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Subject: Klondike Letter -- John MAHONEY -- Aug 1898
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 14:53:49 -0800
Free Lance
Hollister, CA
12 Aug 1898 issue, p. 3
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Letter from John MAHONEY --
Fort Selkirk, June 11, 1898 --
Dear Folks,
Having reached this point, as I have a day or so to myself, I write you
concerning my trip thus far. Our party is considering the advisability of
going up the Pelly river which comes in here at this point, but I cant
say what we will do yet. I think I will try and get to Dawson City and go
up the Klondike, or some of the creeks in that vicinity.
As you know my movements up to the time we broke camp at Lake Bennett, I
will take up my journey from that point. Our boat being the first to
start out from the camp we were given a great send-off by the assembled
multitude. About 3:30 in the afternoon of the first day that we started
out we caught up with the receding ice, and made camp on the shore of the
lake. To my surprise and delight the first person I met when I landed was
Bob LOGAN, of Hollister. He looked more like a farmer than a storekeeper,
and reported himself and party in good health and spirits. Next morning
when we awoke we found that the LOGAN party had started out long before,
but we overtook and passed them before we had been out an hour. That
night we overtook the ice again, and camped at a place called Cariboo
Crossing for 3 days. The day following on going into camp LOGANs party
caught up with us again. We were camped alongside the J.R. FOX party, but
did not know him until LOGAN made us acquainted. After leaving here we
crossed Lake Tagish, and there being no wind we had to row the boat all
the way across to Tagish House, where we stopped until noon next day. At
this point we parted with LOGANs party and have not seen them since.
That night we stopped at the foot of Marsh Lake, and next day at 4:15pm
arrived at the famed White Horse rapids. We concluded to camp and look
the situation over a little before venturing down, and it was well we
did, otherwise we would have met with disaster. That day 3 men had been
drowned and some 25 outfits lost. The current rushes along at the rate of
about 15 miles an hour, and the rapids are caused by large sunken rocks
upon which the unwary founders. We made it without even getting a splash,
but the next day 2 more men were drowned. Saturday we camped about 5
miles from the rapids, and Sunday arrived at Lake LaBarge. Monday we came
down Thirty-mile river, and it is 30 miles of hell! A man is not safe for
one moment whilst sailing down it. Few lives are lost, but there are more
boats and outfits wrecked on this stream than at White Horse rapids. It
is full of sunken rocks and sand bars. We saw many a sack of stuff
floating down the stream, and nearly every rock had 1 or 2 boats stuck on
it. After leaving this river we had fine sailing until we arrived at Five
Finger rapids, which gets its name from 5 large rocks. There is but
slight danger here, and we passed these rapids, also Rink rapids the same
day. We arrived here yesterday. The FOX party is 1 day ahead of us. Had
we not stopped here we would have got to Dawson City ahead of them, and
yet they left San Francisco a month ahead of us.
The snow is all gone, and wild flowers abound. Alaska mosquitoes take the
cake. The weather is fine, and about the same as it is home. The days are
very long. The sun goes down at about 10pm and rises about 3am. It is
never very dark. I have seen but little gold as yet, and am commencing to
think it is all a farce. However, when I get to Dawson Ill see what is
best to be done. Wild onions are very plentiful here, but Ive seen but
little of the fish for which this country is famed. They will, I suppose,
come later. There is a church at this place, and I think we will lay over
and go to church tomorrow (Sunday).
Im well and hearty. Write me at Dawson, and let me know how the war is
getting along.
Signed: John MAHONEY
Fort Selkirk, July 6, 1898 --
When last I wrote you I was undecided what to do. Since then I have made
a trip of 150 miles up the Pelly river, and am going up again, as we have
discovered what we think are good prospects on the Tay river. We had with
us but 2 months grub. Now we will take all our stuff with us. It will be
a very hard trip but I think it will be all right in the end. A great
many parties have sold out and gone back, and many are announcing their
determination of doing so every day. I have grub enough to last me until
next June, and I will never go back as long as that lasts. If I dont
make a stake it wont be my fault. I have great hopes and am in good
health. I never felt better in my life. As near as I can learn Bob LOGAN
has not passed this place yet. Accounts from Dawson are very
discouraging. People that have came back from that point report great
distress and lots of people dying. I shall stay away from Dawson. A great
many people are starting from here to get out over the Dalton trail, 380
miles away. Do not expect to hear from me for a year, as I expect to be
gone that length of time. I shall write whenever I can. Give my regards
to all inquiring friends.
Signed: John MAHONEY
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