Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-09-18

ing multitude now on the way tC tho
Klondike. In spite Of all protest. official
and private hundreds of men. and
women too. are willing to brave the
dangers of an Arctic winter for the sake
of being the first on the field next
spring They are possessed by the greed
for gold-a disease for which the medi-
cal fraternity, from Hippocrates Gown.
has not yet discovered a cure
The stories of lucky strikes are more
potent than sober admonitions; and
one of the most romantic of these
stories was told the other day by Clara
Wilson, of Denver, Col. who went to
little mining camp south of Circle City,
Alaska, year and half ago to serve
as cook for a number of miners.
Miss Wilson does not have to wash
dishes for living now, neither is she
one of the deserted ones in the presence
of other women. She is not handsome
young woman as personal appearance
goes, but she is now the possessor OF
that which makes her the loaistone
where eligible young men are present
and would afford her an opportunity
of taking her pick in ordinary COM
pany. In other words. the dishwasher,
Clara Wilson. returns to the United
States the multi-millionairess. Miss
Wilson, and all through her own efforts.
Miss Wilson was educated in the
| public schools at Scranton. Pa. but her
parents moved to the western country
| before she had opportunity TO get
above the grammar grades AT that
| time her father had considerabl BILE
means but he exhausted it in N en-
deavor to locate gold in Colorado and
| California Miss Wilson was 16 years
old when her father died and at once
determined to make her own way in the
CT 10 RI fnI n
| EMPLOYMENT as domestic on steamer
| bound for Alaska. She found her way
| to Circle City and became the cook and
| general housemaid for number of
miners.
Miss Wilson was not satisfied with
| this kind of life. She had had some
| experience in mining while accompany
ing her father on his pilgrimages and
she crossed lots" in Alaska on her own
account. The result was that she To-
Gated copper mine which is now being
worked and which is said to be pannin 6
out as prolifcally any of the gold
mines that are making the Kiondile
fields famous. Miss Wilson had no
sooner staked her claim than her pos
session was disputed by number OF
men, but besides mining she had
learned from her father how to use
rifle and revolver and for days she sal
the sole guardian of her claim.
Her possession was finally recognized
and several of the men who disputed
, her right of occupancy are now work
ing with or for her, and it is estimated
that she is not worth less than So 900,
/ COO. The young woman said recently
II was in Chicago five years ago aftel
nv father died. Then 1 was a com
, monplace restaurant waiter or dish
: washer and no one cared for me. Now
am worth perhaps 100000 in money
: and am being constantly followed b.
young men of good families who woul'
be glad to take a wife. l might as wei
t say now that am not marrying at thi
time l do not know when / shall G
). back to Alaska. l may never go back
f for 1 don't mind saying that l have ha,
: an abundance of the kind of living the
have in that country. My mother an
can live now wherever we see fit. and
n want to tell you that we shall not hav
3 our rooms facing in alleys. as we hav
been compelled to since father died.
1.-The copper mine in which | am tn
principal owner was all my own fine
The funniest part is that l found it les
than a quarter of a mile from where w
were making our headquarters. Their
were indications that others had dis
covered the presence of copper ahea
OF me- out the SOld FEVER IN uSt nave IL d
full possession of them because the
passed it over. l secretly prospecte
my find for month before anyone e.s
found it. and then three men elaine
prior ownership. Then | had to maxi
personal defense. and this | did.
never had to fire a shot, but / woul
have done so without hesitancy.
NO; 1 would not advise any youn
woman to go to that country who hf
not had some experience with u;nel
or who is not prepared to defend he
self and undergo the severest har
ships. In that country self-preserv
ton is truly the first law of natur
) Men forget all their chivalry and a
though women are scarce they are nj
curiosities and do not seem to awake
= any special interest among me
Alaska miners are not sentiments
:, They are looking for riches and thu
A., do not care how they get them.
~ The first letter mail to be dispatch
:, from this country to the Klondlke +
no gion under the new reciprocal ARA n g