Journal:Belongs To: Douglas R. McDougall

Miner Description

Mr. Douglas R. McDougall was born on August 4, 1871 to a poor family in Glasgow, Scotland. He immigrated to New York in March of 1886 at age 15. He Lived in a tenement on the Scottish side of Manhattan where he developed an ongoing sickness. Then, after gaining some money, McDougall headed west and moved to a rundown apartment in Portland, Oregon. He is 6’2” and 220 pounds, burly, and lives with his dog, Dickens. Additionally, he was black haired with hazel eyes, was pale skinned and had a grayish beard.

November 8, 1896

I left my humble abode to find gold for my well being and my loyal dog, Dickens. I am about to embark on the Great Northern Pacific Railway Train from Portland to Seattle, where I will wait the winter.

March 29, 1897

After waiting the winter in an apartment on the poor side of Seattle, I am ready to trek along to get to my dream. Dickens is also excited as we sail for Skagway. I pack 168 pounds of food, for both me and Dickens to eat when we are there. I bought work boots and I packed a heavy jacket, gloves, warm socks, and warm pants for myself. We leave at Dawn on the Portland.

April 8, 1897

Slam! Crunch! Our boat sank today after hitting a shallow area on the Skagway Route 20 miles south of Juneau. We are cold, and over half of the crew and passengers are lost. People are devastated and scared. Evening is coming, and all 76 survivors trekked onward. We set up shelter under a natural overhang. We made a fire and warmed our bodies. During the night, we heard loud cries. We stayed by the fire because it was very cold.

May 8, 1897

After trekking for almost a month with now 63 survivors, we finally made it into Skagway, “Gateway to the Klondike.” I found a clearing a little ways out of the town and am planning to set up a log cabin there for me and Dickens. We also are interested in opening a lunch restaurant in the town square. It’s called the Prospectors’ Palace.

December 25, 1897 After owning my successful Prospectors’ Palace

restaurant for 7 months, my beloved pooch Dickens has died on Christmas Day of an unknown disease. I am deeply saddened and depressed, and I don’t know what to do without him. Now, after burying him in a peaceful cemetery, I have decided to move to Dawson City. I sold my restaurant, and burned my cabin. I take my belongings and trek on at dawn.

Www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tdsL4kvp_I

January 24, 1898

It’s my birthday! Not the greatest however. After experiencing 60 below zero temperatures, I nearly froze to death. I managed to lose a finger and I almost lost 3 more as well as 2 toes. I am at my wits end. I arrived at Lake Bennett, where I am building my boat and resting for this brutal winter that has taken everything from me.

April 1, 1898

After building a small canoe and resting for the winter, I am finally ready to traverse on the tough rapids of Miles Canyon and the calm waters of the Yukon River.

April 5, 1898 Finally, after long hours of walking and buying

countless items, I finally made it to the great Dawson City where I restocked and preplanned. I am about to claim a small plot of land where I will build another small cabin and look for gold on the goldfields from here on out. I am very excited, but fearful of failure or death.

July 4, 1898

After purchasing a plot of land and building my cabin, I am ready to talk to the old sourdoughs for the best claims. He tells me, “There’s one big claim up there, Cheekako. But you’re gonna have to run fast to get it!” This man could be telling the truth, or he could just be another liar. We will have to see.

August 7, 1898

The sourdough was right! I struck gold within my first month of digging! I hired some workers that turned out to be some of the most hardworking guys I have ever known. They worked 7 days a week, and they only asked for 5 cents pay. This was truly a great idea! Dickens would be proud!

My worker finding a nugget!

August 8, 1898 After finding $153,000 worth of gold with my

hardworking crew, they seem to have gotten restless. Wait a second, someone is knocking at the door. Oh no! Bang! (It seems that McDougall was shot in the head by his own workers. He was then buried under a pile of stones in a forest so no one would ever be suspicious.)

August 10, 1898This is Canadian Mounted Police officer James Delaney, of the 3rd Regiment in the Mounted Police. This is a full report about the fatal shooting of Mr. Douglas R. McDougall, which occurred on August 8, 1898. We found his body buried under a pile of stones in a desolate forest 5 miles out of Dawson City. It seems Mr. McDougall was shot in the head directly above and in the middle of the eyes. We returned to his residence to find that the entire home was ransacked, but it occurred to us that they did not find the gold they were looking for. It stayed hidden under the floorboards. We are returning McDougall's body to a local cemetery in Skagway where they say his beloved dog, Dickens was buried. The gold, a total of 75 ounces, will be returned to the McDougall’s in Glasgow, Scotland. The criminals are still at large. They are said to be armed and dangerous. Please be on the watch at all times. Thank you.

Officer James Delaney, 3rd Regiment

$0.05

Works Cited Page

http://www.offbeatoregon.com/1212b-young-adventurers-visit-to-portland-ended-in-prison.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2200169/How-Trumps-struck-Klondike-gold-Donalds-grandfather-gave-birth-familys-glittering-empire-seedy-restaurant-catering-loose-moralled-men-women-seeking-fortune.html 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klondike_Gold_Rush

http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/klse/hrs/hrs3b.htm