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PageText LTR021Lake Linderman, Alaska
May 13/98
Dear Bro.
Am fine. We arrived here yesterday, got up tent at once. Lovely weather bare ground in places. all our grub is here. we let contract on 1400 lbs 3 cts from Pass to Lindeman. we took 400 or so & it was (??) in canyon as ice is going. slay a short way & then pack. its horrible to see those who have not the $ to pay for packing, sweating & then take cold and die. today I was across Lake L. for poles for tent. about 2 ½ mile wide & 5 or 6 long. its a sight to see. Tents so Many all whip sawing. a fair Meal Bacon & Eggs $1.00 Coffee & Doughnuts 50 cts etc. 1 lb Climax horseshoe star etc. $1.50. our freight to Summit 4 ½ cts, 3 cts more to here. Duty $72.00. we got 237 ft good Lumber $67.35. will take about 20.00$ more for ribs etc. then make oars. some few meals along 50 cts 75 or $1.00. I slept one night on Pass. I kept a head to look out for grub, my Pard, the gear, so our things came O.K. it pays see to look out My Pard is a Penn Man but just from Africa. Name J.J. Sheehy. Duty on Beans 12 cts Bush. Flour 60 cts. 100 lbs Hardware 30.00 etc. so you see it takes $ to get in & hard work. You should see poor Fools of Women Wallowing in snow & mud. short dresses, gum boots, cold in Morning at Pass, Babies & small children, its a shame. all Waiting for ice to go out Linderman. We think about 3 weeks. poor scrubby 4, 5, & 6 inch timber to whip as best has been culled out. Lots Dog Teams, two 7 dog teams took 1400 lb for us to head canyon from Pass in about 5 hrs. it worried me & Pard with 400 all day, but our slay was new & not scoured, then packed on Horses around canyon. Horse feed high proportionally. Have met sev. acquaintances here. tomorrow we start to build our boat 22 ft over all good for 3000 We got 2000 in all including selves by time ice goes will portage grub & may be boat at White Horse Rapids. More $. No Freight going over White Pass from Skagway. Trail soft. Small lakes are broke and impassable. same here soon. Numerous small Lakes between here & Chilcoot Pass. The Mts. look same here as anywhere else in Gods Country. Chilcoot aint hard I went up easy in 15 min. Crossed many worse & longer. its steep, a Rope to hold on to. steps cut in snow & ice. its awfull from Canyon up to sheep camp & same up to foot of Pass, but if a Person has $ its easy any place. its very bad on Men who dont savvy what kind outfit to buy (Canned Goods) not good to heavy (& duty more) cant pack. cook, chop, fix camp. dont look ahead, pinch a $ & loose 2 $. a green man has no Biz. here alone should take a good expert man along plenty to be had. Cheap. My Pard Just Met a friend from Africa so will close till show comes again.

(ed. Continued next day>) Linderman, May 14

Well we ripped out timber for Boat Ribs to day & was across Lake for fire wood. Will start build our Boat tomorrow. is all Makes & shapes boats here. Scows & Barges. am afraid a number will be drowned in the rush & boats being overloaded. also poor Boats, any one coming should out fit in Seattle, get good duck clothing with oil slicker between lining & out side for coat. Blanket lined pants, plenty gloves & mits. for under Wear. MacKinaw not very good here. Gum Boots, plenty, good leather foot Wear, some German Socks. over sleeping bag if have means, couple Tarpaulins or Large Canvass & good heavy tent, good heavy steel stove, pack well. Telescope pipe to fit in stove or will be bent. Telescope cooking Utensils. plenty Rope 2 or 3 sizes, Good Pack straps. 3 or 4 pr. Good blankets from $10 to $20 pr. in grub Flour, Beans, Bacon, sug, Coffee, Tea, plenty Best Dried Fruit, vegetables, plenty Rice, & numerous other thing avoid can goods all you can. heavy & cases easy broke in handling so much. plenty Tools for Wood Work. best quality & in Order. Double sack everything best sacks to be had & one of Party always stay ahead with grub other trail end. it Will pay to look after in being broke, mislayed & stole. have No. pkgs. all Marked in plain letters Large wont wash out by Rain or snow. This is simply a few pointers for some of your Friends if any are Wishing to Come this Way. Snow glasses, Glass only. Blue, Green or smoked oval steel bent rods to go around ear. take pr. goggles in tin box in Case break. others keep in pocket all times, to have when wanted. good large pocket Knife. have matches put in two or 3 cans, in case of water or snow. can vary from this some if going via St. Michael. a person should have plenty $ to pay all packing as people fixed for it can do it cheaper for you than self. Well will drop you a line again before we start for Dawson. if you wish to ans. this address to Dawson but may stop on road down to prospect if looks favorable. bye bye to all

James McCambridge
Lake Linderman where Betty Flies the Flag

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