The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-03
YOUNG RUNAWAY'S LUCK.
Went TO Alaska and Has Struck I,
Rich.


NEW ULM, Sept. 1.-THE strangest
Of the many Klondike stories is in cir
culation here, and there are those who
declare they a vouch for the truth
of it.
Last September, Willie, the fourteen
year-old son of Ferdinand Golinast.
left his home in this city and went,
no one knew where. The morning be-
fore his departure pistol shots were
heard in the rear of Mr.. Gollnast's
saloon. The boy claimed at the time
that he had heard some. one attempt
ing to enter the real door, that he
went down stairs, saw the men at
work boring holes near the lock, and.
taking a revolver, fired at the bur
glars; that they fired back, and thai
one Of the bullets passed through his
hat. Very little credence was placed
in the boys story, and he was con
fronted by his father with the charge
thai he had been playing burglar him
self-the result Of reading trashy
tales of adventure. The boy denied it
stoutly and the next morning dlsap-
peared. Nothing was heard from him
after that until today, when his father
received a letter from him, dated Feb.
II, at Star Claim, No. 705, British
Northwest territory. The letter says:
| started from home in the modning and
went to Madelia. From there l went TO Grip
pie Greek. l got there in seventeen days,
but | found no work there; so | sold my BIZ
cycle for $75 and went to Tacoma, Wash. 1
had only one dollar when 1 left home. When
l got to Tacoma l got work for two days load
ing a ship. A sailor told me to hide in the
hold till out at sea and then come up and
they would have to tale me along. So !
went and bought $50 worth OF warm clothes
and hid on a steamer bound for Dyea. |
hid for five days and then l came up and
the captain made me work the rest of the
way. When got to Dyea some miners were
getting ready to go to the mines. They told
for my food. 1 did it and we got to the
mines in twenty-seven days. There l got work
at 81 a day and board. There were twenty
one of US in a shanty, 20 by %. The beds
were made of rough boards and like a shelf,
one above the other. We use our boots as
pillows and wrap ourselves up in thick blank
cts. In the middle of the room is a hole
where the fire is made and our cooking done.
The smoke goes out through a hole in the
roof. l have also staked off a claim and have
had good luck. l am going to quit work
soon and work the claim. 1t cost 500 to get
a patent on it. l worked three days on it
and took out four p%anfuls out of which l
got 1877. A pan holds about two shovels OF
dirt.
The man who owns the Star has offered
me 500, 900 for my claim. but l viii not sell.
as ] can take out $500 daily. The mine where
l work turns out about $!50 daily. l had very
hard work clearing up my CAIN. l have
l IAAS hNH ONOA Wv ~ ro-o -
cut a place only six inches long and one foot
wide and six inches deep, but the vein is
about four feet deep and two feet wide. |
have ffty-five panfuis of dirt not cleaned that
l have been offered $50 for, but l did not
sell, because it viii bring at least 100000. l
intend to work my claim about three years,
but I don't know whether you will ever sec
me again. In coming over the mountains we
saw snow drifts hundreds of feet high and
dead people were seen every day. The peo-
pie use gold dust here. No money is seen. l
send this by a miner who is returning to
New Orleans and don't know whether it will
ever see a stamp or WHEN he will put it in
the postofice, Maybe not until he gets to New
Orleans. l spend my spare time looking up the
dump dirt, and so far l have found about
81. 500. Gold can be found anywhere. This
will be enough for this time. l remain your
mo account son. William G0llnast.
The lad was born here fifteen years ago.
His parents are Germans and his father was
for many years proprietor of the Northwestern
hotel.