After the Gold Rush

By William Stanley

After the Gold Rush is a collection of two wilderness stories set at the turn of the twentieth century in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

Dawson is an entertaining story based on life after the Klondike Gold Rush. It is the story of a family who moves from a wilderness cabin in the forest, where they trapped fur, to a more suburban life. The couple inherit a home from their Aunt Bev, a long-time, Indigenous resident of Dawson. Folow the lives of Wendy and Jason, the new homeowners, as they continue the ways of their predecessor, entertaining family and friends who live and trap fur in the surrounding area. Share their adventure to Skagway, Alaska, as they accompany a barge of goods back to Dawson for their friend, Samuel.

Black Hawk and White Dove is a story of love and adventure. The recently married, Indigenous couple begin their life together in a cabin deep in the forest. With help from their fellow trappers, the newlyweds learn how to survive in this harsh and unforgiving land. Follow Black Hawk and White Dove’s daily routines as they learn the ways of the bush and how nature controls the lives of those who live there.

Both stories are fascinating tales, which truly capture the spirit of the Yukon. Readers are sure to enjoy these family adventures of life in a rugged land, filled with love and hope.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Feb 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9781665756587

William Stanley

Born in Peterborough, Ontario, the youngest of eight siblings, William Stanley took up writing after retiring in 2017. He is the father of two children and has been married for over forty years. William enjoys hiking, gardening, and spending time with his two grandsons at his home in Peterborough. He has published a total of six books and hopes readers will enjoy them all.

Book preview

DAWSON

GettyImages-478676982_GS.jpg

BEV’S FUNERAL

Beverly was an Indigenous woman who lived her entire life in the Dawson area. A respected elder in her tribe, she had a home situated on fifty acres of forested land. In her younger years, she had served as a midwife for her tribe, assisting in the birth of many children. Bev, as she was known, had been a widow for many years, with no children of her own. Perhaps this is why she doted on her extended family, treating all of them as if she had birthed them. In addition to caring deeply for her own, she also spent many years assisting tribe members who fell on hard times. Her generosity was legendary, as were her skills in the kitchen.

In her later years, Bev reminded everyone she met of a sweet grandmother, always welcoming them into her home and willing to offer sage advice. Her spirit shone like a beacon of light to the weary and downtrodden she encountered. She fed and nourished the spirits of the hungry in her tribe and hosted large gatherings at Christmas. Bev seemed to have boundless energy, but unbeknown to her family and friends, she had been fighting an illness she did not understand.

One night in the spring, Bev passed peacefully in her sleep, joining her husband who had been waiting patiently for her in the afterlife. Living in the forest as fur trappers, existed a community of young couples who were all related to Bev. She treated these young adults like her children, helping them out financially if needed and hosting family events, such as weddings and parties at Christmas. Losing Bev was like losing their own mother, an event the fur trappers and their children would never get over.

Bev was buried on her property, in the same small cemetery where her husband was interred. A crowd of two hundred mourners attended her service, watching as her body was lowered into the cold ground. Bev is now but a thought of days past, a woman never forgotten and sorely missed in this land of sad memories.

CHAPTER ONE

T he winds of change were sweeping over Dawson. Many wives and children in the lower forty -e ight waited for their men to come back from the goldfields, however not all these hapless prospectors ever returned to their families. Unprepared, some men died at the hands of nature or their fellow man, their bodies left in the forests of the Yukon to be eaten by the predators and scavengers which called this land home. Some men, hearing of a new strike in Alaska, packed up their gear and headed to try their luck in a new area. And some, tired of chasing gold, decided it was time to go home, their dreams crushed by the relentless hardships they faced daily to quench their thirst of yellow fever. The population of Dawson began to dwindle as these gold hunters move d on.

Wendy, Jason, and their son, Kuzih, had moved from their cabin in the wilderness to Bev’s house in Dawson. A prior verbal agreement between Wendy and her Aunt Bev had been further cemented as fact in Bev’s will, which stated Jason and Wendy would inherit the house upon her passing. The stipulations of this agreement included their responsibility to care for the donkeys in the barn and allow family members living in the forest to freely use the pack animals as needed. Bev also stated it was very important for Wendy and Jason to continue hosting Christmas celebrations, inviting their fellow trappers in the bush to their new home each year. These terms would be honoured by Wendy and Jason, who had taken up residence in the house.

In addition to taking over Bev’s home, a sizable amount of money had been left to Jason and Wendy to keep the old estate running, ensuring the structures did not get dilapidated and left to lay in ruins. When Wendy and Jason moved into the house, they assumed Bev’s duties feeding the poor with donated meat kept in the large outdoor freezers on her property. Tribe members continued to drop off game when it was available, to ensure no member of their tribe went hungry.

Because of the upheaval Bev’s death brought to Jason and Wendy’s lives, they desperately needed a break. This coming summer, the couple hoped to take a one-week canoe trip, without their son, down a tributary of the Yukon River. Final decisions would be made later regarding this trip; for now, it was something they both looked forward to.

