Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-04
TOO MUCH RISK.
Difficult for Alaskan Gold
Seekers to Insure Lives.
Some Companies Refuse Risks and
None Care to Take Them.
But Still the Rush for the klondyks Is on The
Increase.

Chicago. Aug. 3.--The Chicago agent
OF the Travellers Insurance Company
OF Hartford, CT, has received instruc-
tons from his home office not to in
sure any person going to the Klondyke
region. Inquiry develops that many
OF the principal life and accident in
surance companies have issued positive
instructions to their general agents in
| the United States and Canada against
| assuming any risks upon the lives of
persons contemplating visit to the
klondyke. Many of the general agents
representing Eastern life and accident
insurance companies in Chicago have
received letters from the home office of
| a prohibitory nature against these
risks. The action taken by the Travel
lers is similar to that taken by the
Provident Life and Trust and many of
the smaller companies.
Mr.. Harris, the manager of the New
York Life Insurance Co. in Chicago.
has received no instructions that ac-
credits him from issuing permit to
policy holders in that company to visit
the Klondyke but he says they have
positive instructions to accept no appli-
cations for either an increase of in
surance or new policies. The Provident
Life and Trust ca has positive instruc-
ton not to take any insurance of this
character, while at the office of the
Equitable Life Insurance Co., they are
refusing all such risks. The manager
of the Equitable in Chicago is out Of
the city but his assistant stated he had
written the home office in regard to
klondyke insurance. In the case of old
policy holders an extra charge is made
by the Equitable for permission to
visit Alaska. What this charge is the
representative of the company is un-
able to say, but it will be at least an
addition of IS per $1,000.
The Penn Mutual is another company
which has no Instructions from the
home office against taking risks on the
lives Of those going to the Alaska gold
fields. Its representative stated, today.
that it was the policy in the absence
of positive instructions to refuse bust
ness of this character. He said, how
ever. that no action would be taken in
regard to policy holders who desired
to visit the gold fields Many of the
smaller companies and especially the
local companies fatty refuse to accep;
business of this character. They say
the risks are too great for the premi-
ums.
The action of the life insurance COM
panies is not nearly as surprising as
that of the accident The companies
carrying accident risks are even more
particular than many of those assunl-
ing life risks. They go on the theory
that the trip overland to Alaska is
fraught with more dangers to life and
limb from accident than is possible
from disease. The only thing that
causes the accident companies to hesi-
tate in cancellng the policies is the
extreme prudence that the policy hold
ers has shown in the past They do
not care to assume risk upon dar-
ing young prospector who will not take
even the precautions of carrying sufii.
cient clothing and food with him to the
Klondyke regions. They estimate that
the greater portion of those going to
that country are persons unaccustomei
to cold and are insufIiciently provided
with food and clothing