WALKSRVZLES
By G*T. Masury
’ifhen gold was discovered in “the Klondike in *96, “the woikld went
upon one of the greatest stampedes in its history# '-ftie tale of *98 and
*99 with Chilkoot Pass teeming with frenzied humanity clinbing its slopes
like ants upon a loaf of sugar, is faniliar to us all thru the writings
of Service, Hex Beach and Jack London# ‘ihe tale of Walkerville, hev«
ever, is of later iate, 1900, when the backv/ash fron the Klondike nod
scattered nen an 1 women over the entire country in their quest for gold.
Pyramid Harbor, theDalton .'frail and Porcupine are fnJiiliar to us
all here at the Post# 'Valkerville, which was near the late ’’Charlie"
Goddard’s hikrae stead, however, is a half-f orgo tten memory in the ninds of
but those alone uho sponsored, it#
December, 1900, found Jan Jalker ana js>i« a# Alans oi names,
toiling along theDalton Trail with their prospecting outfit tightly lash
ed on their Yukon sled* They had crossed the 3ig Salmon River above where
Clear Creek empties from Chilkat Lake* Passing along the sand bars ufaich
were covered with sijow,' they cut across trying to make the trail which
leads ever Suifshine Hi.ll to Porcupine* Afe they caiae to the Little Sal
mon Flats, the early winter evening drew close and the flats seeming a
likely place, they decided to camp*. \Jhile unloading their sled they
heard' the sound of another outfil coning which proved to be Burnstead
of Haines* He wishing to camp likewise, decided to erect his tent with
theirs* The following day others cane and, seeing the tents of /alker
and Burnstead and Adams, decidei this Would make a good place for a win
ter cairp. So they too erected their tents and using this place as head
quarters, prospected the surrounding country* By Spring the camp had
grown to a town of over one hundred people, which they named Jalkerville,
in honor of Dan /alker*
It continued to grow until the following winter saw its streets
lined with wooden houses and stores* The sound of music,laughter and
songs exhoed from its dance halls and saloons* Hoarby, "Che buzzing of a
small saw-mill whined upon the air# Walkervi'lle was a boon town, going
strong at the height of its glory.
Spring again, and the old lure of the gold trail, with a whis
pered rumor of a new gold strike, and the town 'ms deserted over night.
The cabins and stores gaped open and wide* idle saloons and dance halls
were barren and desolate* ’/alkerville was left to the elements* fears
passed. A vagrant spark from some hunter's fire ignited "Che grass and
across the flat9 rushed the flames, seized upon the decaying houses of
Walkerville, paused——then passed, leaving only ashe3 behind, which the
vagrant winds scattered, leaving theLittle Salmon Flats again free from
the dwellings of mankind and used now only as the hunting grounds for
Hootz, the brown bear, on hi3 quest for salmon and for the fox on the
trail of the elusive snow-shoe rabbit*
Thus passed /alkerville, from the eyes and knowledge of mankind*
KRAG AMJUNIXEON AVAILABLE AT ERIE DEPO P:
Ihe director of Civilian itfarksnanship, Vashington, D.C., in reply
to an inquiry from this Post, states that cal. .30, Krag ball ammunition
is available for sale at the Erie Ordnance Reserve 3epot, Carne, Ohio,
at a cost of 012.00 per case of 1200 rounds. Purchases should be made
through organization commanders.
SGT. 'ITOO'JEILL, selects 1 by Gen. Pershing a3 the outstanding hero of
the world war, has been promoted to master sergeant and will shortly retire
after thirty-three years1 service.