Wendy walked to the barn to feed Omar, Honey, and Baby Jack. She loved feeding the donkeys, which belonged to various relatives and were boarded at Bev’s barn. When alone with these animals, memories of Bev flooded Wendy’s consciousness, pleasant thoughts about her favorite aunt, never to be forgotten.

CHAPTER TWO

A fter moving to Dawson, Wendy and Jason gave their larger cabin in the bush to Johnathan and Shining Star, Wendy’s cousin, and her husband. The couple appreciated having more living space for their child, Grey Eagle. The mattresses in their new cabin were made from goose down, a far cry and more comfortable to sleep on than the ones filled with straw at their previous cabin. This left Jonathan and Shining Star’s cabin empty. Those buildings needed to be maintained or they would be taken over by nature in a very short time.

It was agreed that Wendy and Jason would find an appropriate couple to move into the vacant home, something Bev would have wanted them to do. She had prided herself on providing a helpful start for newcomers in the bush, although nothing quite as grand as gifting someone an entire homestead. Ownership of a habitable cabin would be a gift never expected by the receiver and one that would give a pair of new arrivals a head start. Wendy would wait for the perfect candidates to come along, before offering the cabin as a gift to start their married life. This was a prerequisite for receiving the cabin, that it be a wedding gift to a young couple, an act of kindness to assure they got off to a successful start living together, where they longed to be.

The bright but distant sunshine slowly melted the snow. Another winter would soon be over, and life would return to the Yukon. The ice on lakes in the area would soon thaw, allowing the migratory waterfowl to return, where they would breed and carry on their lifeline. These events allowed trappers, who inhabited cabins on the lakes, to harvest numerous waterfowl for food over the summer months.

The snow was slowly melting from around Wendy and Jason’s house and barn. The first shoots of green appeared from the ground hugging the buildings, proving the sun’s ability to bring life back from death. Jason was expecting Joe and Mary, friends who were considered family, to visit Dawson soon, as they would be coming to pick up Honey. In the early spring, before the ground became muddy, the couple used Honey, one of the family’s pack animals, for completing chores around their cabin. While staying with Joe and Mary, Honey would be kept in their sturdy fur shed, before being returned to Dawson, where she was housed in a locked barn.

These were not the same privileges Honey’s mate, Omar, enjoyed when he was taken out in the bush. This donkey felt he was given no security in regard for his life, always fearful that someday he would end up as dinner. He envisioned being dragged off into the bush to be eaten, never to see his wife and child in Dawson again. Omar would rather retire his position and spend the rest of his life in the safety of the barn, a dream which had little chance of becoming reality.

CHAPTER THREE

W endy and Jason had moved to Dawson last summer, taking possession of Bev’s house at the beginning of June, after her estate was settled. They carried their personal belongings with them from their cabin, leaving the rest of their belongings behind. The couple moved the items they wanted to keep to Dawson this past winter, when they could use their dog team for transportation. Jonathan and Shining Star had moved into Wendy and Jason’s cabin shortly after they moved to Dawson. Their old cabin lay empty for now, but the couple hoped someone would take possession of the building soon.

The day in Dawson was sunny and warm. The early April sun was melting the snow which covered the ground. A constant dripping from the roofs of the homes in Dawson could be heard when walking down the muddy streets. The crowds were mostly gone, as the lure of finding gold in the Klondike had diminished. The fervid gold seekers had lost interest in the area, heading to a new discovery of this precious metal in Alaska, starting a new gold rush on American soil. Others had given up completely and returned home.

With little fanfare, Joe and Mary arrived at Wendy and Jason’s property. They checked on Honey before heading to the house and being graciously welcomed by Wendy and Jason. They invited the couple inside, and while sitting at the table drinking coffee, talked about Jason and Wendy’s past and how their lives had changed since moving into town. The number of permanent residents in Dawson was growing. During the heyday of the gold rush, investment had poured into Canada’s most northern city. People who were successful finding gold took a liking to the lifestyle, deciding to stay in the north to live. Some built homes and business expanded, allowing Dawson to grow into a larger and more enduring place.

After an influx of rowdy men flooded into Dawson, a new law enforcement agency was sent to maintain order. A permanent outpost was built and the North West Mounted Police became a presence in the area. Using Dawson as their permanent location, they built small wooden shelters throughout the bush for overnight stays. Equipped with a woodstove and beds to sleep on, these buildings provided shelter when policing the cabins built in the forest. One of the Mounties’ priorities was the safety of the fur trappers living outside of town. Too many men were dying alone in the bush, unaware of the dangers of cabin fever, failing to get out before insanity took over their minds.

The Mounties had made a big difference in law and order in Dawson, preventing many serious crimes from taking place. The citizens were glad to have law enforcement on their side and hoped for a peaceful existence going forward, unlike their chaotic past at the height of the gold rush.

CHAPTER FOUR

J oe and Mary were invited to spend the night, and being in no hurry to go back to their cabin, they accepted Jason and Wendy’s offer of dinner, followed by a friendly card game. Outside the cabin it was raining. The storm had started a short time ago and had not stopped, turning the snow into slush on the trails. Joe felt he had missed the opportunity to use Honey for help around his cabin. The weather in the Yukon had warmed earlier than expected, turning the landscape into a mucky mess. This made travel difficult, especially with a donkey. Joe would leave Honey in Dawson until the trails dried up, which would make the ground easier for the pack animal to walk on. Traversing through too much mud would tire the animal to the point of exhaustion, making her refuse to move further. Being left with a stubborn donkey who won’t move, even under threat, is not a place Joe wanted t o be.

