THE KLONDYKE RUSH.

Southern Cross, Volume 5, Issue 31, 6 November 1897, Page 6

THE KLONDYKE RUSH.

GOLD TIED UP IN BLANKETS.

The following letter has been received in Liverpool from a Liverpool man now .on his way to Klondyke:— v Scagway, Alaska, Aug. 15, 1897. My Dear Aunt, I find a few moments to address this note to you, which will be my last for some time. I suppose you received my other letter with papers stating that I was going to start for the gold diggings. Well, I am now on my way, and camped half-way on the trail from the top of the mountain, which we have to reach in order to get to the lakes, where we have to build our boats to go down the river, a distance of 450 miles. The distance which separates us from the lakes is -thirty-five miles, all continual climbing up hill. It is the hardest undertaking a man could possibly tackle. Each man has got to take along with him enough provisions to last at least eight months, till ice breaks up, so that the steamers can reach there with provisions in the summer. Each man takes his stove, tent, blankets, and food along with him over the trail, weighing about half a ton. It is a sight to see HUNDREDS OP TENTS scattered along the trail. There are about 2,000 people here waiting to get over, and those people that have horses are the lucky ones, because that saves a man packing his food ; otherwise he has to pack it on his back. There are about 500 horses and mules on this trail, and it is something that would strike pity into anybody to see those horses toiling up the trail with 200 lbs on their hacks covered with sores. Two trips and they are PLAYED OUT.

And then men with 50 lbs on their backs doing the same thing. Many that have gone part of the way have , returned unable to stand it. The Indians are charging as high as 35c per lb to pack for you, that is is 9£d. Two men were drowned, one with a pack on his back, and swept down the river in attempting to cross. Several horses have been killed on the trail by breaking their legs; others have fallen unable to stand the load. I have contracted for horses to pack otherwise I would not attempt it till spring, as then a man can use a sleigh with dogs. If I get through I will have to face a, winter with the thermometer as low as 76 degrees below zero ; but it is in the winter that a man prospects, and washes his gold out in the summer, and I want to get in before the rest. If I had went in when I intended I would BE A MILLIONAIRE to-day in dollars. Men that I know were penniless are now worth as high as £IOO,OOO. This strike has set the whole of the United States moving, and there will be a terrible rush in there next spring. Four men arrived in here yesterday from the Klondyke with their gold tied up in blankets. One had as high as 150 lbs., which I bandied myself, and it SENT A THRILL through me. The 150 lbs . was valued at 16,000 dols. Wages were by last reports 15 dols. per day, that is £3 ; but everything is high. Apples 1 dol. or 4s per lb ; potatoes, 65 dols. per sack, or £l3 ; and other things in proportion. One man wrote to a friend of mine stating that gold dust was as plentiful as iron, so I am going to try and get some myself. Your affectionate nephew, J. H. Johnson. ‘ P.S.—The creek is taken up for twenty miles, each man being allowed 500 feet to a claim, and each man values his claim as high as high as 1,000,000 dols., that is 2,000 dols. per foot. There has been taken out as high as 800 dols. to a pan of dirt—so, good bye.