The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-07-28
THE HARDSH|PS Of GOLD MINERS.
MANY PERISH.
Within a few Years 5000 Miners Died and
their Gold was Conhscated.

Frank Moss, an old-tmc miner. who
four years ago was one of party of
Americans TO first visit the klondyke
country, returned the other day and
tells n story of horrors aud starvation
seldom equalled even In modern nov
els. He describes Klondyke as n plac-
er camp seven miles long and thirteen
miles wide, located In n sink, walled In
by boulders of rock 5000 feet high.
Gold, he says, abounds. but no ordin-
nry man can stand the hardships OF
the uncivilized region. When Moss left
here four years ago he was n sturdy
fellow over six feet tall. From hard
ships and privation he Is cripple for
life and badly broken In health. In
three years he saw over 1000 gfaves
made in the Klondyke basin, n large
majority of the men dying from star
walton. The steamship companies bring
In all food and allow no private impor-
tation. Consequently II Is not uncom-
mon to go for weeks with only n scant
supply, and for days entsrely without
food.
The gold brought In last week to
Seattle, Moss says. does not represent
the findings of individual shippers, but
n large portion of II was conflscated
from the effects Of those 1000 miners
who fell a prey to the hardships. At
the death of n man possessed OF dust
his body is buried without n coffin, ana
the dust divided among those who care
for him. with proper rcliefs establish
cd by the government. Moss says, gold
can he taken out at the rate of $1,000
900 month.
The richest strike has been made by
n 21-year- boy named George Horn
blower of Indianapolis. In the heart
of a barren waste known as Boulder
field he found n nugget for which the
transportation company gave him S5.-
200. He located his claim at the find
and In four months had taken out over
100000.
The richest section of Alaska. Moss
says, Is as yet undeveloped. II Is 100
miles from Klendyke and known rs
Black Hole of Calcutta 1t Is inhabited
by ex-convicts of Bohemia, and muir
ders and riots take the place of law
and order. A few months ago the
klondyke settlers organized n Justice
committee, and It's law prevails there
now
with the great crowds preparing to
go to the scene now Moss says, hun
ger and suffering will be great, when
added to other hardships to he over
come by those who survive. Moss re-
turned with $4,000 In dust and left for
his old home at Dubuque, Ia, where he
Will spend the balance of his years.
The steamship Umatilla. which ar
rived Wednesday from Puget sound
ports, brought down almost 100000
worth of Alaskan gold, of which $780,
700 was in gold dust from Seattle, con-
signed to Wells-F Fargo company. There
were several other shipments of gold
in sacks. some direct from Juneau, and
advices from that place are to the eff
feet that at least s75o.000 worth of dust
was waiting shipment at various Alas
kan stations.
Among the sensational advices was
one from st. Michaels that over $4,000
900 in gold dust which had not been
included with the fortunes brought here
by miners, will be shipped through
Wells-Fargo company, other lucky
the departure of the Excelsior and
Portland, who have secured greater
fortunes individually than those whose
stories have already been told.
B. w. Shaw, formerly an insurance
man OF Seattle. has written n letter to
n business man concerning the klon-
dyke country, in which he states frank
ly he does not expect to be believed
"This is a great mining strike" says
Shaw, probably the greatest on the
American continent or in the world.
Gold has not been found in great pay
ing quantities except on two creeks
and in about 200 claims. Some of the
pay streaks are nearly all gold. One
thousand dollars to the pan Is not an
uncommon thing, and as high as 100
ounces have been taken out in a sim
gle pan. 1t Is not unusual to see men
coming in with all the dust they can
carry.