Ghosts of the Gold Rush

Ghosts: How did your grandfather end up in the middle of the Klondike gold rush?

Nancy Huston: My understanding is he was looking for work, as all young men were in that time, and he was travelling across the United States with a couple of friends picking up odd jobs here and there and found himself in the West at the time the Portland came in - July 17, 1897 - into Seattle. As everybody else, he was all excited about the gold in the Klondike, and thought that he and a couple of his buddies would like to go north.

Ghosts: So they jumped on a steamship in Seattle and ended up in Skagway?

Nancy Huston: That's correct, and he climbed over the Chilkoot (Pass).

Ghosts: Did he spend time in Skagway and run into Soapy Smith and his army of thugs and gangsters?

Tom Firth: I doubt it. He was already in the Klondike when Soapy Smith met his end.

Bahia Street

"Right now, in Brazil, summer vacation has just ended; the new school year began in February. For 10-year-old Renata, that means beginning the third grade. It's hard to believe that two years ago, she had never been to school and was unable to read!

"For Bahia Street, a nonprofit based in Seattle, the new school year means a chance to grow and help more young girls who are trapped in poverty. The program gives girls from the slums of Salvador, Brazil, not only the chance to go to a really good private school, but the tutoring and emotional support they need to excel.

"In Seattle, we offer a chance to learn about Brazil through Portuguese classes and musical events. Visit our webpage, hosted by SCN, or call for more information."

- Margaret Schulte
  (206) 633-1724