Many hardships were endured during the early 1900's in the North. The following is a story of just one instance depicting the trials and tribulations of traveling from Skagway to Whitehorse during the winter.

The photograph of the steamer Cutch as it was taken a year ago on one of her stormy voyages from the Sound, was brought to the minds of the people of White Horse today when the train arrived from Skagway after six long days battle in the snow and ice and the entire train looked like some of the old time pictures of Santa Claus' Christmas time excursions. A dozen bewhiskered and hungry passengers came through from Skagway and barber shops, bathrooms and restaurants did a thriving business for several hours after the train pulled into the depot.

The train left Skagway last Thursday morning in charge of Conductor Connelly, with McGee as engineer. The big rotary plow with two engines started ahead and moved along with little or no trouble until the summit was reached where the difficulties commenced. It was stopping, digging out and starting until late Thursday evening when, about one and a half miles this side of Fraser, two drawheads were pulled out of the plow engines and they were compelled to lay up for the night. Some of the passengers mushed up to Log Cabin, a distance of three miles, and waited there until Sunday when the train came along again with the broken drawbars replaced, they having been brought from Skagway by the second rotary.

Bennett was reached Sunday evening and there was another delay of two days, first as a result of one of the rotarys leaving the track over a broken rail and then one of the engines became disabled. The small rotary started ahead of the train from Bennett and was only enabled to run five miles when she had to be backed up again to Bennett for another tank full of water. Pennington was reached at midnight last night, where the train which left here Thursday for the south was passed and the big rotary started below ahead of her. The smaller rotary came as far as Caribou ahead of Connelly and from the latter point the track was found to be comparatively clear.

At Pennington it was learned that there had been several big snow slides between the Summit and Glacier and there is a chance that the line through to Skagway may continue to be blockaded until the weather moderates.

Among the passengers on the train arriving today was Post Offic. Inspector James, U.S. Customs Agent Idlemane bound for Forty Mile, James Larkin who is to have one watch in the prescription department of the Windsor Bar, Dr. Nicholson and half a dozen others who are enroute to Dawson. A.E. Chantler who had charge of the advertising for the annual edition of the Skagway Daily Alaskan, and who is now with the Alaska Yukon Advertising Co., was also one of the passengers on the belated train.

The White Horse Star, January 16, 1901