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Subject: Klondike Letter -- John MAHONEY -- Apr/May 1898
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 14:22:19 -0800
The Free Lance
Hollister, CA
10 Jun 1898 --
FROM FAR ALASKA --
Lake Linderman, April 29, 1898 --
Dear Folks,
We have just got the last of our goods down from the summit of the
Chilcoot Pass, and have most of it at Lake Bennett, where we will build
our boat. We have been enjoying great sport sleighing on the lake. We can
put on the sled about 800 lbs of stuff, hoist the sail, jump on and turn
her loose. The wind makes her fly. Yesterday we went to the summit for
our last load, had a fine wind coming home, put up our sail, and away she
went. We were not able to hold the sled back, so got some other fellows
to hitch their sleds on behind, and our sail dragged some 1500 lbs. You
should see us eat when we get back to camp. Beans taste like
strawberries, and bacon like turkey. Alaska is the healthiest place in
the world for a healthy person. I never felt better in my life, and Ive
worked hard since I came here. If a person is not healthy this is a good
place to stay away from. Ive not received a letter since I came here,
and would like to hear from home very much before I leave, but dont
think I will. Dont write to me until your hear from me again. This will,
probably, be some time, as I am not able to determine just where I will
be located. Dont worry about me. I have a good prospect of coming home
with a shipload of gold. Good-bye, for possibly a long time.
Signed,
John MAHONEY
Lake Bennett, May 23, 1898 --
Dear Folks,
Not having anything to do to-day I thought I would write you a few lines
and let you know how we are getting along. I looked and hoped in vain for
a letter from home before I left the lakes, but none came. I walked back
to Lake Linderman (28 miles) last week to see if a letter was there for
me. Should any letters come now I will never receive them as the ice is
breaking up and we expect to start down the river next Wednesday. We put
our boat in the water this morning. Our hard work is now over until we
get to the mines wherever they are. I am getting very fleshy -- in fact a
veritable Jumbo. A man couldnt begin to perform at home the labor he
does up here. Think of pulling a sled with 500 lbs on it 18 miles every
day, or carrying 100 lbs on his back up a hill steeper than any hill
around Hollister. One hill in particular was ¾ of a mile to the top. It
takes an hour to get to the summit, and to get down we merely sit on the
snow and slide, Kelly! Slide! This work is now over. We can sit in our
boat and let the wind take us to our destination. We will be about the
first of the Humboldts crowd to get away, as the rest of the crowd
here have not got their boats built yet. I have became an expert bread
baker since I came here. I can make the finest kind of sour-dough bread.
We get good and tired of yeast powder.
I cant tell when Ill write to you again. It may be 2 months before we
get located, as we will not go to Dawson City just yet, but will try some
of the small streams first, and if we are lucky in striking it rich, will
not go to Dawson at all. I am fortunate in being in with a crowd of
competent miners.
Signed,
John MAHONEY
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