The San Francisco call., 1897-08-12
THE SEATTLE CRAZE,
Klondicitis Still Holds Fast It's
Victims In the Sound
CifU

City.
SEATTLE, WASH, Aug. u.-There is
no abatement TO the gold fever here.
Nothing but Klondike is to be heard on
all sides and if you attempt to reason
with man or woman, boy or girl, that it
is downright foolishness to go into that
region at this late season of the year you
will not be listened to for moment. You
are told that Jim Humbug and Jack
Bum, or some other character never known
to any one but two or three boon COM
panions, went in there year or so ago
and returned "Baron Roth schild'' in
wealth. Because these men did so there
is no reason under the sun why these
going out should not fare as well or better.
lion all sides you find the word Klondike.
1t is Klondike bonnets, hats, boots, shoes,
suspenders. garters, hosiery; Klondike
dinners, parties, steaks, chops, puddings;
Klond1ke culinary utensils of every de-
scription, Klondike groceries. The very air
one breathes seems to be i'm pregnated with
the Klopdike microbe-a very substantial
one if you could but catch him. And the
newspapers and merchants are as badly
smitten with the "Klon" as the public
where in the mischief they originate
would puzzle seer to say.
The immense influx of Fasteners to
Seattle has taxed every description of
trade to the utmost. There need be no
idle men in Seattle for many months to
come, for all who are willing to work have
no trouble in obtaining it.
On entering a tent factory to-day to look
around l was asked if l was hunting for a
Job; if so L could start in right away. Un-
fortunately the sailors needle is not my
forte. Every jack tar who can cobble
tents can secure all the employment he
wants right in this burg.
Politeness is forgotten by the CLERKS in
stores, and little time is wasted on you if
you have not your mind made up before
entering store. The demand is SO great
and so many want to be served in a rush
that even the proprietors do not have
time to wash their hands with imaginary
soap or even welcome yoa with smile.
Purchase or get out'' appears to be the
order of the day. There are hundreds
waiting to be served, and as every one has
m oney and expects to pay three prices for
the articles required, no bargain counter
haggling goes in Seattle at the present
moment. One large outfitting house here
took in one afternoon last week $12 600
ready cash over the counters. Large as
the sum appears one can credit it, iudg-
ing from the i'm mense number of strangers
in the city bound for the Klondike. Some
of the Klondikers carry sums from 81 up
to $4,000, and, as nearly all have fitted out
ir.to
hard to calculate.
One of the greatest attractions noted on
the dock to-day were couple of remark
ably fine shorthorn oxen, which have
been trained to pack. Their owner goes
with them, and is to employ them pack
ing outfits between the landing at Dyea
and the headwaters of the Yukon. AL
ready enough of employment has been
booked to keep the oxen going for several
weeks, and at price which will swell
their boss pocketbook. Many of those
who purchased cayuses concluded, after
seeing the oxen, that it would have been
moro protita BILE had they done likewise.
Having got their outfits to navigation,
and built their boats, the animals could
have been turned into juicy steaks or sun
dried beef.
Every one bound to Klondike is kick.
ing at the high freight rates, but appa-
rently all gladly pay them. On the barges
the owners of horses had to pay $25
head and $l1 ton for hay (40 feet going
to the tony, while oats were taken at $40 so
ton.
But what foolish people are the Eastern
folkl To go from Chicago to San Fran
cisco by train costs about $61; second
class passage to Dyea $2S, a total of $S1.
From Chicago to Seattle by train is $72 so,
a second-class passage by steamer to
Dyea $22 so. total of $94 so. Any one
can see the saving. Again, in San Fran
cisco one has an opportunity of choosing
his steamer and getting his berth. Here,
he takes what he can get, and very often
has to await his opportunity.