A Successful New Zealander.

Manawatu Herald, 15 December 1898, Page 2

A Successful New Zealander.

HOW HE WON A FORTUNE AT KLONDYKE. *, As stated in our issue of Saturday, the B.M.S. Aorangi brought from Vancouver a fairly large party of returned and disappointed adven* turera from the North, but it was also stated that the party of Etondykers were not all returned " empties." The single exception was Mr Carl Y. Ledebur, and with that gentleman a representative of the Post had a most interesting ohat. His narrative makes one of the most interesting of modern goldfield romances, and it has been specially written up for the Post's Christmas Supplement shortly to be issued. Mr Ledebur left Auckland for the Elondyke in March last, arrived in Dawson City in May, was present at every rush within a radius of 100 miles of Dawaon during the following three months, and then, having grown sick with defeat —for failure met him at every turn— he made up his mind to return to civilisation. When three days oat- from Dawson be met, under the most exceptional ciroumstanoes, that good fortune which he had so strenuously hunted. How he secured a claim on Gold Hill will be found detailed in the main narrative already mentioned. Mr Ledebur left the field in Sepember last with 80,000 dollars' worth of gold in his handbag. But although fairly successful in the result of his adventures in the North, Mr Ledebur strongly cautions colonials against venturing to Eton* dyke. He points to his own general experience there in regard to his failure to obtain a payable claim in the stampedes and rushes, although be was a " champion hustler." His final good fortune he declares to have been a most exceptional base, as the detailed circumstances in his story will show. The administration of the fields had been shameful, but the appointment of Mr Ogileie at Commissioner in September last had resulted in a better and fairer state of things. This had been largely brought about through the sturdy, outspoken articles in the columns of the Elondyke Miner, a bright bk. weekly published in Dawson by the two Australian printers mentioned in the Post article of 81st March last in a notice of the outwardbounders on the Warrimoo. Incidentally it was mentioned that the recent big fire in Dawson City wag caused by Belle Mitchell, of Seattle, a leader of the demi-mon-daine, who in a fit of passion threw a burning lamp at another woman. -

Belle was charged with arson ov» r this affair, and sentenced to several years' imprisonment. Mr Ledebur's advice is fchit no poor man ?hoold attempt the Elon | dyke. It is no poor man's land. An adventurer well provided with money would be repaid for his yen tare. Such a one would not only be spared many of the hardships of fhe jonrney, but he would be able to buy into some payable claims for a „ reasonable amount. Buying-in is v.-^-the only method left. As all the olaimß fere " plaoers," he is satisfied , that within five years they will be worked out, and in ten years' time the Klondyke will be but an inoident in the history of gold-hunting. So * far as he is concerned, though he • still owns a half-share in a fine claim, not even Gold Hill would I tempt him baok to those regions again. He has seen the best portion? of the world in his time — he was born in Switzerland, educated in India, and graduated in New Zealand — and of all places on the earth he is satisfied that there is no place . like New Zealand to settle in.— Post.