The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1919-03-01
"REMINISCENCES
INDUCED INDY
TWOOLDTIMERS

the Klondike in the winter of 1898.
AS it happens, his trail frequently has
crossed that of big Mike Sullivan, who
recently returned from visit Outside,
and the two old -timers have been in
dulging in "reminiscences of the early
days and holding kind of reunion.
Dr. Chace and Mike were among
that band OF hardy pioneers who win
tered in Circle City during that mem
orable winter, and as 1t happens, were
both members of the same party of
| twenty eight miners who mushed up
to Dawson before the breakup.
During their sojourn in Circle that
winter many interesting events trans
PRED, among them being tilt with
the constituted authority that had it's
humorous side, as well as its more
serious one. Several hundred miners
were at Circle that winter, coming up
the Yukon mostly on their way to
Dawson Arriving there, they found
a United States deputy marshal repre-
senting the police power of the United
States, cooperating with a United
States commissioner in the mainte
nance of law and order. A man had
been arrested on. a criminal charge
and was being held in Jail pending the
arrival of the court in the spring. A
miners meeting was called and it was
decided that the officials were with
out authority, and declaration was
made that the camp was under miners
law, as promulgated at the miners
meetings. 1t was decided to release
the prisoner, and this was done by
breaking in the doors of the jail
Later the ringleaders were COM
PEELED to face trial for this action, al
though no convictions resulted.
The Tables Turned
But rule by miners meeting had its
disadvantages also. 1t became neces
sary for the self-constituted authori-
ties to confine a man for some grave
criminal offense and hold him over
for trial by the United States district
court. Day and night guards were ap-
pointed, and the payment Of wages
and board for these, together with
meals for the prisoner, was no small
item Of expense. So another miners
meeting was held and it was decided
that the deposed commissioner and
deputy marshal had been regularly
appointed after all, and they decided
to turn the prisoner over to them.
But the deputy marshal dissented, and
told them that it was not up to him to
extricate them from their difficulties.
They had brought them upon them
selves by their lawless actions. How
ever. he finally was prevailed upon to
resume his official duties upon the
promise that each resident of the
camp would sign an agreement to
recognize his authority until spring,
when the court officials would arrive
Before spring the population had
departed en- masse for the new Edo
RADIO.
The Trek to Dawson
The trail to Dawson from Circle
was tough" one, as the old-timers
express It, and the party which in
cluded DR.. Chace and big Mike met
the usual difficulties due to intense
cold, storms and snowdrifts. They
mostly "necked" the sleds, as few of
them had dogs, and Dr. Chace tells
how big Mike eased up on his exer-
tions by reason Of his knowledge of
mushing in the North. In the party
was Dutchman who had difficulty
in loading his sled after breaking
camp, and he sought Mikes assist
ance Mike is nothing If not accom-
modating and he consented He
loaded his own and the Dutchman's
sled simultaneously, and as the latter
was strong, husky fellow, Mike put
all the heavy paraphernalia on the
cheechako's sled and loaded his own
with the lighter articles, such as bed
ding etc. The result was that travel
ing was made somewhat easier for
Mike. But when nearing Dawson the
Dutchman discovered that he was be-
ing imposed upon, and Mike "necked"
his own outfit thereafter.
How Mike Secured Fuel
When the Nome excitement was at
its height, DR.. Chace and Mike Sulli-
van stampeded to those diggings, and
they remained there as neighbors for
several years. During the first winter
In that barren country the fuel Ques-
ton was serious one. Timber had
to be hauled for considerable dis
lance to build cabins and for cord
wood, and those not possessed Of dogs
or horses we're compelled to draw
their sleds Of fuel by the neck, which