Lindeman Creek facts for kids

Small boats (scow) on the river during the gold rush era, 1898

Packtrains carrying freight along One Mile River, 1898

Bennett, British Columbia and Bennett Lake where they meet One Mile River, ca. 1898

Eric A. Hegg photograph of Bennett along One Mile River

Rapids on the river

Tent camp with boat building activity and One Mile River in background

Boat attempting to navigate the river in 1897, photograph by Frank La Roche

Lindeman Creek, also known as One Mile River, is a short but important river in British Columbia, Canada. It links Bennett Lake to Lindeman Lake. These lakes are part of the famous Chilkoot Trail in the far northwest of British Columbia. The river flows just south of Bennett Lake and northeast of the Chilkoot Pass summit. It is known for its challenging rapids.

One Mile River: A Gold Rush Adventure

What is Lindeman Creek?

Lindeman Creek, once called One Mile River, is a fast-flowing river. It connects two lakes, Bennett Lake and Lindeman Lake. These lakes are found along the historic Chilkoot Trail. This trail was a key route for people heading to the Klondike Gold Rush.

The river is famous for its "class 3 rapids." This means the water is very rough and challenging to navigate. It requires great skill to travel through its strong currents.

Navigating the Rapids

In 1897, a photographer named Frank La Roche captured images of the river. His pictures showed how difficult it was to travel on it. A book from 1898, En Route to the Klondike, described the journey. It said that skill, calm thinking, and hard work were needed to get through the rapids.

Imagine a small boat being pulled by ropes from people on shore. Others in the boat would steer to avoid dangerous rocks. The boat would rush through wild currents, sometimes barely escaping disaster. Other times, it would glide between sharp rocks. There was no time to hesitate; only quick reactions and steady hands could lead to success. This was the reality for many heading to the Klondike.

The Klondike Gold Rush and the River

One Mile River played a big role in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush. Thousands of prospectors, or gold seekers, traveled the Chilkoot Trail. They carried all their supplies to the top of the trail. Then, they waited for the ice on the lakes and rivers to melt.

On May 28, 1898, the ice finally broke. The rush to the gold fields began! In just one day, 800 boats set off down the river. Over the next two weeks, about 7,000 boats carried around 20,000 men. They were all heading to Dawson City to find gold.

The Rise and Fall of Bennett

After the first big rush, the town of Bennett became a busy center. It provided services for the many people still traveling north. However, this busy time did not last long.

A new railway, the White Pass and Yukon Route, was built. It connected Skagway, Bennett, and Whitehorse. With the railway, people no longer needed to brave the dangerous One Mile River. By 1901, the town of Bennett began to shrink. Some buildings were even moved closer to the new railway station.

Bennett was home to several hotels, including the Arctic Hotel. This hotel was partly owned by Friedrich Trump. He was the grandfather of Donald Trump. In 1901, Friedrich Trump took his money and moved to New York. There, he started a successful real estate business.

Today, the town of Bennett is a "ghost town." This means most of its buildings are empty, and few people live there. It is now a popular spot for tourists who want to see a piece of history.