The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-07
JUNEAU ALL EXCITED.
Former Minnesota Divine Tells of
the Gold Fever.

the Gold FeVer.
Special to the Globe.
HALLOCK, Mimi, Aug. 6.-The fol-
lowing letter has just been received by
Henry Beer, formerly rector of the
Episcopal church here, but now sta
toned at Juneau, Alaska. The letter
was sent under date Of July 20. and it
is interesting to note what a difference
the rush has made in prices up in that
region. Mr.. Beer says:
From the midst of this fever-stricken town
I address you once more concerning the re-
cent gold discoveries. in Alaska. 1t may be
well for me to say that the fever that has
attacked our people is the gold fever. The
latest reports from the Klondyke are so
marvellous that men and women are wild to
go. and half the town will go, and no wonder,
for men who, a few months ago. were pen
niess have returned worth from $4,000 to
$60, 900 each.
1t has been raining here for three days,
and 1t Is at present coming down with no
more appearance of ceasing than at the time
of Noah's. flood. Indeed the day is dark and
dreary, and gives me dreadful feeling of the
doleful dumps, but 1 am going to try to lift
the melancholy feeling of my heart by send
ing you letter for publication, that my
numerous friends may know how it fares with
ME in this far-off land of rain and snow, and
mountains whose bowels bear the rich yell
low metal that makes the world run mad.
Our winter has been very favorable with
less storms and cold than usually falls to the
lot Of Southeastern Alaska. When l read of
your blizzards and deep snow and perishing
cold Of the past winter I felt how good it
would be could I have brought you all Of
this milder and more moderate climate of
Alaska. Once or twice the thermometer has
been dallying around zero mark, but 1 am
not sure that 1t has gone much below that.
The rain that is making this day. so dull is
mines cannot be run without an abundance
of water, and some Of them have been stopped
lately for want of the same. dare say.
therefore, that the weather that l feel so
raising homes n
who have gold to wash With regards to the
mining prospects Of Alaska, 1 must say they
other creeks are yielding placer washings
that are fabulously rich. I have heard of
5000 and $500 worth of gold being washed out
of single pan of sand, containing about as
much as an ordinary milk pan. OF course
these are special cases, but when mems
wages are 500 day at the mines there must
be some gold or the mine owners would not
pay their help such wages: These men have
to board themselves and it costs perhaps. s.
day to live Hundreds of men have gone
and are going to the interior. and every boat
comes loaded beyond her capacity with Yu-
koners, their outfits and their dogs. The
fever RACES high, and hundreds of men are
waiting at Sheep Camp to get chance to
cross the Chilkoot Pass.
1t costs cents pound to get supplies
packed over the pass, a distance of about
some kind, I understand, to facilitate the
crossing of the pass. You leave Seattle, and
for $15 get to Juneau in about four days. then
plU anu dDOuI d JUuIuey TAXES you
to Dyea. Then you have to tramp twenty
eight miles to Sheep Camp, over very bad
road. and then commences the ascent to the
Chilkoot After getting over the pass you
strike a string Of lakes, and these lead into
the Yukon. The miners are doing their own
packing much possible, and this neces-
states back tracks, for many are taking in
! from 1000 to 1000 pounds of provisions to
| the man. Provisions are exceedingly dear in
| the interior, and 1 have heard of 81 pound
! for -four, and 800 worth of dog food is not
| unusual.
| The prospects of Juneau in regard to quartz