Page 2 - July 21, 2011


‘Alaska Gold Rush’ Cont. from Page 1


step was to start acquiring sup- plies that would be necessary for both survival and success in the gold fields. Many stores had advertisements listing the rec- ommended equipment that would be needed in the distant land. For about $225, a man could be thoroughly equipped with an 880-pound outfit. The breakdown was as follows:


CLOTHING—65 pounds. This included two suits of heavy underwear, a sweater, a heavy mackinaw coat, two woolen shirts, six pairs woolen socks, two pairs of mackinaw trousers, two pairs of overalls, two pairs of mittens, a suit of oil clothing, rubber top coat, two pairs of shoes, two pairs of rubber boots, two heavy blan- kets, and various items to repair clothing.


HARDWARE—70 pounds. This included a shovel, pick, axe, whipsaw, hammer, rope, knife, chisel, gold pan, two buckets, files, nails, pitch, cook- ing utensils, and shaving outfit. Of course, a group could share some of these items, reducing


Give Us This Day Our Daily Chuckle


This week, a


compendium of wit, wisdom and neat stuff you can tell at parties. Enjoy!


I’m Fine! How Are You? :


It is better to say "I'm fine" with a grin,


than to let people know the shape we are in.


There's nothing the matter with me,


I'm just as healthy as can be, I have arthritis in both knees, And when I talk, I talk with a wheeze.


My pulse is weak, my blood is thin,


But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.


All my teeth have had to come


the amount one person would have to furnish and transport.


ARMAMENT—40 pounds. Included a large repeating rifle with cartridges and reloading equipment, a hunting knife, and fishing tackle.


CAMPING OUTFIT—30 pounds. Included an 8x10 tent, heavy canvas sleeping bag, and a collapsible sheet-iron stove. This also could be shared in a group.


GROCIERIES—665 pounds. This was the major problem with transportation, and includ- ed 350 pounds of flour, 150 pounds of bacon, 50 pounds of beans, 10 pounds of tea, five pounds of baking powder, 50 pounds of salt, 25 pounds of desiccated vegetables, 25 pounds of dried fruit, and some soap, matches, and saccharine.


Getting all of these supplies to the gold fields was quite a prob- lem. The railroads or steamship service would check only 150 pounds of baggage free. The cost for the rest was quite expensive. It became apparent that Fraser would have to form a group in order to reach his destination, and so he looked


out,


And my diet I hate to think about. I'm overweight and I can't get thin,


But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.


And arch supports I need for my feet. Or I wouldn't be able to go out in the street. Sleep is denied me night after night, But every morning I find I'm all right.


My memory's failing, my head's in a spin. But I'm awfully well for the shape I'm in.


Old age is golden I've heard it said,


But sometimes I wonder, as I go to bed. With my ears in a drawer, my teeth in a cup, And my glasses on a shelf, until I get up.


And when sleep dims my eyes, I say to myself,


Is there anything else I should lay on the shelf?


The reason I know my Youth has been spent, Is my get-up-and-go has got- up-and-went!


around Seattle for others in a similar condition. It was not hard to find them, and eventu- ally a group of twelve people banded together.


At least one


was even a woman—a rarity for such a harsh adventure.


The group decided to cut down on some of the supplies, hop- ing that some items could even- tually be purchased at Dawson. By the time they hit the trail, they had seven sturdy sleds car- rying the groups’ provisions. Obviously, the recommended 870 pounds of supplies per per- son had been greatly whittled down.


STEAMSHIP TO ALASKA


The Seattle waterfront was crowded with ships eager to transport the “Klondikers,” as they were being called, to the Alaska ports. The Fraser group compared prices, and made a choice of steamship that would transport them to Dyea, Alaska. With all the supplies on board, they finally cast off into the winter seas for the gold fields. The voyage was not easy, as that time of year the Northwest was rocked by powerful winter storms, and many ships reached the Alaska ports heavily coated


But really I don't mind, when I think with a grin, Of all the places my get-up has been.


I get up each morning and dust off my wits, Pick up the paper and read the obits. If my name is missing, I'm therefore not dead, So I eat a good breakfast and jump back into bed.


The moral of this as the tale unfolds,


Is that for you and me, who are growing old. It is better to say "I'm fine" with a grin, Than to let people know the shape we are in.


How the Internet Really Began


In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot. And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she was often called Amazon Dot Com.


And she said unto Abraham, her husband, "Why dost thou travel so far from town to town with thy goods


with ice.


They reached the Alaskan port in February 1897. Unloading in Dyea was a challenge in and of itself.


tidal flat, and ships would sel- dom come all the way to the port to disembark passengers and cargo.


The “bay” was really a


and barges were used to ferry everyone and everything to the town. Those that tried to save money and unload by them- selves often saw their goods ruined when the tide came in. After getting their cargo to shore, it was then time for last minute shopping and listening to reports from men who had come back from the Klondike. Mountains of supplies filled every available space in and around the town.


had to be bought in Alaska were much more costly, as all sup- plies commanded a premium price due to demand.


Next was the time for a decision on which route to take to the gold fields.


already at Dyea, the Chilkoot Pass route was the closest and most obvious choice. The trail


‘Alaska Gold Rush’ Cont. on Page 3


when thou canst trade without ever leaving thy tent?" And Abraham did look at her - as though she were sev- eral saddle bags short of a camel load - but simply said, "How, dear?"


And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages saying what you have for sale, and they will reply telling you who hath the best price. The sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)."


Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. The drums rang out and were an immediate success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever having to move from his tent.


To prevent neighboring countries from overhearing what the drums were say- ing, Dot devised a system that only she and the drummers knew. It was called Must Send Drum Over Sound (MSDOS), and she also developed a language to transmit ideas and pic- tures: Hebrew To The People (HTTP).


But this success did arouse envy. A ‘Chuckles’


Cont. on Page 5 Since they were Goods that Small boats, sleds,


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16