FORTUNE-HUNTING IN THE KLONDYKE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue XXII, 20 November 1897, Page 696

FORTUNE-HUNTING IN THE KLONDYKE.

LT’S AND DOWNS OE CAMP LIFE. A Halifax correspondent whose bro-ther-in-law, Mr F. Price, has recently returned from the Klondyke district, gives (says the ‘Yorkshire Post’) the following vivid account of the goldfields, derived from conversation with him: — It is now two years since my bro-ther-in-law, who was then in business in Seattle, Washington, joined a hotly of hardy adventurers, many of whom were giving up good situations in the city and were setting out to seek their fortunes in the newly-discovered El Dorado. He has made a fortune sufficient to keep him in comfort for the rest of his life, irrespective of the claim he still retains on Bonanza Creek, for which he has refused an offer of $15,000, in the belief that it will fetch about $50,000 next spring. When the Seattle adventurers started upon their expedition they had but little idea of the perils they were to undergo. Though the goldfields had been discovered for some time, very few save the North American Indians had penetrated the ice-bound region which separates them from civilisation. They had been warned, it is true, that the goldfields were extremely difficult of access, and that only the most hardy and courageous should venture to seek their fortunes there. But, like many of those who are now engaged in the mad rush after gold, they paid greater heed to the stories of the untold wealth which awaited those who had the courage and endurance to brave the perils of the journey. To reach their coveted destination the party had to pass through over 2,000 miles of inhospitable country, carrying with them an enormous stock of goods in the form of mining implements, provisions, and clothing —climbing snow-covered hills, shooting dangerous rapids in roughly-con-structed craft, and encountering innumerable hardships which only those of exceptional constitution can hope to withstand. After journeying to Juneau they took steamer to Dyea. Then began a tedious and perilous journey over the mountains. Each had to carry an outfit weighing from tiOOtb to 8001 b. which was hauled over the snow in sledges. Some were provided with dogs. But dogs in that region are scarce. Good dogs cost from $175 to $2OO each: in fact, any sort of a dogwill fetch from $5O upwards. Manyhad to haul the sledges themselves, carrying a portion of the load a few miles, and then going back for the rest. Difficulties even greater were experienced in making Chilcoot Pass, where the dangers are increased byglaciers and blinding snow. Crater Lake, which is frozen all the year round, was then crossed, and after a journey of over 300 miles further the part v encamped at t he head of the Grand Canon.where boats were roughly constructed. In these frail craft they had to shoot the most dangerous rapids. They ran many hair-breadth escapes from being wrecked, but fortunately no member of the party was lost, though some lost their baggage. Once through the canon, the chief dangers were behind them. But how many of those now flocking to the Klondyke are to perish in attempting this perilous journey? Even if these dangers be passed in safetv the adventurer has still to experience hardships which pone but those who have worked in the Klondyke goldfields cannot understand. My brother-in-lnw worked two claims without coming across the expected fortune, and it was not until after

more than a year’s fruitless toil that he at last ‘struck lucky’ on Bonanza Creek, it was here that George Cormack, the first white man to reach the goldfields, met with sueh extraordinary success. Arriving in August, he found himself unable to work his claim from the lack of provisions, and some delay was caused in obtaining a supply sufficient for a few weeks. He then returned to work, accompanied by his wife and brother-in-law, and though unprovided with a proper miner's outfit, and obliged to carry the gravel dust in a box on their backs for a distance, of 100 feet, the three, working very intermittently, washed out $14,200 worth of gold in eight days. The greatest difficulty has t been experienced in getting labourers. Old miners will not work at any price, but prefer to seek out claims of their own. Several miners who worked for about six weeks received $5,300 each, and one old miner was paid $l2 for three hours’ work. He, however, refused an offer to continue at that rate of remuneration, and went off in search of a claim for himself. And this is not to be wondered at,when some prospectors were taking out gold so quickly that they filled syrup cans and weighed the dust with steelyards instead of gold scales. From a drift claim one man alone was taking out $l,OOO a day. Even the mounted police deserted their posts and went out in search of gold. Camp life in the Klondyke goldfields is exceedingly monotonous, and as a consequence there is a good deal of gambling and immorality. In Dawson City some time ago a successful miner sold out his claim, imported a piano, and started a dancing saloon. There are several gambling hells, and many who have amassed a fortune in the goldfields dissipate it in the city in drink, gambling, and debauchery. The gambling is exceedingly high. The miners play ‘stud-horse poker,’ and pay from $5O upwards to draw a card. The use of firearms is, fortunately, prohibited by the British Government, which enforces its laws by means of the mounted police. Captain Constantine is at their head, and he also acts as mae-istrate, while Gold Commissioner Faweettt has jurisdiction over mining disputes. A great event this summer was the arrival of the Excelsior from San Francisco, the first vessel to push her way through the ice to the station. The Portland, of Seattle, arrived four days later, and the miners then, for the first time.Jearned the news of McKinley’s election and the result, of the Corbett-Fitzsimmons prize fight, the latter being, in the opinion of many, the more important event of the two. Apart from the girls at the dancing saloons, there are very few women in the mining district. Mrs Tom Lippy-, of Seattle, wife of the secretary of the Y.AI.C.A., who was among the party which has just returned to that city, was the first white woman to set foot in the region. She was the only white woman across the divide, though there were nine or ten women at Forty Mile. A woman in the camp about a mile from El Dorado Creek was the only person of her own sex with whom Mrs Lippy conversed during her two years’ residence. She, however, managed to brave the hardships of camp life, anil returned with $6,000 worth of gold nuggets that she had picked up on the dumps, apart from the enormous wealth accumulated by her husband. who has been the most fortunate of the Seattle adventurers. My brother-in-law tells of a very sad incident in connection with the Klondyke. A miner left his wife and child to go and seek his fortune. After two years' hard toil he amassed sufficient gold to keep him and his family' in luxury' for the rest of their days. Hi- found on his return that both wife and child had died, lacking the comforts which his wealth could have supplied many times over. The greatest hardships of camp life are due to the severity of the climate. During June and July the temperature is sueh as to render tent life comfortable. There is practically no night, and the thermometer is sometimes as high as 80 degrees in the shade. The miners then work almost incessantly, washing out the accumulated pay-dirt and storing up their golden harvest. But once July is past there is a sudden change. The mercury rapidly' falls to 10 and even to 60 degrees below zero. Work is attended with the greatest difficulty, and tent life rendered almost unendurable. It is the greatest folly to attempt to reach the Klondyke at this time of the year. There is nothing to be

gained by- going now, even though the adventurer should be fortunate enough to reach his destination. It is impossible to lay too much stress on the importance of taking an abundant supply of provisions. The goldfields are 2,000 miles from St. Michaels, and the difficulties of transportation are innumerable. The River Y'ukon is now very low, and food supplies cannot be transported. In the winter the streams are frozen with impassable ice. Last year the camps near Dawson City were on the borders of famine. No miner will be engaged who has not an ample supply of provisions. If newcomers were allowed to depend on obtaining food supply in the goldfields they' would require a fortune to keep them, for flour, the cheapest article of food to be had, costs $l2 per 100 Tb. Houses are still very few,though there are about 5,000 inhabitants of Dawson City. Building plots fetch from $5,000 to $lO,OOO, and lumber is sold at $lOO per 1,000 feet. Nobody should go to the new camp with less than $5OO to $l,OOO to support himself and ensure the possibility of retiring in case of adversity-.