The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-02
HAPPY JACK TELLS
Of kIONDIKE TRIP
ON HUNT FOR COL D
His Chapter of Accidents In
ciudes Many of the Expe-
riences ofthe Early Seekers AT.
ter Fortune i'm the Arctics.

Happy" Jack Sherwood turned up in
Frisco the other day, and there have
been large. doings ever since. Every
man, woman and child, dog. cat and
canary bird ever blessed with his ac-
quaintance would rather have him
drop in for a. chat than to get money
he comes around, and it seems easier
to figupe out how you are going to pay
your gas bill after he is gone.
Happy Jack" disappeared from
Frisco during the rush to Alaska and
he has just told about that memorable
trip to an adnliring circle of friends.
THAT Alaska trip" said Jack, in an
swer to query. Sure, I'll tell you
about it. I've got over having an ache
every time I remember it now, so !
can tell it without tears. But first I
must order a bucket of high balls and
a ton of cigars, because it's long
story and very full of words.
Say, boys, I've been everywhere
but heaven since left here, but I got
all the corrugations in Alaska. You
remember that bunch of tenderfeet ]
went out with, and what we didn't
have in the way of an outfit wouldn't
take even suffering man long to tell.
There was sixteen in the party. in
GLIDING a real chef, who couldn't make
bread, and doctor, who once confided
to me that his principal, burning am
bition, as he expressed it, was too be-
come a stonecutter, and he looked the
part.
"a small, f1at-bottomed river steam
er had been built for us. This was to
be put together at st. Michael, and we
were then to steam proudly up the
Yukon river, nonchalantly gather In a
few billion dollars worth of nuggets
and get back to the states in time for
the fall races. 1t was lovely, golden
dream. But one after another we all
fell out of bed and woke up.
"The master mind of the expedition
had negotiated with some archcon-
spirators, friends of his, for the pur-
chase Of a vessel to carry this gold
hungry crowd and our outfit from
Frisco to ST. Michael. They were un-
able to secure a Pacific liner, so COM
promised On a sailing vessel, which
was described by them as being A 1,
four ways from the jack.
II will never forget that morning
when I went to take a peep at her. You
know me, I'd do almost anything,
even be king of Servia or try to settle
Breathitt county fued, but when I
saw the craft that we were to start
north in, blanched.
after had finished looking her over a
hand organ near the dock started to play
She May Have Seen Better Days Con-
soling, wasn't it?
1.-The captain, who had been decoyed
from some old sailors home especially for
the voyage, was fine specimen. with bats
in his rigging, and the first and second
mates, having been found in an employ
ment Office sitting for a gravel-roofing job.
were likewise nautical birds of rare
plumage.
But as these sad sea dogs had cha
peroned brick Schooners up and down
Frisco bay, they were surely familiar
with the perils Of the deep. and conse-
quently quite fit to undertake any old kind
"On the square, boys, that captain didn't
even know when the tide was out, or who
let It out.
Il spent the remainder of the day in ST.
lent communion and reading up on the
stunts of long distance swimmers.
AT the end of months time the job
of fixing up our old sea prancer had been
finished. She was treated to a few sum-
mer coats of paint, the galley range was
provided with several new lids and the
captain bought another sweater.
"One rare afternoon in the month OF
June we climbed aboard, took our lives in
our hands and were towed through the
Golden Gate out into the whskers of the
"In some way or other the sails were
set, and, with breeze blowing from all
directions, we bounded merrily over the
briny depths.
''As soon as the towing line was cast
off the presiding officer and his under
studies swelled up like dried applies in
lake, and the curtain then raised on one
of the greatest comedies ever produced on
floating stage.
From the first 1t was quite evident that
those engaged in operating the ship had
been shy on a few rehearsals. Besides
the Swede captain. whose sea knowledge
had gone by default, possessed an idsom
attic stream of language ON which the crew
had not become thoroughly posted. This
when he tore his tongue to shredS in CIV
ing orders 1t was difficult to understand
whether he was commanding or beseech-
ing the dog watch to emerge from their
kennels.
Further back in the description of this
nautical rampage / alluded to our chef. He
could cook up swell dishes with names you
couldn't pronounce, drunk or sober, but he
was shy on one count.
weeks we had no bread! After fort
night we commenced to miss the staff of
life more than much, when, in the good
ness of his heart, the artisan who had
been hired to run our sawmill suddenly de-
clared that ne was probably one of the
best ever in Discriminating way, and
with our kind permission he would stall off
the bread riot.
mo one said him nay.
1.-THE suspense until morning was har-
rowing, as we were then in condition
that would make old TantaluS back into
the barn.
SAT breakfast the captain was served
first, and in my ears still rings the roar
he let out when his teeth declared that