General Trucking

GOODWIN TRANSFER

DAY and NIGHT SERVICE
Charter Trips to Prince Rupert
Body Work

DECKER LAKE

Oil and Gravel
Phone 81-H

R. A. GOODWIN, Proprietor

General Repairs
Britizh Columbia

STAR PLANING MILLS LTD.

SPRUCE and PINE LUMBER — Rough and Dressed
PLANING AND MILLING FACILITIES IN BURNS LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Sawmill:
on BABINE LAKE, B.C.

to the prairies and stick the gold and
notes into an unlocked kit-bag.”

Word was dropped in_ proper
quarters, and Wood was escorted to
the top of the Pass and allowed to
continue on with just sufficient men
to pack the gold. Meanwhile the
Captain of the Canadian Pacific
steamer Tartar had been advised of
the forth-coming shipment.

Arriving safely at Dyea, Inspector
Wood embarked with his bullion and
men in a small boat and commenced
to row across the inlet. But “Soapy’s”
gang were on the alert and suspicious.
From out of the shadows loomed

another boat. Loaded with ruffians, it
bore swiftly down upon them until it

BEGK’S
DEPARTMENT STORE

Family Clothing
Drygoods, Footwear
Appliances

Sporting Goods
Hardware

*

BURNS LAKE B.C.

BOX 306

Ford -

BURNS LAKE

became evident they intended to ram
the Mounted Police boat.

“Lay to!” came the peremptory
command.

For answer Wood and his men
swung their loaded rifles over the
gunwales. The boat sheered off, but
continued to hang closely in their
wake.

As they neared the Skagway
wharf the welcome funnels of the
Tartar loomed ahead. But be-
tween themselves and the steamer
stood a menacing mob of gang-
sters, headed by the implacable
“Soapy”’ Smith himself. Hardly
had Wood and his party stepped
ashore ere the gang commenced
to mill around and jostle roughly.

From the hurricane deck of the
Tartar rang crisp orders. Like magic a
string of bluejackets sprang to the
rail with levelled rifles. Awed by the
sinister threat, the mob swayed back-
wards. All but “Soapy’ Smith. De-
feated in his object he stepped casu-
ally forward with extended hand.
“Pleased to meet you, Inspector,” he
nodded affably. “Why don’t you stick
around and visit us a while? Let’s
show you the sights of Skagway.”

Gold Reaches Safety

“No thanks !” Wood snapped a curt

refusal, closed in behind his men and,

QUANT LUMBER CO. LTD.

LUMBER MANUFACTURERS

PHONE 26

STAR MOTOR SALES LTD.

Monarch

WHEEL ALIGNMENT SERVICE

EMERGENCY AAA WRECKER SERVICE

Sales and Service

Head Office:
BURNS LAKE, B.C.

from the foot of the gangway, watched
them carry the precious load to safety.

The riotious, lawless never-to-be-
forgotten winter of ’97-98 with its
abysmal cold and raging blizzards
closed with the tragic snowslide in the
Pass which, in a split second, snuffed
out the lives of some 80 miners.
Already 80,000 gold-seeking Argo-
nauts had passed through the rip-
roaring town of Skagway; few of them
equipped to cope with the unrelenting
forces against which they had to pit
their puny strength, many succumb-
ing to hardship, accident and scurvy.

Now gold-burdened miners
were commencing to trek south-

BEATTY’S
CLEANERS

Moth and Shower Proofing
Alterations and Repairs

r)
Phone 21-R
r)

BURNS LAKE B.C.

BURNS LAKE, B.C.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Page Sixteen

THE SHOULDER STRAP