The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-09
WOMEN AT KLONDIKE.
Mrs. Willis, of Tacoma, Makes
Fortune of Over $SOO,OOO.
Started Without Money and IS Now a
Prospective Millionaire-Women
Wild to Join in the Mad Rush.

Prospective Million naire-Women
Wild to Join in the Mad Rush.
Ten weeks ago Mrs Willis of Tacoma
was as poor as the proverbial church
mouse. Today she is worth $500, 900,
and all on account of the Klondike.
Two years ago Mrs. Willis, whose
husband is a blacksmith and a great
sufferer from rheumatism, decided to
try her luck among the goldfields of the
frozen north. She set out alone and
vowed that she would not return until
she could bring a fortune with her. She
has kept her word.
After two years of prospecting and
just when her spirit and her fortune
were at the lowest ebb there came a re-
port to Dawson City of a big placer
strike ON the Klondike. Joining a party
of cattlemen, Mrs Willis hurried to the
new Ell Dorado, staked a claim, and
she has realized more than $500, 900
from it.
Not satisfied with this, however, she
established a laundry at Dawson City
and was the first to introduce the
"boiled shirt among the miners. 1t
made great hit, and Notwithstanding
the fact that Mrs. Willis is compelled
to pay $3.50 for a box of starch her en-
terprise is prospering greatly. An In
dian squaw who works in the laundry
receives 81 a day and expenses, and the
log cabin in which the work is done
rented for $35 month. Wood for fuel
costs nearly $500 year.
Before the turn of fortunes wheel
made Mrs. Willis wealthy she worked
as cook for the mess of the Alaska Com
mercial company at Dawson.
Efforts have been made to steal the
woman's claim, but to friend, Mrs.
Frank p. Hicks, she writes:
81 nave gone through death, and a
fight is now being made to take pos
session of my claim, but I will stand
by 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 appli-
cants. Here is what a woman who has
roughed it on the Klondike says:
A woman actually needs little in the
way of an outfit, presupposing, of
course, that she goes with a man who
takes the necessary camping outfit and
food along. This is what she requires
for her personal comfort:
vice of a good physician, two pairs of
extra heavy all wool blankets, one small
pillow, one fur robe, one warm shawl,
one fur coat, easy fitting; three warm
woolen dresses, with comfortable bodi-
ces and skirts knee length, flannel lined
preferable; three pairs of knickers or
bloomers to match the dresses, three
suits of heavy all wool underwear, three
warm AanDa1 q oht6rnccoc fOrr yooirc
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 blouges 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 of
fur gloves, two pairs of fur seal mocoa-
sins, two pairs of muclucs-Wet weather
moccasins.
She wears what she p1eases en- route
to Juneau or ST. Michael's, and when she
makes her start for the 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 fur coat, with
hood attached, called "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 moccasins. A
trunk is not the thing to transport bag
gage in. It is much better in a pack,
with the oilskin cover we'll tied on.
The things to add that are useful, but
not absolutely necessary, are chocolate,
coffee and the smaller light luxuries.
New York Journal