The White Pass was closely controlled by the Chilkoot Indians and was unknown to non-natives until 1887. William Ogilvie had heard reports of a low pass near the Deyes Inlet to the headwaters of the Lewes River (Yukon River), while in Juneau. The Ogilvie expedition was on its way to the Yukon territory in order to survey and mark the international boundary on the Yukon River. In June 1887, Ogilvie's expedition was at the head of Taiya Inlet doing a survey from Pyramid Island up through the Chilkoot Pass. William Moore, who had travelled up from Juneau on the steamer, had experience building roads in mountainous areas and wanted to try this route since the Chilkoot Pass was reported to be too steep for a wagon road. They had heard rumors about another lower pass that the Chilcoot Indians controlled. Ogilvie made inquiries and learned there was such a pass. An Indian named Jim, after much talk and encouragement, was persuaded to reveal it. Moore and his guide went over this low altitude pass. Ogilvie and his surveying party ascended the Chilkoot Pass. Among the many Chilcoot Indians hired to carry their supplies up the pass was Skookum Jim Mason, who, with his family, discovered the rich gold deposits in the Klondike. [1] Moore did a rough survey of the new pass and returned with the satisfaction that he had found the route for his wagon road. The White Pass was named for the Canadian Minister of the InteriorThomas White by William Ogilvie.[2]
William Moore and his son returned to stake a homesteader's claim in Skagua, as it was then known. They built a cabin and a wharf and surveyed a town site they called Mooresville. In 1894, the North-West Mounted Police arrived at Dyea and Mooresville on their way to Canada's Yukon Territory. The first group of prospectors hiked up Moore's crude trail over the White Pass. Once the gold rush began, the Moores were overrun. Mooresville was resurveyed by Frank Reid as Skaguay. The crude trail was made into a toll road by George A. Brackett, and the North-West Mounted Police guarded the passes and briefly maintained a post in Skaguay, which Canada claimed.[3]
White Pass trail in 1899White Pass summit seen from train, 2002
The White Pass trail was one of the two main passes used by prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush. The White Pass was an easier route to Lake Bennett than the Chilkoot Trail a few kilometers to the west, but it harbored a criminal element that preyed on the cheechakos (newcomers to the Klondike). These con artists were believed to be members of the infamous Soapy Smith gang from Skagway, Alaska. In 1898, Smith was killed at the famed Shootout on Juneau Wharf and his gang were run out of Skagway and the White Pass. So many horses died during the gold rush, the trail became known as the "Dead Horse Trail". The trail ended at Lake Bennett, where the prospectors built or purchased rafts or boats to float down the Yukon River to the Klondikegold fields near Dawson City.
Due to the harsh climate, grueling conditions, and length of journey, travelers on both the Chilkoot Trail and White Pass suffered from widespread starvation. Many of the starving people on the White Pass made meals of dead horses they found along the road.[citation needed]
ReferencesEdit
^Ogilvie, William. Early Days on the Yukon. pp. 40–41.
^Information Respecting the Yukon District, William Ogilvie
Wikimedia Commons has media related to White Pass.
University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections – Eric A. Hegg Photographs 736 photographs from 1897 to 1901 documenting the Klondike and Alaska gold rushes, including depictions of frontier life in Skagway and Nome, Alaska and Dawson, Yukon Territory. Includes images of White Pass and White Pass Trail.
