Klondyke.

Lake County Press, Issue 787, 23 December 1897, Page 7

Klondyke.

A Vancouver telegram says—The mailman from Dyer reports that 1000 of the Klondykerefugeesare desperately attempting to cross the mountains. He estimates that at, least a fourth of these will perish. Food is not purchaseable at Dawson City, but there is some hope that reindeer will be utilised for the introduction of supplies. Among the passengers by the Warritnoo to Wellington are miners named David M'Lead and Galloway, who have been on a visit to Klondyke. They informed a Post reporter that they arrived at Victoria in June, and were 44 days on the road to Dawson City, where they spent two months and visited every find. They are perfectly satisfied that Klondyke is immensely rich in the precious metal, and it is their intention to return in the summer. When they started back Dawson City contained about 8,000 inhabitants and people were flocking into it from all parts of the world. They emphatically contradicted the reports which have reached New Zea land u at there is neither law nor order in Dawson Ciiy ; they say it is really a huge camp, hut perfect order is being maintained, and not a single crime was c immitted during their stay in the place. When they left, Dawson City was 1 wi 11 provisioned, and they are satisfied that the food supplies then in the place were amply sufficient for all requiremeiitsduringthe winter. Work could be obtained by anyone, and labourers were getting high wages, but difficulty was experienced in obtaining really good men, as most of the people preferred gold (Jigging. No one should go without £l5O in his pocket.

Mr F. T. Browne, of Otaki, who left for Klondyke three months ago, sends a letter to the New Zealand Times, which gives a very different account to that of the three Australian miners who returned by the Warrimoo. He agrees as to the richness of the field, but warns anyone against attempting to go till Januaryi at tiie earliest as the passes will not be open till March. Miners who left Dawson City in September, told him there was only half enough food there for the people, and hardly any chance of sending relief. His account bears out the accounts lately received by cable. Browne himself never got to the fields as the passes were impassable. The trails were covered with thousands of dead horses and goods thrown away by disappointed diggers who could not get through. No one would work under .£3 a day, and it cost £5 per week to live, and a low estimate at that. There is no work in British Columbia as the Chinese absorb it all. He thinks there is an opening for New Zealand woollen goods and dairy produce.