to serve his purpose. To get
these and HI 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 way up the inland channel two
days later.
The voyage of nearly 1000 miles was
made without accident, but our friends
were 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 were vast
ly superior to most of their comnan-
ions.
An hour or two was spent at Juneau,
where the steamer stopped. but the
rain was falling in n steady drizzle,
which made the steamers deck prefer
aable to sightseeing. In fact, for the
previous two days she seemed to have
entered a land of perpetual fog and
rain,
At the entrance Of the Lynn canal the
captain was 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
A.. sn,a AAra,AnnxV tnnlr M y A
sponsibility more than to deliver them
at the rail. This was soon done, and a
votoe of thanks passed the captain for
his courtesy on the voyage. Then some
n started a song n all Joined with
a will till the air rang with the un-
usual noise.
Suddenly the fog lifted from the
frowning hills, the anchor was weighed
n thu ~argonauts saw n number OF
vessels ahead of them. while just be-
yond was a faint streak of white
sparkling in the ntful sunshine across
a little valley at h edge OF n bay on
the right hand, with the steep hills ris-
ing on either side, their tops lost In the
canopy of clouds.
Beyond Tho line Of white were green
trees, and far away stretched a 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, IAN you
can see the White pass way off there
in the distance"
A shout went up at the welcome
news, and hen as the steamer moved
slowly into the little bay the white
streak resolved Itself into tents
stretched across n level plain for a
space OF half a mic and fronting the
water.
AS the anchor chain went rafting
through the hawse pipes the steamer
was surrounded By n feet of rowboats
and Siwash canoes trying TO pick uI
passengers. On the beach could be seer
the large scows used for unloading the
horses, and the passengers were eager
TO so 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 It impossible TO secure a scow e
tow their horses and outfit to tha'
port, they were forced to leave Their
on the steamer until she finished he
trip after unloading the bulk Of he
freight at Skaguay.
Continued Next Weekly