Two Years in the Klondike and Alaskan Gold Fields 1896-1898: A Thrilling Narrative of Life in the Gold Mines and Camps (Classic Reprint Series (Univ of Alaska Pr), No 5)

903 Pages·1998·3.81 MB·English

by  William Haskell

Two Years in the Klondike and Alaskan
Gold-fields, 1896-1898 : A Thrilling
title: Narrative of Life in the Gold Mines and
Camps Classic Reprint Series (Fairbanks,
Alaska) ; No. 5
author: Haskell, William B.
publisher: University of Alaska Press
isbn10 | asin: 1889963011
print isbn13: 9781889963013
ebook isbn13: 9780585186245
language: English
Klondike River Valley (Yukon)--Gold
discoveries, Alaska--Gold discoveries,
Haskell, William B.--Journeys, Klondike
River Valley (Yukon)--Description and
subject
travel, Alaska--Description and travel,
Yukon River Valley (Yukon and Alaska)--
Description and travel.
publication date: 1998
lcc: F1095.K5H37 1998eb
ddc: 971.9/1
Klondike River Valley (Yukon)--Gold
discoveries, Alaska--Gold discoveries,
Haskell, William B.--Journeys, Klondike
subject: River Valley (Yukon)--Description and
travel, Alaska--Description and travel,
Yukon River Valley (Yukon and Alaska)--
Description and travel.
Page 1
Two Years in the Klondike and Alaskan Gold-
Fields 1896-1898
Page 2
Page 3
Two Years in the Klondike and Alaskan Gold-
Fields 1896-1898
A Thrilling Narrative of Life in the Gold Mines and
Camps
By
William B. Haskell
(A returned gold miner and prospector)
With preface by
Terrence Cole
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA PRESS
FAIRBANKS, ALASKA
Page 4
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Haskell, William B.
[Two years in the Klondike and Alaskan gold-fields]
Two years in the Klondike and Alaskan gold-fields, 1896-1898: a
thrilling narrative of life in the gold mines and camps / by William B.
Haskell; with preface by Terrence Cole.
p. cm. (Classic reprint series; no. 5)
Originally published: Two years in the Klondike and Alaskan gold-
fields.
Hartford, Conn. : Hartford Pub. Co., 1898.
Includes index.
ISBN 1-889963-01-1 (cloth : acid-free paper). ISBN 1-88963-00-3
(pbk.: acid-free paper)
1. Klondike River Valley (Yukon) Gold discoveries. 2. Alaska-Gold
discoveries. 3. Haskell, William B. Journeys. 4. Klondike River Valley
(Yukon) Description and travel. 5. Alaska Description and travel. 6.
Yukon River Valley (Yukon and Alaska) Description and travel. I.
Title. II. Series: Classic reprint series (Fairbanks, Alaska); no. 5.
F1095.K5H37 1997
971.9'1-dc21 97-39397
CIP
Originally published 1898 as Two Years in the Klondike and Alaskan
Gold-Fields by Hartford Publishing Company, Hartford, Conn.
Preface by Terrence Cole © 1998 University of Alaska Press
International Standard Book cloth 1-889963-01-
Number: 1
paper 1-889963-00-
3
Library of Congress Catalog Number: 97-39397
Printed in the United States by Thomson-Shore, Inc.
This publication was printed on acid-free paper that meets the
minimum requirements of American National Standard for
Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for Printed Library
Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984.
Publication coordination by Deborah Van Stone, University of Alaska
Press Cover design by Dixon Jones, Rasmuson Library Graphics,
University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Index prepared by Kish Indexing Service, Mendocino, CA
Cover illustration: "Bound for Klondyke: A Prospectors' Camp on the
Road to the Mines, Dinner in the Snow," drawn by J. Gulich. From the
front page of The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly, October 2, 1897,
No. 1453-Vol. LVL.
This facsimile reproduction made possible by the Alaska and Polar
Regions Department of the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, who provided
the University of Alaska Press with a copy of the original publication.
Two Years in the Klondike and Alaskan Gold Fields 1896-1898 is
volume No. 5 of the University of Alaska Press's Classic Reprint
Series. This series brings back into print highly regarded, classic
works of enduring excellence. For more information contact the
University of Alaska Press, P.O. Box 756240, University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99775-6240.
Page 5
Contents
List of Illustrations 13
Preface By Terrence Cole 17
Chapter I 33
My Boyhood and Early Life What Led Me to Adopt the
Life of a Gold-Seeker Why My Eyes Were Turned Towards
Alaska
Chapter II 45
Ho For Alaska! Extent of Our Great Territory Getting
Ready For the Start Our Outfit and what it Consisted of
Chapter III 58
Choosing a Route Our Voyage Along the Coast Arrival at
Dyea First Experience With Natives
Chapter IV 72
Life On the Trail Strange Sights and Scenes Storm Bound
In Sheep Camp A Woman's Adventures and Experiences
Page 6
Chapter V 85
The Dreaded Chilkoot Pass How we Crossed it Sliding
Down the Mountains at Lightning Speed "There Comes a
Woman"
Chapter VI 100
Camp Life in Alaska We build a Boat to Continue Our
Journey Adventures With Bears
Chapter VII 113
A Dangerous Voyage Overturning of Our Boat Loss of an
$800 Outfit we Escape with our lives Hunting for a Camp
Thief
Chapter VIII 128
Some Thrilling Experiences Discovery of the Thief His
Summary Punishment Pictures By The Way
Chapter IX 141
Life On The Yukon Our First Glimpse of The Klondike
How Miners Administer Justice in Alaska The Plague of
Mosquitoes
Chapter X 158
Arrival at Circle City Dance Halls and Other Places of
Amusement The Yukon Sled Alaskan Dogs and Their
Peculiarities
Page 7
Chapter XI 173
Guarding Against Evil-Doers Life in a Gold-Seeker's
Cabin How It iS Built And Furnished
Chapter XII 183
Work and Wages in Alaska Agricultural Possibilities in
the Icy North Cost of Living
Chapter XIII 199
We Reach the Gold Diggings Locating a Claim How Gold
is Mined The Miner's Pan, Rocker, and Sluice Boxes
Chapter XIV 215
My Voyage Down The Mighty Yukon Incidents and
Experiences During the Trip In the Shadow of the Arctic
Circle
Chapter XV 227
Still Journeying Along the Dreary River Sights and
Scenes On The Way Habits and Peculiarities of the
Indians
Chapter XVI 240
Arrival at Forty Mile Wonderful Stories of New Diggings
Ho! For The Klondike! Mad Rush of Excited Gold-
Seekers
Chapter XVII 252
My First Tramp In The Klondike Gold Fields what a Place
for Gold! A Peep Into the Sluice Boxes I Stake a Claim