Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-12-07
WOMEN AT 1LONDIKE
MRS. WILLIS OF TACOMA MAKES A
 FORTUNE OF OVER $500. .ooo.

sfarted Without Money and Is Now a
 Prospective Millionaire Women Wild to
 Join In the Mad Rush to the Kiondiks
 For Gold.
 Ten weeks ago Mrs. Willis of Tacoma was as poor as tho proyerbial church mouse. Today she is worth $500, 900. and all on account of the Kiondike.
 Two years ago Mrs Willis, whose husband is blacksmith and q great sufferer from rheumatism, decided to try her luck among the goldfields of the frozen north She set out alone and vowed that sine would not return until she could bring fortune with her. She has kept her word.
 After two years of prospecting and just when her spirit and her fortune were at tho lowest ebb there came a re- port to Dawson City of big placer strike on the Klondike. Joining party of cattlemen, Mrs. Willis hurried to the new Fl Dorado, staked "A claim, and she has realized more than $500, 900 from it.
 Not satisfied with this, however, she established laundry at Dawson City and was tho first to introduce the "boiled shirt among the miners. It made a great hit, and notwithstanding the fact that Mrs Willis is compelled to pay $250 for box of starch her en- terprise is prospering greatly. An h. dian squaw who works in the laundry receives g. day and expenses, and the log cabin i'll which the work is done rented for $35 month Wood for fuel costs nearly $500 a year.
 Before the turn of fortuHe's wheel made Mrs Willis wealthy she worked az cook for the mess of the Alaska Com nercial company at Dawson.
 Efforts have been made to steal the woman's claim, but to friend, Mrs Frank P Hicks, she writes:
 .'I have gone through death, and a fight is now being made to take pos session of my claim, but will stand hy my right if it takes five years.
 An interesting phase of the Klondike craze is the frantic determination of many young women to go. All the ex- petitions are besieged by women app1i= eants. Here is what 2 woman who has roughed 1t on the Klondike says:
 A woman actually needs little in tho way of an outfit, presupposing, of course, that she goes with q man who takes the necessary camping outfit and food along. This is what she requires fer her personal comfort:
 One medicine case filled on the ad- vice of a good physician, two pairs of oxtra heavy all wool blankets, one small pillow, one fur robe, one warm shawl, one fur coat, easy fitting; three warm weolen dresses, with comfortable bodi- ees and skirts knee length, flannel lined preferable; three pairs of knielers or bloomers to match the dresses, three suits of heavy all wool underwear, three warm flannel nightdresses, four pairs of knitted woolen stockings, one pair of rubber boots. three gingham aprons that reach from neck to knees, small roll of flannel for insoles, wrapping the feet and bandages; a sewing kit, such toilet articles as are absolutely neces- sary, including some skin unguent to protect the face from the icy cold, two light blouses or shirt waists for summer wear, one oilskin blanket to wrap her effects in, to be secured at Juneau or St. Michael's; one fur cape, two pairs cS fur gloves, two pairs of fur seal mecca sins, two pairs of muelucs-wet weatheg moecasins
 She wears what she pleases en rou5e to Juneau or St Michael's, and when she makes her start for tho diggings she lays aside all civilized travelling garb, including shoes and stays, until she comes out. Instead of carrying the fur robe, fur coat and rubber boots along she can get them on entering Alaska. but the experienced ones say take them along
 The natives make a fur coat, with hood attached, called q "parki," but it is clumsy for a white woman to wear who has been accustomed to fitted gar ments. Leggings and shoes are not so safe or desirable as the moceasins. A trunk is not the thing to transport bag gage in It is much better in q raex. with the oilskin cover well tied ou. The things to add that aso useful, nu$ not absolutely necessary, are ehocoiaee eoffee and the smaller light ipxn1tt-=, --.e Taxs, VoYiy Tonruo1