THE BUSH TO KLONDIKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 20

THE BUSH TO KLONDIKE.

(Pek Mariposa at Auckland ) Ran Francisco, February 25. Although the journey to Diwson City at the present period of the year entails the moßt severe hardships, the rush of treasure- seekers is already in full blast, and every north-bound boat is loaded to the guards with prospectors from ali parts oi the world. The only way to get into tho Yukon country at this time of the year is ovdi" the Chiiccob and White Passes, and as tempes's and blizzards rage th«re duiing the winter months the travellers are indeed taking their lives in their hand*. An idea of the enormous extent of this flood of geld - seekeis can be gathered from the fact that a fleet of no lesa than 125 vessels is engaged in handling the furor gs of expectant humanity. The first; estimate (h t 50,000 people would go into the Yukon country this spring has been abandoned, aad it is now figured that the total will be near the 100,000 mark. Tfiey come from every quarter of the world, and embrace all eorts and conditions — men and women, and even children, beinj in the army that is invading the frozen north. All tie gold that has pub in an appearanca ha 3 cotne frotn a few pocket claim 3 on the Dominion, Bonanza, act! Eldorado Cioeka. It is rattier remarkable, too.

I that if gold is as plentiful up there 1 a* has been said many are coming back to civilisation with but 200 or 300 dollars as a result of all their labour ; whils others are writing begging lexers to their friends in ' America appalling icy funds with which to make tfce return trip. Despite all these wainings, though, it seems too late to turn the tide, aLd the people are following each obher into the country like a flock of sheep, i As regards outside projtcls, ifc ia claimed thsut no less than 700 Klusdyke companies hay* been formed ia different part* of the. world, and as their couibii ed capitalisation is over a billion dollars, it can be seen whit poor chuares the average s=t< ckhclder has of getting his money back. The eomplaiots of lawlesauess along the trails and the indications of serious tioublea o£ that description later on in the ■ spring have led to the sendiitf& by the United States of two regiments of cavalry and one oc infantry to guard the property and lives of the traveller?. Couriers conae in over the trails from Dawaon C.ty tvery few dvjs, and report that everything there is about tbe same, aud has been since ths win'er set in. About 6000 men s re encamped in that vicinity, an 3 pro-pecting is going on all the time, despite tbe danger.* and hardship of ' tiavel Owiijg to the it flux of mail looking for j work. Y9*ges h*ve dropped to Idol an hour, aud i a further decrease is auticipat»;<l as souu as the spring crowd gt^s ii>. Several beac'i claini3 staked oufc on tbe Eldorado, above 'he location or the forme 1 * strikes, show that its richnew continue* tar up beyond the point expected, one of the new claims having produced a pockec n>>t over 10ft fquars frotn which SOOOdoi was tsk'=D. At No. 5 (Eldorado) a 17oz nugg-t wt.B taken out the other day. The Bjmu.zi Creek is also paid io be producing heatily, ou-j cf ibe claims mit-icg ! 50lz a day, and another one 2000iol a day.