Reminiscences of the Yukon (1912)

The author’s experiences in the Yukon region covered the period from 1898 to 1909. For the first three years he was employed principally in mining, until a severe accident, which resulted in permanent lameness, compelled him to abandon it. For the next two years he lived in Dawson, and then moved to the Pelly River, and remained in the vicinity for about six years, engaged in exploring, hunting, and trapping. His knowledge and experience of a trapper’s life enable him to give extremely interesting information about the habits of fur-bearing animals, and the adventures and hardships attendant on their pursuit. Many good yarns are narrated of the early days on the Yukon, and there are a number of graphic illustrations.

His experiences on the Pelly and McMillan rivers as a trapper cover a phase of frontier life of which little has been published. His accounts of the methods followed in trapping, and remarks on the game of the country —fish, fowl and beast—are contributions to an accurate knowledge of the natural history of the Yukon watershed that will be eagerly read. Probably the most interesting chapter in the volume, certainly so to scientists, is that on color protection and big game. The account of the Indians is discouraging to the well-wishers of the aborigines. The illustrations are of interest in their presenting methods of trapping with which most general readers are unfamiliar.

The author writes:
"At the time of the boom I was staying at Victoria, on Vancouver Island, and when marvellous reports were continually arriving and being circulated, Victoria, like every other place, naturally became infected with the gold fever. I had resided off and on in British Columbia for many years before the Klondyke boom, and had, therefore, experienced enough mining to know that the reports must be greatly exaggerated. At the same time, opportunities for making money might possibly exist, and accordingly I started off with two companions in 1898. After purchasing an outfit in Victoria, together with three sleighs and twelve dogs, we proceeded in a small and very dirty steamer to a place called Wrangle, on the Alaskan coast, near the mouth of the river Stickene." This was the beginning of the author's 11 years of adventure as a gold miner and trapper in the Yukon.

CONTENTS
I. THE YUKON VALLEY
II. MY TRIP TO THE KLONDYKE IN 1898
III. FIRST EXPERIENCES OF DAWSON
IV. THE WINTER OF 1898
V. STAMPEDES
VI. THE MINES
VII. THE PELLY RIVER
VIII. COLOUR PROTECTION AND BIG GAME
IX. THE M'MILLAN RIVER
X. YUKON INDIANS
XI. THE TRADING POST

Originally published in 1912; reformatted for the Kindle; may contain an occasional imperfection.