Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-12-17

That is Skaguay bay" said the cap
tain to the eager questioners, land you
can see the White pass way Off 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
stretched across level plain for a
space of half mile and fronting the
| water.
As the anchor chain went rafting
through the hawse pipes the steamer
was surrounded by fleet of rowboats
ana siwash canoss, trying to pick up
passengers On the beach could be seen
the large scows used for unloading the
horses, and the passengers were eager
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.
When the customs officer had made
his visit the two friends went ashore in
rowboat and took their first glimpse
of typical mining town.
What scene it wasI Crowds of men
rowing in boats to the beach, then
clambering out and carrying their
goods above the reach of the tide and
piling them in little heaps on the
ground. Horses tethered singly aud in
groups. Tents of every size and kind,
and men cooking over sheet iron stoves
set outside. Piles of goods were on
every hand, and men could be seen
loading horses and starting off toward
| sort of lane in the direction of a small
grove of cottonwoods, beyond which
was the trail to the famous White pass.
Rough frame buildings were going
up on every hand as fast as man could
handle the material, all of which were
to be turned into stores when COM
pleted. Outfits bought and sold" was
familiar sign, and the stars and
stripes floating over tent announced
the presence of United States court
commissioner.
1t required two days to unload the
freight here, and then the Islander
proceeded to Dyea, where, without
accident, Tom and his friends succeed
ed in landing their outfit and setting
up their tent
When everything was done it was
dark, and to Toms delight the second
mate proved an excellent hand to cook.
. They made hearty meal. Lit their pipes
and then Tom said:
Tomorrow we must see If we can
find the man Avery's letter told about
the one who was coming here after
supplies this spring. 1t said he would
be here some time in April OF May. To-
lay is the first Of May. Then we must
inquire about Rider. We may find out
If he has been here and when he left.
You know we may be wrong about him,
after all. It's possible"
81 wish was as sure of being rich as
am that he is ahead OF us somewhere
was the sleepy rejoinder, as Green
knocked the ashes out of his pipe and
curled up in his blanket. "Mark my
words. you'll find 1 am right"
Perhaps their sleep would not have
been so sound had they known that
Obed Rider was at that very moment
| sitting in tent not more than 100 feet
| away in earnest conversation with a
rough-looking miner.