Dec. 2, 1911.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
805 
A Mystery of the Teslin Mountains 
By CALVIN H. BARKDULL 
T HE country east of the Atlin mining dis¬ 
trict is a high, broken range of moun¬ 
tains, forming the watershed of Wright, 
Quartz, Dicksie, Otter, Pike, Snake and numer¬ 
ous other unnamed creeks and rivers that flow 
in Atlin Lake to the west, Surprise Lake to the 
north, Teslin Lake to the east, and the Takou 
River to the south. 
Aside from a few straggling, hardy pros¬ 
pectors and explorers, the survivors of the 
Tepee, a road house, the trail having become 
too soft to travel further, until early the next 
morning. 
While we were partaking of a dinner such as 
is afforded on the trail under such conditions, 
a well dressed, genteel-looking little fellow 
wearing glasses, came down the trail and intro¬ 
duced himself as Fred D-. He asked how 
far it was to the next stopping place, and at 
the same time seated himself on the sled for a 
‘‘Ha! ha!—mining expert, in light office suit, 
patent leather shoes, plug hat and lavender kid 
gloves. No, Jack, never!” 
We talked of him in this manner until he 
disappeared among the scrub pines that grew 
thickly on each side the trail. On our arrival 
at Atlin City, three days later, we stopped at 
the Yukon Hotel, and who should we meet but 
this same fellow Fred. Without much provoca¬ 
tion, he politely asked for a loan of twenty dol¬ 
lars. The proprietor, an old acquaintance of 
mine, asked me to give this fellow employ¬ 
ment as soon as mining operations commenced 
as he seemed to be unable to meet his financial 
obligations. Fred also begged me for employ¬ 
ment. I promised to give him work as soon as 
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in 
A HUNTING PARTY IN THE ROCKIES. 
From a photograph by E. D. Stonehouse. 
Ashcroft trail contingent, who came over to the 
Atlin gold strike in 1898 from Lake Teslin, it 
had never been penetrated, not even by the 
Stick Indian, at the time of which I write. This 
region holds in store and everlasting secrecy, the 
fate of an acquaintance and friend of mine, the 
whereabouts of whom may never be known. 
Like many other very queer things that happen 
on the frontier and in the great gold stam¬ 
pedes of the North, this one, in my varied ex¬ 
perience, holds first rank.. 
In March, 1900, I was returning to the in¬ 
terior over the Fan Tail cut-off trail, to look 
after my mining interests in the Atlin district. 
In company with Jack Hudson and Joe Rook, 
two good whole-souled, congenial camp mates, 
we were making good time with our dog team, 
and had got as far as the north end of Otter 
Lake and were camped in the vicinity of the 
rest. LI is accent was decidedly English, and 
his conversation was such as to convince one 
that he was well educated. After seating him¬ 
self, Jack bawled out, “Well, pard. 11s fellers 
are eating a bite, won't you join us and have a 
cup of coffee?” 
“Ah, bah jove. old chap, with your kind per¬ 
mission I will, it is just beginning to dawn upon 
my diminutive perception that I am quite hun¬ 
gry, doncherknow.” 
I said nothing, just smiled, and became much 
interested in this well dressed trail musher, who 
was soon up and going, having bidden us a 
pleasant farewell. 
“Well, wouldn't that rasp you,” put in Joe. 
“What is he?” 
“Why, that’s a preacher,” I answered. 
“Oh, no, that’s no preacher. I'll guess him a 
mining expert.” 
the season opened. When the mining season 
did open I gave him the all-important position 
as cook for a crew working the Golden Gate 
group of bench claims on Pine Creek. After 
these claims were worked out, I moved with 
eleven men to the King Solomon group of 
creek claims on the headwaters of Wright Creek, 
a most desolate barren section at a high alti¬ 
tude and away above timber line, where our 
only fuel consisted of small green willow brush. 
I thought sure this would discourage our cook, 
but to our great surprise he met the situation 
in a manner that was most satisfactory to the 
whole little band. 
It was while we were camped there that I had 
an opportunity to learn the life of this interest¬ 
ing character. Born of wealthy parentage, ,qf 
distinction and social rank in the late ’60,s : . in 
England, he was given a college education. 
