40 years on the Yukon Telegraph

the long version

"This is an autobiography which details Lawrence's arrival in Canada in 1898 from England to prospect in the Klondike Gold Fields. While en route, a gold strike was made at Atlin, British Columbia which was closer, and caused a change of plans. Spending two years working in various mining camps in Atlin, Lawrence joined the Yukon Telegraph Line, which was just being completed. This "lifeline" ran 1900 miles from Vancouver, B.C. through Ashcroft to Hazleton, Whitehorse and Dawson City. Up to World War I, Lawrence worked from isolated wilderness cabins, relaying messages and repairing lines. After serving overseas in the war, he ran the telegraph office in Stewart, which ran a branch line along the Portland Canal to the company town of Anyox. He remained in Stewart for 26 years, retiring in 1946. By this time, due to the wireless, most of the line had been abandoned"--Kurt Gippert Bookseller website, August 3, 2015