The Washington times., 1902-08-03
The Skagway Trail.

as though the train were fairly clinging
to the wall o. rock for foothold, like
a thing of life Leaning out from the
platform, we gaze down into the yawn-
ing abyss which falls sheer away from
our very feet TO depth of fully 5000
feet. Far below can be seen the raging
torrent coursing over its rocky bed.
Here, slightly below US on another
ledge is the pack trail. With our eye
we trace its course as 1t winds down.
ward along the face of the cliff. Far
ther away, where the wall is less abrupt,
the trail is sleeper and descends more
directly. Then, Iii the dim distance, it
reaches the bottom OF the canyon and,
winding in and out along the waters
edge. passes cut and is lost among the
trees in the valley. AS far as it is Wis
ib1e, that same endless, struggling pro-
cession of gold hunters tolls slowly
along, bound for the land of promise.
Then we follow the track across the
bridge, down and around the side of the
canyon, as it grows smaller and smaller
until. faint black line, it, too, passes
out into the valley beyond and is lost
in the forest. Still striving to follow
its course through the foliage. our gaze
wanders farther and farther away until
it finally rests upon a Liliputian city
nestled in the fair, green valley at the
head of narrow. river-like body of
water which loses itself in the dis
tance among the majestic snow-crowned
mountains
The town is Skagway, twenty miles
distant. and the body of water beyond It
Pyramid Harbor Far away in the val
ley the sun is bathing the town and its
harbor in its cheerful radiance. while
all about us rests an awful gloom that
enhances the weird grandeur of our sur
roundings. From the depths of the cam
yon the roar OF the boiling. swirling tor
rent rises family to our ears, like the
laundering of the surf upon a distant
rock shore. What a scene is thisi
How warm and beautiful the distant
valley bathed in sunshine; how cold and
grand the snow-crowned monarchs about
u.s. How peaceful and serene the far
away clear blue sky; how ominous the
lowering clouds above our headsl How
weird the shadows, How indescribably
awful the deep. dark canyon, with its
seething floodt What labor must man
have expended to penetrate this place
with a railroad. What tales could these
silent walls relate of the tragedies en-
acted in this gloomy pass when four
years ago thousands of poorly-clothed,
ill-fed men toiled and fought to ascend
this pass, goaded onward by the lust for
gold,
Finally. however, with a shrill. re-
blast of the whistle the train
resumed our places in the car when We
plunge into the tunnel. Upon emerging
from the dark hole we enter a snow
shed Of considerable length. But at last
his. too. is passed, and we find our
selves in the open. To our utter sur
rise We cannot See thirty feet either side
II the track-a dense mist envelops US;
We are in the clouds. At last we are at
he summit of White Pass. Presently
he train comes to an abrupt halt, and
We are informed that a lengthy stop is
o be made.
Alighting from. the car, We glance
about US. We are on what ap-
'ears to be an extensive plateau. A
arge log shack that serves for station
S before US, and looming dimly through
he mist several other shacks and tents
re visible. As rapidly as our numbed
will permit, we hasten inside
o thaw out by the huge old stove. What
picture we behold as We enter the
oam. Clustered about the ''hot box" in
arious 5ttitudeS of more or less repose
re several scores of men-gold hunters
or the most part. They are a pic
uresque group-unshaven clad in
motley assortment of garments-mostly
tout boots. thick pants. red. blue or
ray flannel shirts, short coats. and
Onpp6 with
hem are highly intelligent looking men.
'racker boxes and benches near the fire
orm the seats. and every square inch OF
hem is crowded. Later comers have to
tand or sit on the floor around the
'alls. With the exception of those who
ave just arrived on the train, they have
II climbed the pass and are on their
'ay to Dawson a string of packers is
onstantly arriving and departing.
When we have warmed ourselves suf-
ciently we go for Il walk about the
tation. To our establishment. when we
pen the door we find the mist has van
shed and the sun is shining clear and
old. Not far from the station are two
Ill flag poles. one flying the Stars and
tripes and the other the English flag.
his is the dividing line between Alaska
nd Canada. \ short distance away Is
Immit Lake. a long. narrow body OF
ater which forms the head of a chain
lakes and rivers that are navigable
} small boats all the way to the yr-
on, and thence to the Pacific Oc, .l:,
So interested are we in the sights
bout us that We have not observed that
le sun is no longer shining; and thar
le Sky is clouded over Our first ink
ng OF the change is n SUDDEN down.
our of rain We turn and run 10 the
alton. which is quite dis; aiise away.
ut even before we reach il the shower
as ceased and in its pla.'e a furious
iowstorm is raging. So b; hiding Is the
dden storm that we cauaot see even
lcnr,iir,11.d n, rontl, pnroN