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This article is about the pass between Alaska and British Columbia For White Pass in the U S state of Washington see White Pass Washington White Pass also known as the Dead Horse Trail elevation 873 m or 2 864 ft is a mountain pass through the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains on the border of the U S state of Alaska and the province of British Columbia Canada It leads from Skagway Alaska to the chain of lakes at the headwaters of the Yukon River Crater Lake Lake Lindeman and Bennett Lake White PassElevation873 m 2 864 ft LocationAtlin District Canada Municipality of Skagway Borough Alaska United StatesRangeBoundary RangesCoordinates59 37 29 N 135 08 17 W 59 62472 N 135 13806 W 59 62472 135 13806 Contents 1 History 1 1 Gold rush years 2 References 3 External linksHistory EditThe White Pass was closely controlled by the Chilkoot Indians and was unknown to non natives until 1887 William Ogilvie had heard reports of a low pass near the Deyes Inlet to the headwaters of the Lewes River Yukon River while in Juneau The Ogilvie expedition was on its way to the Yukon territory in order to survey and mark the international boundary on the Yukon River In June 1887 Ogilvie s expedition was at the head of Taiya Inlet doing a survey from Pyramid Island up through the Chilkoot Pass William Moore who had travelled up from Juneau on the steamer had experience building roads in mountainous areas and wanted to try this route since the Chilkoot Pass was reported to be too steep for a wagon road They had heard rumors about another lower pass that the Chilcoot Indians controlled Ogilvie made inquiries and learned there was such a pass An Indian named Jim after much talk and encouragement was persuaded to reveal it Moore and his guide went over this low altitude pass Ogilvie and his surveying party ascended the Chilkoot Pass Among the many Chilcoot Indians hired to carry their supplies up the pass was Skookum Jim Mason who with his family discovered the rich gold deposits in the Klondike 1 Moore did a rough survey of the new pass and returned with the satisfaction that he had found the route for his wagon road The White Pass was named for the Canadian Minister of the Interior Thomas White by William Ogilvie 2 William Moore and his son returned to stake a homesteader s claim in Skagua as it was then known They built a cabin and a wharf and surveyed a town site they called Mooresville In 1894 the North West Mounted Police arrived at Dyea and Mooresville on their way to Canada s Yukon Territory The first group of prospectors hiked up Moore s crude trail over the White Pass Once the gold rush began the Moores were overrun Mooresville was resurveyed by Frank Reid as Skaguay The crude trail was made into a toll road by George A Brackett and the North West Mounted Police guarded the passes and briefly maintained a post in Skaguay which Canada claimed 3 Gold rush years Edit See also Skagway Historic District and White Pass nbsp White Pass trail in 1899 nbsp White Pass summit seen from train 2002The White Pass trail was one of the two main passes used by prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush The White Pass was an easier route to Lake Bennett than the Chilkoot Trail a few kilometers to the west but it harbored a criminal element that preyed on the cheechakos newcomers to the Klondike These con artists were believed to be members of the infamous Soapy Smith gang from Skagway Alaska In 1898 Smith was killed at the famed Shootout on Juneau Wharf and his gang were run out of Skagway and the White Pass So many horses died during the gold rush the trail became known as the Dead Horse Trail The trail ended at Lake Bennett where the prospectors built or purchased rafts or boats to float down the Yukon River to the Klondike gold fields near Dawson City nbsp Photograph of the W P amp Y R near White Pass by Eric A Hegg ca 1899The White Pass and Yukon Route W P amp Y R narrow gauge railroad was built 1898 1900 4 through White Pass The southern end of the Klondike Highway also uses the White Pass and parallels the railway The Skagway Historic District and White Pass is a U S National Historic Landmark Due to the harsh climate grueling conditions and length of journey travelers on both the Chilkoot Trail and White Pass suffered from widespread starvation Many of the starving people on the White Pass made meals of dead horses they found along the road citation needed References Edit Ogilvie William Early Days on the Yukon pp 40 41 Information Respecting the Yukon District William Ogilvie Discover Skagway History Skagway com White Pass Yukon Route HistoryExternal links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to White Pass University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections Eric A Hegg Photographs 736 photographs from 1897 to 1901 documenting the Klondike and Alaska gold rushes including depictions of frontier life in Skagway and Nome Alaska and Dawson Yukon Territory Includes images of White Pass and White Pass Trail content lib washington edu59 37 29 N 135 08 17 W 59 62472 N 135 13806 W 59 62472 135 13806 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title White Pass amp oldid 1176413697, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
