The coldest weather ever experienced in the Yukon since its settlement by the whites, this early in the winter, was ushered in during the closing days of November with the thermometer registering 35 to 40 below, and a fierce, biting wind blowing steadily from the north. It was a condition that none but the ruggedest human being could withstand in the open for any length of time and live, unless clothed with garments especially adapted to the occasion, and even thus prepared it required the years of training and knowledge of the sourdough to partically insure the enforced traveler during this time of stress that he would eseape unscathed from the ghostly messenger that would be always stalking at his side.
Even experience and hardihood were often not sufficient to avert the danger, and already in Southern Yukon, three men have given up their lives to the Frost King, and their bodies been found lying stark and stiff beside the trail, All of these men had more or less experience of the pitiless northern winters, and one of them in particular had traveled the snowy wastes of the interior for years, was perfectly familiar with Arctic Nature in her surliest and most dangerous moods, and yet, caught sick, unaware and alone in the wilds gave up his life in the unequal struggle.
Neither of the other two were novices in northern winter travel, yet both are dead.
From the 28th of Nov. until Christmas day the weather grew steadily colder, until on that date it registered 75 below in Whitehorse. Prior to that at Dawson
and different points between here and there it had gone down to 77 below, and on Christmas was reported 86 at Pelly. Yesterday morning it was 64 below in Whitehorse, indicating that the worst is over for the present at least.
An accompaniment of the cold weather has been a heavy white fog, so dense at times it confined vision to a limited area, so penetrating it congested the lungs to breathe the frost-laden particles, and so cold it congealed the very marrow in the bones.
All traffic over the railroad between here and Skagway and the Royal Mail stage line between here and Dawson has been suspended. The train which left here Monday only got as far as Summit, where the temperature was between 50 and 60 below. All trains have been annulled until the weather moderates. Some of the drivers on the stage line who left here a month ago have not yet returned. The horses used are mostly all sick and incapacitated for the grueling work expected of them and which it is absolutely necessary they should do in order to furnish efficient service during the winter months.
At Skagway Tuesday the thermometer was down to 25 below, with a strong wind from the north. At Glacier station, 15 miles from Skagway, it was 44 below the same day.
Notwithstanding the extreme cold no one in Whitehorse, so far as we know, has suffered severely. There has been a plentiful supply of wood for fuel and the worst
pinch has been to the feelings of the head of the house, who has had constantly to dig down in his pocket for change to keep the pot boiling and the house warm.
