The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-11-24
FAIRY TALE
OF COLD.
A KIOndike Miner Who Cashed in
His Rich Dust.
HE is NOW a MILL1ONAIRE-PAT-
RICK CALVIN DID NOT CARE
FOR PAPER CURRENCY WHEN
THE YELLOW COIN COULD BE
BAD-A TALE THAT WILL IN
SPIRE MANY TO THE KLONDIKE.

Philadelphia, Nov. PA man whose
partner made S25.000,0O0 out of the
klondike gold fields and who is accred-
tied with having made twice as much
himself, was in this city yesterday. His
name is Patrick Calvin. One year and
six months ago he was a pocr-map. He
nowsranks among the multi-millionaire
kings, not only of the United States. hut
OF the world He is here on business and
has been spending much OF his time in
New York. Yesterday he came to this
city to have very small amount of his
gold dust turned into CON. He is stop
ping at the Hotel Walton
He appeared at the philadelphia mint
yesterday morning and was received by
Superintendent Kretz Mr.. Calvin said
that he was n little short of money and
that he had some gold which he had dug
out of the Klondike mines and added
that he wished it turned into money as
soon as possible. 1t was first thought he
would he forced to wait until this after
noon. Major Kretz, however, decided to
maze special effort to have the gold
assayed as soon ms possible Mr.. Calvin
arrived in this city early yesterday orn-
ing and his original Intention WAS to re-
main here until Wednesday morning.
While in conversation with Superin-
tendent Kretz, however he received a tel
egram from New YORK, which demanded
his immediate presence in that city. He
wished to take the money with him upon
leaving Philadelphia, and every effort was
made to accom- modate him. His gold
was in dust, nuggets and in granulated
condition. Ii weighed in the neighbor-
hood of five hundred ounces, and proved
tic be of the finest quality. Its value WAS
then estimated and Cashier Murphy was
authorized to nay 81, 0lS.5l TO MIR. Calvin.
While all this was takino place the
klondikc millionaire was closeted with
the superintendent in his private Office.
Mr.. Calvin saidshe lad been a newspaper
man himself. He worked on newspapers
in the West and shortly before going ito
klondike was engaged in an editorial
capacity on the Helena independent, the
largest paper n..Montana.
Over four years ago he went to Alaska
and settled in Forty Mile, city a little
less than one hundred miles distant from
what is now Dawson City. There he
took up the hardware business and re
mained until the gold craze struck the
country little over n year ago.
He sold out his business at once and
with what small capital he could gather
started for the gold fields. His wife was
with him and they made the trip together.
AZ that time he had no partner, hut
went with party of nine prospectors
from Forty Mile. Mrs Calvin was the
first woman to enter the gold fields.
MIR. Calvin says that the hardest work
he ever did in his life was during the
first three months he spent in the Klon-
dixie gold fields. ."rhe climate, however.
Is the best in the world. 1t is so dry that
it is almost impossible to take cold if one
only takes the proper precautions After
locating my first two Claims" he said.
81 looked around for other openings.
claim ~, out of which l made the
most money, paid $4,000 for. During
the past six months | have taken ont
gold which value ut over one hundred
times that amount I am now in the
possession of many claims and have
working under me between six and seven
hundred men, Not one of them eceives
less than SO per day. and the bosses re-
ceive S25. had u partner. recently
ought him out. Two years ago loaned
him enough money tosbuy stove He
is now worth $50 GOO 600. Any man can 90
to klondike and make n living No man
should CO. however, with less than $1,000,
for he has to take his own provisions
with him. Dawson City now numbers
over 10000 inhabitants. 1t has n theatre,
church and Il number of large stores.
| own store there which cost 5000, coo.
1t is built of logs and is forty eight feet
wide and twice rs long 1t is not very
beautiful to look at, but it IS very warm
and comfortable. In ~ few weeks I am
going with nv sister and wife TO County
Derry, Ireland. where my parents live.
have not seen them for twenty-five