Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-01-23
9. ". wYLDE.
. Former Benton City Man Writes
the Ledger an Interesting Let
ter From the Klondyke.

Correspondence OF the Ledger
DAWSON, YUKON TERRITORY, CAN
ADA, Dec. 10, 19Ol.-Is send you a hur-
ried line on the outgoing mail, the
first since navigation closed IN Sep
TENDER. We had yesterday the first
arrival OF winter mail from the 'out-
slde.n 1t vas brought In by Prof.
Todd, Superintendent OF the Dawson
gelkirk division, and -four other men
assistants. The party, with their
dog-teams, drawing their great bur-
dens, comprising neat two thousand
pounds Of matter, all letters, was
hailed with intense delight by our
citizens; for after all these long weeks
with no news from friends there seems
nothing 50 welcome to the cold, dreary
side Of the world as a letter from
home. The mall carriers report ex-
tremely bad trail, going through the
ice In many places, sometimes in water
up to their wrists. In several in
stances the men had TO carry the
sacks Of mail on their backs around the
bad places In the river, scrambling
along the bluffs as best they could,
never forsaking their heavy, but
precious, burdens that were TO glad
den the hearts Of the lonely "Klon-
dykers." While going across Lake
Lebarge one OF the teams drawing the
mail broke through the ice and was
drowned. The mail was all saved,
though some Of 1t was slightly dam
amged by the water. | relate enough
only to give you an idea Of what must
be endured by the faithful carriers OF
these Northern regions. Our weather
up to this time is not near SO severe as
last winter, the coolest being 40 below.
Only 25 below to-day, which is con
sidered mild for this country. / re-
member that at this time last year the
thermometer registered 90 to 10 be-
low for several weeks. However,
there is no knowing how soon the
mercury may indulge ina little "run
down TO the old notch.n Everything
is lively in Dawson; not infreQuently
we hear Of new ''finds," but none SO
rich as the first discoveries. Mines
hold out well; wages vary from IS
to $40 per day. The cost of living is
not so high the last II months as for
merly. Provisions are plentiful, large
amounts having been shipped in by
boat during our summers season. The
severity Of the climate is trying, but
in spite Of all many good families are
moving In and Dawson continues to
steadily grow quite 9number Of large
and handsome residences and business
houses were erected during the last
year. Our days now are about . hours
long; we have not seen the sun, proper,
for over two weeks; so daylight has be-
come a scarce article, and a poor quail
ity at that, for the fogs and dying
snow so fills the air that we can
scarcely see our way And as we go
cropping along we can't help thinking
that, TO the uninitiated, the situation
would seem rather dismal and gloomy,
but the full fledged 'Klondykern pays
no heed, and works away his full num-
Der Of hours, "day or no day. To my
friends and acquaintance | would say
that do not regret my trip out here;
that | am duly acquainted, in
excellent health:in fact, rugged as the
Polar bear that inhabits these regions.
But nearly 4 years have passed by
since the train leaving with the
Purcell Party Of 100 men pulled out
Of the Union Depot In Mexico, and Is
it any wonder that there is an earnest
longing for the sightof familiar scenes
and faces; so it is. | have promised
myself the pleasure OF at least a visit
back to old Missouri some time late in
1902, if possible, even II | must return
again to my interests here, which, at
present, it is my intention to do. The
mail leaves this afternoon, so ! can
not write at length to-day, but hope
to find opportunity to greet yon again
soon and tell you something more Of
the doings and welfare Of Dawson.
Wishing you all a merry Christmas
and a glad new year, | viii say goodby.
G. w. WYLDE.