Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-02
PRIvATIONS ON THE KLONDIKE.
Returning Miners Tell Tales of Terri
bic Suffering Among the
Gold Hunters.

Seattle Wash. Aug. Miners who are
coming from the KIondike this week are
not bringing the wonderful tales that came
down on the Portland. II is likely that the
adyenturers who tore off by the first boat
would have been more discreet had they
waited and studied the situation bStorI
rushing into the terrOrs OF the North. Hch-
ry DOre and J. l.. Boucher arrived on w
last boat from Alaska and they are not
going back. They were compelled 10 hNS
for thirty days on -four and water anu
the risk is too dangerous TO pay. Ihey dus
eight months and their combined earnings
were $50. .
1T had been my luck to have 4 hard time
Of il all my life. but there is no hard time
on earth or under il like life in the MOT
dixie said Boucher whose home is IN Wis
cOnsin. Il managed 10 get enough together
to let me- get home. but l would not adNlse
anyone TO try To live in that country ioI
the best mine in il.
We landed at Forty-Afile creek two
years ago We only took out sd IN eight
months. and We were compelled to get a
Erub-Stake in order to get chance 70
move. We finally got to the klondlke ana
staked "A claim on EldoTadO. We worked u
for year. and / finally managed to get
about 5000. II was hard work all the time
starvation and deprivation. / may 20
back. but | shall try hard TO sell my rights
and let other people have q time IN the
There is stiH q great demand for trans
portatiOn North. There are nunDerlesS
rumors about CharJering extra ships ana
unique ways of trying 10 get into the gold
field before the Yukon freezes. The latest
project embraces the hiring of a sailing
vessel which shall carry along snow
sledGes and lighters TO make the trip up
the river in case IL should be tied up Wheh
they reach St. MichaeIs. The docks are
thronged with men who are heartbroken
that they were not able to sail on the
regular steamers. and they are planning all
manner Of excursions, out OF sheer despera-
tion. They have no fear Of the almost most
sure prospects of famine, and they seem
to be confident that gold will be found Tor
the mere looking.
The latest news from the region is that
quartz in paying quantities has been us
covered all along the Stewart river. Ihe
Stewart runs into the Yukon above DaW-
son City. and II is thought that TINS may
be the source from which the placer de-
posits were originally torn by the glaciers
One lot of ore which was sent down has
been assayed. and it runs 500 and over.
II takes machinery to get at this, and TINS
is the field into which the big companies
and syndcateS will 20.
William ireland has sent a letter from
Alaska which ought to be a warning 10
men who are Fastening to the field without
due deliberatiOn. He says: Undoubtedly
II is true that some very rich discoveries
have been made on the hlondike IN the
last year or so. I have been in the MIDST
of the excitement. and knew that large
amount Of gold has been taken out. As in
California. a few lucky ones have made
the killing.
..Of the 200 miners working near where I
am located thirty-one are mine owners ana
the others labOrers. L receive $40 a day, ara
/ can work about l65 days during the year.
The cost of living. I should say, would ay-
erage about 81 per day per year. and at this
price ! enjoy none of the luXuries. ] am
on an equality with the rest of the work
ers. only three of whom receive higher
wages.
The mine owners are making fortunes.
Just how much money has been taken out
can only be roughly guessed at. but 1t IS
certain that the placers here are exceed
ingly rich. Those who come from Calltor-
succeed in making strike. but l would not
advise any one to come up here without a
sufficient supply of money to carry MIN
over n wear. There is plenty Of country 10
prospect in and the summers are delightful.
SO that about five and half months I'm the
year a miner can work out OF doors as Wen
here as in California. Be sure and send a
big supply of papers. If / were starting
out again | would carry at least one-third
of my load in reading matter; Lite IN inc
long months Of winter is unbearably dull
without something 10 read