The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-11-08

strike were exactly similar draws
where small streams had worn down
channels and where they all came To-
gcther Mt this bottom and empued into
the Yukon. But 1t was only on the
middle stream that the pay streak was
found. The other streams were exac.
counterparts, and all conditions were
the same, yet only the middle one had
the yellow stuff.
And such is mining in Alaska,
There is no explaining II. Mining ex-
pcrience does not count. A "Cheec-
heko" stands better chance than a
"sour dough-" for he will stake any
where, and often strike it, while the
experienced miner will try to figure it
out and miss 1t. OF all the gold
countries of the world Alaska is said
to be the most uncertain--the biggest
gamble. A "sure thing" won't show a
color and a so to one show will come
through winner.
i had been wondering where the
upper river Indian would leave Oft and
the Eskimo commence. found it was
at Marshall, and it was most curious.
Not sign of an Eskimo in any of the
towns we had passed, and in Marshall
they were nearly all of that race,
breed, tribe, or whatever they are.
And the curious observation was that
the Indians and Eskimos are almost as
distinct as the Indian and the white
man.
II was a strange sight TO me--this
sudden change The Indians had sud-
denly disappeared and in their places
were the short, fat and squatty Es-
kimos, looking wonderfully strange to
a newcomer in their parkas and muck
lucks. Men and women dress alike,
and little distance away you cannot
tell squaw from buck.
The men have large, round bodies,
like tree trunk, and short legs. The
women are short and fat. All have
the same face cast-broad, high
checked stupidity. All wear the par
kas and mucklucks winter and sum-
mer, but the most of them wear the
hoods Of the parkas thrown back in
summer.
You have all seen pictures Of the Es-
kimos with their one piece dress and
fur lined hoods. These pictures are
true to life. A following article will
more fully describe these interesting
people.
The strike on Willow Creek was
made by some "sour dough" prospect
ors, rush followed and the river sup
ply towns sprang up in day. There
are two stores, two saloons and the
usual bunch Of log cabins. After the
pay streak had been narrowed down to
the one creek, the men began to go
out, and | was told 300 miners have
left the camp within the last six
months. Yet was told that the clean
up that day from one of the claims
was $4,000.
was first on shore at Marshall and
as watched the passengers come off,
waiting for my roommate, / saw the
man who asked me to carry his bag |
gage in my stateroom from Dawson
He had slowed away somewhere in the
bottom Of the boat for eight days and
nights. How he got food and water
do not know, but probably with a
bribe to the steerage hash hoster. /
While we were tied up to take on
oil, from a tank high on the rivers
bank, two Eskimos came alongside in
their kyaks--boats made of walrus
skins. One Of them gave an exhibition
of boat handling and harpoon throw
ing. The boats are very light, round
bottomed, and there is hole in the
center just large enough to let ones
body in. They tip as easily as an egg
shell, and it takes long practice and
many duckings before white man
can learn to balance in them. One
popularity is that they use one-end
paddle instead of the long double-end
usually used in canoes, and they keep
changing it from one side to the other.
On the boat was party of four
tourists who did not mix with the rest
Of the passengers-two men, a boy {
and a young lady. The boy had every I
indication Of being mammals pet"
He had his breakfast brought to his {
room and spent lot of time polishing
his nails. The passengers soon dub '
bed him Cecil" He was a journalist
student, so II was said.
As we watched the native do his /
canoe stunts and expressed our admir-
alton of his dexterity, the boy remark I
ID that it was no great trick to ride ,
4 kyak. /
One Of the passengers asked him il S
he had ever ridden one and he replied ,
10. then he advised him that he was [