THE ARMY IN ALASKA:
(Cont.) (By Col*Wilds P.Richardson,U.S.A,;Ret*: Reprinted from
"Infantry Journal,May 1923)
” At the mouth of the Tanana River Cant.Ray staked
a site for a military post. This after^vards became Fort Cibbon. Hie weather
remained fine until Sept*9th(1897) ,when it bagan to rain,which turned to snow
on the next day. The snow continuei,but not heavily,until the 12th,when the
"Healy" tied up at Fort Yukon,-so named as- a ^omer Hudson Bay trading post
about 90 miles below Circle City. Lt.Raynond. corps of Engineers,had ascended
the river this far in 1B69, determined the position of Fort Yukon as in Amer
ican Territory, and caused the removal of the Hudson Bay post.
Fort Yukon is a short distance inside the Arctic Circle,
and is the northern limit of the course of the Yukon River. Ihis truly noble
stream, one of the great rivers of the world, carrying more water, it is said,
during the summer season of flow, than the Mississippi,has its upper sources
just inside the Coast Range of mountains along southeastern Alaska,and of the
Fairweather Range farther to the westward, only a few miles, in many cases, as
at Skagway and Dyea, from the waters of the North Pacific* It flows with a rap
idly increasing .volume from its numerous tributaries in a northwesterly direc
tion for a thousand miles to Fort Yukon, then southwesterly for 1200 miles,
draining a great basin through the center of Alaska,then empties its water
over a widespread delta and through many channels into Bering Sea, not far
from the island of St.Michael. Biere exists no serious obstacle to navigation
by ordinary river boats for more than 2,000 niles of its length,until the ap
proach of winter brings low water in sone of the upper reaches of the river,
and on the Yukon Flats between Fort Yukon and Circle. This low-water stage was
beginning before the arrival of the steamer "Healy” at Ft.Yukon, and several
steamers had already discharged their cargoes in whole or in part,and some had
returned down the river to St.Michael* The '’Healy'* after two or three days '
delay and investigation,did likewise,and our base thus became Fort Yukon in
stead of Circle.
A little later one or two higher powered and lighter draft
boats got through,and Capt.Hav went up as far as Forty Mile,returning to Cir
cle City* From there he started back down river in a snail boat and narrowly
escaped being caught in.the ice jam of the river* He managed to get ashore in
safety and sent an Indian runner to me advising me of his situation. Two do?
teams were sent out to help him and his narty on the trip overhand back to Fort
Yukon* This was about the middle of October and the river was running full of
ice* Information had reached Dawson that the late boats bringing food: supplies
could not get -above Fort Yukon,and those persons not already supplied for the
winter were urged to go down to Fort Yukon where food could be obtained* Men
were continuing to arrive at Yav/con from the uoper river, via the Dyea and
Skagway,and it was feared that a shortage of food would ensue*
Ihe result was that several hundred men made their way down
to Fort Yukon in small boats,through the ice and overland,with no little pri
vation and hardship.For the most part they were without money,without means
of shelter,many without blankets,and with a scanty supply of clothing for the
approaching winter* Agreements were arranged with the trading companies to
employ all men who were without means and able to work in cutting cord-wood
for the use of the river steamers the coning season* A exude hospital was con
structed, and provision made for the care of those unable to work, and for the
issuance of food where necessary.
(To be continued next week)*