Wendy and Mary prepared dinner, while the men took Jason’s son, Kuzih, into the living room to play with the family pets, King and Rusty. Kuzih laughed when the dogs rolled over, wanting their bellies rubbed. Jason put Kuzih on King’s back, making the child laugh hysterically as Joe led King around the living room, with him holding on tight.

The women called their husbands for dinner, with the dogs being the first ones at the table. With easier access to commodities, such as flour, Wendy could now prepare meals with baked bread and other goodies fresh from her hot oven. Shortages of goods in Dawson were less acute, with not as many people competing for the limited number of supplies available at that time. Jason had shot some grouse the day before Joe and Mary arrived, which was what was being served for dinner. He took the dogs outside and fed them some whitefish he had caught through the still thick ice on the lake. He left the animals outdoors, while the couples ate dinner.

Pleasant conversations between the diners took place for the next hour. Jason and Wendy told Joe and Mary of their desire to take a one-week canoe trip this summer. Mary offered to come to town and watch Kuzih and their dogs while they were away. With their son being older, Wendy and Jason would not worry about turning this responsibility over to their trusted friends.

After dinner, the couples retired to the living room for coffee and hot bread covered in butter, cinnamon, and sugar. At times, it was possible to find odd items on the shelves of the general store. Such was the case when Wendy found cinnamon, with no explanation as to how it found its way to Dawson.

The sky had cleared, revealing moonlight shining through the windows of the house. The couples looked outside, watching their dogs frolicking in the front yard, as a million shining stars twinkled in the night sky. The couples sat around the table, teaching each other new card games and enjoying the warm friendship they shared together. The group played cards until sleepiness overtook them. Unable to fight it off, they all turned in for the night, where a quiet night’s sleep would be offset by a chaotic day tomorrow.

CHAPTER FIVE

J oe and Mary were awakened in the middle of the night by distant barking from dogs in Dawson. A short time later, Mary urged Joe to pull himself out of bed to investigate this unusual activity. Joe walked to the window and looked out in the direction of Dawson, where flames and smoke were clearly visible in the night sky. Wendy and Jason entered the room, joining Joe at the window. They watched for a few seconds, at what appeared to be a house burning down. Joe and Jason dressed quickly and walked twenty minutes into Dawson to see what was burning and if they could be of help.

Upon arrival, the men noticed a crowd gathered around what was now a pile of smoldering ruins. The captain of the Dawson fire battalion told Jason a charred body had been removed from the ruins of the wooden building. Many of the house fires at the time were caused by unsafe stove pipes or accidents with burning lamps, usually resulting in the building burning to the ground. At times, the dwellings’ owners lost their lives before being able to escape.

The fire battalion chief told Joe and Jason they were lucky this fire had not spread to any of the nearby structures. After the fire of 1899, which destroyed over 110 buildings in town, any building fire in town was considered dangerous. Many residents still clung to the habit of soaking blankets in water and hanging them from their exterior walls to encase their homes in ice, hoping to prevent fire from spreading to them.

The men returned to the house and told their wives what happened in town. The couples decided to go back to bed for two more hours of sleep. Joe and Mary left for home with Rusty early in the morning, even though the conditions for the walk home were unfavorable. The terrain was wet and muddy, as the melting snow turned to liquid daily. The warm spring sunshine thawing the frozen ground was making conditions for walking difficult, but not impossible. The usual three hour walk home from Dawson took over four hours, travelling along the same route.

Upon returning home, Joe and Mary immediately noticed the lake. The ice was breaking up along the shoreline, leaving large areas of open water. Joe and Mary looked skyward, responding to the sound of honking geese. The geese were returning from their migration south, with some staying for the summer to breed and raise their young here. Many young geese were lost to predators, such as raptors, fish, and even raccoons, who ate the goslings as a healthy snack.

Reaching the cabin, Mary pointed out a mother fox and her two young, lying under a large evergreen tree in their front yard. Startled by Rusty, the small canines bolted into the protection of the forest. Joe restrained Rusty, so he would not run down the younger foxes and hurt them. Mary also noticed tiny wildflowers blooming in the sunshine, along the outer wall of their cabin, happy to see a sure sign of spring.

The couple entered the cabin and started a fire to warm the inside of the dank and cold structure. After the long and difficult walk from Dawson, Joe and Mary were looking forward to sitting and drinking hot coffee. The quiet forest and the remaining snow spread across the land would soon be gone, replaced by a greener environment, signalling the rebirth of life in the Yukon.

CHAPTER SIX

A few days later, Jason was up early. He had answered a knock at his front door to find a man who had stopped by looking for his lost dog. Jason liked the man and invited him inside, introducing him to Wendy. The trio sat down in the kitchen, having coffee together. The man said his name was Samuel, but people