Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-07-29
ALASKA FEVER.

Z
but are just waiting to see what Gray
will say about the country" Albert D.
Gray is on his way home with snug
fortune and is daily expected to appear
in the city. Everyone watches anx-
iously for him. Telephone calls await
him from Wausau, Stevens Point, Mer-
rilI, Milwaukee and other places. All
kinds Of letters, special deliveries, ETC.,
have been addressed to him here. Al
bert is in demand and when he reaches
his little home town he will be the hero
Of the occasion. Mrs. Gray does not |
know just when her son will arrive, but
expects him the first of next week.
Meanwhile newspapers from hamlet
to city are filled with stories from the |
gold fields. We clip paragraph pub
lished one week ago in the Wausau |
Record just to show how accounts may |
become exaggerated. The Records in
formant was undoubtedly someone who
positively knew" and the editors
words were, without doubt, published
III good faith, but all residents of our
cities know that there can be but little |
accuracy in that particular item because
! Gray is not even home yet. The Record |
said last week:
Albert Gray, who left about a year
and half ago for Alaska, where be has
since been engaged in mining, arrived
at his home in Grand Rapids Thursday
July %, bringing about $4,000 in gold
dust and nuggets with him. Last fall
he wrote to his father of the wonder
full success he had, and advised him to
come out at once. His father and bro
Their left last spring to join him, but in
the meantime he took notion to pay q
| visit to his old home, and started on his
return trip without knowing that his
father and brother were on their way
out. lie WillretuTu Oh the boat which
leaves Seattle about August Goth, and it
is said that large colony of Grand Rap
ids citizens will accompany him.
-
Joseph Laundry, Of the firm Laun-
dry Bros, harness makers in Contra
liza, has made all preparation TO start
for the KlOndyke on Monday next. |
He will purchase transportation as
far as Juneau, then take the overland
route. Mr.. Laundry spent many win
tiers as land hunter in the extreme
north of this state and has packed
heavy loads on his back for many
miles. He is well qualified to stand
the hardShips promised to all who
enter the land of golden fleece. Gil
bert Goodman Of Centralia will be
companion to Mr.. Laundry and the
two will make q hardy team. Ansel
Strong of Marshfeld and W. T. Jones, |
Centralia, are also planning to join
them, but the first two will start
without fail next Monday.
-
Wausan Record: The Alaska gold
fever is beginning tc manifest itself in
this section, and as the last boat leaves !
Puget Sound for the gold fields in less
than a month hence, those who have
the fever III its worst form are trying to
make immediate arrangements for trip
to Alaska. Every little gathering Of
men, standing along the street, earn
estly discussing some subject, nine
times out of ten talking about the gold
fields and what is to be found there.
Every story of success is repeated, but
those of failures are not mentioned.
~
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, July 27.-TWo
more miners from the north have come
in on the City of Pueblo. They are
Henry Dore and j. E. Boucher and
both tell tales of the hardest kind of
experiences. Thirty days on flour and
water and $50 taken from the ground in
eight months is but portion of Dore's
experience. OF all those who have
reached the city, his tale is one that
ought to make those without experience
think twice before plunging into I'M
known dangers. Mr.. Boucher left his
home in Wisconsin three years ago,
went in by Juneau and the Chilkoot to
Forty Mile, and had the usual run of
poor luck. He went to work for $3.50
day, but soon gave out and he went to
prospecting. II had no better success
at this than at work, and was pretty
well disguised when heard Of a strike
at Klondyke. | struck a good claim and
cleaned up about $4,000. l am going
back home to enjoy myself till next
spring, when | will go back again if l
do not sell out in the meantime" Dore
and Boucher brought out nearly $50, 200, !
but they decline to give the exact fig
ures. j. E. Boucher went to the Yukon
from TomahaWk and is brother Of n.
J. Boucher, the harness maker in Cen
tralia.
-
Wausau Record: During the present
or the following week, three Wausau
people will start for the gold field Of the
KIondyke. They are ''Bogue" Bur
nett, Orrie Lamphier and VIII An
drews. The former will go by boat up
the Yukon river to Dawson City and
the others will go as far as Juneau, at
which place they will perfect their
plans for the balance of the trip. All
three men fully understand the nature
| Of 10 I,ioL 4,a., n no Iil-oI1y 70