Yukon Relief Expedition

As cold Weather came on in the autumn of 1897, not all the news from the camps was of gold and glory. Provisions were inadequate to feed the miners in the Yukon District, and surely starvation would set in before spring. Missionary and educator Sheldon Jackson Promised to bring food--even some on the hoof--to save the day. Among those setting out from Norway with live reindeer was Carl Johan Sakariassen: he kept a level head, an unblinking eye, and a careful journal. His vivid, daily account of life on a little-known but remarkable expedition comes in the voice of a candid youth, who reports on his trek across half the world with a dwindling herd of troublesome reindeer and an even more fractious lot of reindeer herders. Editors Rausch and Baldwin have provided thorough historical context and detailed annotation for the journal, making this a useful document for scholars as well as an informative and enjoyable tale for readers with a more casual interest in northern history.