The Klondike Goldfields.

Hastings Standard, Issue 413, 31 August 1897, Page 3

The Klondike Goldfields.

The 'Frisco papers contain sensational accounts of the Klondike goldf'elds, in British Columbia. Just before the departure of the mails fifioc-n miners had returned from tho i\ Id, bringing nearly a mii!i>n dollars' worth of gold. Sensational accounts of the experiences of lucky miners appear in the leading San Francisco papers. There were amcng the passengers men who had been more than ten years facing the danger;; and hardships of the frozen north, in the hope of making a rich find. When the steamer was berthed, four men took possession of a 'bus, while one guarded ttie door. The other three carried several heavy buckskin sacks and piled them in the 'bus. They were then driven to the Silby Smelting Coy.'s works. It is estimated that they have brought gold to the value of nearly a million dollars. Millions upon millions of virgin gold according to the miners' stories, await the fortunate miners who have the hardihood and courage to penetrate into the unknown depths of the Yukon district. The returned miners say that their principal mining was done in the winter, though it was not until the snow melted, and the streams began to run, that they knew just what they had accomplished. They built fires on the ground, thawing it, and then threw the earth in great piles. When the spring came they washed the dirt and obtained the gold. Not one of the miners who returned will advise anybody to make the journey. They tell gladly enough of the wealth to be had almost for picking up, but they also tell of the dangers. "Do not go," they say, " unless you have a good outfit, plenty of provisions, and money enough to last a year. It must not be imagined by any one that the trip is easy of accomplishment; it is just the contrary. There are many dangerous places, but if one is strong and brave these may be overcome."