Commissioner On the Task of Pioneers

Dawson Daily News, 19 August 1912

In his address at Minto part Saturday, in connection with Pioneer day celebration, Commissioner George Black said:

"The Yukon council, the local government of the territory, had done well to make the anniversary of the discovery of gold on Bonanza creek sixteen years ago a public holiday. The action of the government in the matter had been largely die to the influence of the Yukon Order of Pioneers.

"In these days when modern civilization has taken such a firm hold in the Yukon, people were likely to forget the great work of the pioneer. The people who came in '97 and 98 got some idea of the hardships and dangers that the early pioneers had to encounter, but even they were likely to forget in these days, when, instead of toiling up the dangerous mountain pass, carrying on their backs the necessities of life, people could travel in a modern railway coach from tidewater, viewing with comfort and safety the magnificence of that mountain trail which, instead of as now, being one of the attractions of a visit to the country, was to the pioneer such an obstacle and danger.

"As early as seventy-five years ago white men had found their way into the Yukon watershed by way of the Pelly river. Forty years ago prospectors from British Columbia had scaled the pass and floated down the Yukon river from its head to the mouth. Small bands of brave and adventurous gold hunters had continued to come into this wilderness, populated then only by hostile Indians and the wild beasts of the forest until in 1896 their efforts were crowned with success when, on August 17 of that year, the great gold discovery was made on Bonanza creek, a strike that startled the world.

"All that came to pass in this country since then was directly due to the work of the pioneer, to commemorate whose achievements a holiday has been set apart.

"The millions of dollars in gold that had been mined and distributed among the people of the world, the great volume of commerce that was created throughout the West growing out of the trade with the gold fields, the beginning of the wonderful prosperity and growth of the cities of the Pacific coast were directly due to the work of the pioneer.

"The thousands of men that came in here and took away with them enough gold to make them independent for life and to establish happy homes in many parts of the world owed it all to the pioneer.

"I would ask every one in the great crowd assembled to go back in momory to this day sixteen years ago. It will take them to all parts of the civilized world. Who among them at that time realized that what was being done then by that little band of brave men in the far distant North was fraught with such importance for them, that it would change the whole tenure [sic] of their lives?

"The children who have assembled to make merry and to compete for prizes in friendly athletic sports should be taught to respect the memory of the pioneers but for whose efforts none of them would have lived the happy, healthy lives of native Yukoners, nor have enjoyed the sunshine of the summers of perpetual day.

"All Yukoners should see to it that men in their midst possessing the spirit and courage of the pioneers of early days were respected and assisted inevery possible way that they might go out into the great stretches of unprospected land in this territory and seek new fields where placer mining might again flourish as in former days, when men made fortunes for themselves instead of having to work for wages for a living.

"Most of the early pioneers have crossed the Great Divide and have gone to their reward. To those who remain with us and are here today it must indeed be satisfactory to observe the encouraging outlook and to know that to their efforts and to those of their fellows is due all that has been done here and is being done, including the great development now being made in the southern Yukon.

"The ideals of the pioneers are those that might be followed and to advantage lived up to by all. They stand for the principles of true brotherhood, honesty and fair play."

Fine Decorations

Minto park was gaily decorated Saturday for the Discovery day celebration. Scores of flags were displayed with advantage in every part of the grounds. Turner Townsend put up the decorations.

Bonanzas Win Game

The Bananzas [sic] won the big football match from the Dawson's by the score of two to one. Capt. Black made the only score for Dawson. Several hundred people witnessed the game, and cheered lustily for both sides. The play was fast, and at times rough.

Discovery Day Celebrated in Dawson in Grand Style

Dawson had a great time Saturday celebrating Discovery day. The stir began at non, when the Pioneers, the Eagles and others assembled for the parade. The Eagles were escorted by the Dawson brass band to Pioneer hall. The, with the two lodges in line, the parade got under way, moved through the main streets, and went to Minto part where the children had the time of their lives racing and participating in other games.

After the races refreshments were served the youngsters on the grounds. The children then went to the free show at the Orpheum, where Edwards & Victor put on all new pictures for the kiddies. Many adults had to be with the youngsters, and also attended. Edwards & Victor gave the kids thirty-five pounds of candies.

At 7 p.m. the bif football match was played at the park between the Bonanzas and the Dawsons, and at 9 p.m. the youngsters attended the show at the D. A. A. A. as the guests of Barnum Creamer. Many adults were also present, and all enjoyed themselves immensely. The Pioneers also held their Discovery day ball in the evening at 9 o'clock.

Many in Parade

The parade was headed by Hugh Hamilton and W. Grietemur, each carrying the Union Jack. So large were the flags that the color bearers almost staggered under their weight.

Next came memvers of the R. N. W. M. P. mounted on spirited horses, and following them the Dawson brass band, with Senor Lopez as leader. Sheriff GeorgeBrimston and Henry Dook were marshals, and were busy all along the line.

Following the band came the Dawson fire department, with the hose wagon first, and the trucks and other equipment following. Fire Chief Andy Hart, one of the early Yukoners, was on the hose wagon.

Next appeared one of the most unique features of the parade, a float made of a sourdough small boat, with blanket sail, and in it two youngsters hurling sourdough confetti, otherwise known as beans. The boat was dubbed Fairweather, and was gotten up by F. W. Clements.

A striking model of the first cabin built in Dawson came next, a replica of the original, full size, with a salmon, a rabbit, and furs hanging at the back door, and with Jim Beck, the long-whiskered sourdough, the earliest sourdough in the city, sitting at the door, pugging his dudeen.

Jimmy's Place was represented next with a push cart, in the center of which was his wonderful "sourdough basket" with which Jimmy produced $50,000 peddling candies and peanuts in Dawson in the earlier days. Around the basket were flags and displays of fruits and peanuts. Jimmy made the great hit. An original dog team followed, drawing a sourdough rig, representing the Model tailor, Professor Peterson. Six fine dogs drew the rig.

The original Husky Express, as used in the streets of Dawson in the early days, came next. A team of Huskies was hitched to the rig, with Toby Duclos in mucklucks and parky at the gee pole, and little Louise Billings, with her parasol and her Saratoga aboard labeled "Native Daughter." Following this was the great wooden cart, the first wheeled vehicle made and used in Dawson in '98. It comprised two large wooden wheels on a wooden axel, and was made and used by Olof Olsen, pioneer and large property holder. On one side of the cart was a frying pan, labeled "Hotcakes" and on the other side an extra large poke of nuggets, labeled 66 pounds," and on the bag "One day's work contributed to Y. O. O. P." The bag was covered with straw jackets of champagne bottles.

The Cascade Steam Laundry was represented with a finely decorated rig. The City Bakery entered a rig with flags flying from all quarters. Hugh T. Hatch, agent for outside townsites, had a large banner display on a large rig.

Then came one of the most picturesque historic representations imaginable, namely, two sourdoughs rocking the pay dirt with an old time rocker. One now would engage in panning then drop the pan and seize the shovel or the pick. John Burke and Tom Rosborough, two of the earliest sourdoughs, enacted the parts of the float.

Then came Pat, under the load of two oil cans filled with that precious load called "water" and marked with sourdough price of $1 per can.

The Eagle banner, carried by Peter McDiarmid, was next, followed by a long procession of Eagles, marching two abreast. Then came the Dawson school children, between 100 and 200 strong, many of them born in Dawson or on the gold creek, all radiant in their glowing health and holiday togs. Prof. Jeckell accompanied them.

After the youngsters followed the hardy men who opened the Yukon to the world, the members of the Pioneers. At their head was the magnificent banner of the order, which is a great work of art, and which cost originally something near a thousand dollars. This was carried by Jim Hill and Robert McLaren.  [. . . remainder omitted]