Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-08-20
UPON A FALSE BASIS.
THE HORRIBLE KLONDYkE
CRAZE A LOGICAL RESULT.
OF the Financial Policy which Makes
All Human Energies and Industries
Subservient to Gold-Clinton Furbihh
Writes His Views.

Gradually the whole picture Of the
new Ell Dorado is being revealed. At
first We read of returning heroes who
had struck 1t rich" up in Klondyke.
| They came back to civilization with
such treasure as would enable them to
let others toll while they enjoyed all
the delights and distinction that come
to men Of wealth and intelligence.
There were hints Of hardships endured.
But these were only such embellish-
ments as are given by heroes modestly
and with reluctance. One of the fortu-
mates told of the fate of his partner.
He had been for three years enduring
the extremes of Arctic winters when
the klondyke craze was new. He was,
therefore, of little more use for active
work" He had been left to care for
the camp while the stronger came down
with the dust to secure supplies for the
| coming winter. In view of later de-
tails 1t is easy to see why the worked
out partner was left to care for the
camp" Noting the contents of rough
| bags, cans, and other convenient re-
ceptacles borne by the adventurous
ones, thousands are rushing to Klon-
dyke Steamboats, are crowded to over
flowing, and still the multitude presses,
mad with the one desire to reach the
frozen gulches. Nor has this wild con-
test been diminished by later details.
In some degree it seems that the more
horrible the picture the more intense
the craze becomes. There are others
who would care for the dying" and
then divide the dust"
And what are these later lights
thrown on the picture? We knew in a
vague way Of the dangerous water
voyages in such craft as might be found
In that section. We had been told
Of the hundreds of miles of mountain
passes over which the pilgrims must
climb. 1t was no new thing that
bitter cold prevailed through the long
winter season. But gentle woman had
endured these hardships. Young brides
had followed their husbands, and lived
in such habitations as might be ex-
pected where palaces boosted of two
rooms. One such had returned satisfied
to leave her husband in the ditch while
she would spend at home what he could
make. But now come stragglers with
no thought Of retracing their steps over
those horrible mountain passes, and in
giving advice and warning to intending
explorers make clear what should have
been known before. In preparing for
Klondyke one must provide himself
with zone suit Of the very heaviest I'M
derwear." No need of two suits. Win
ter comes suddenly up there, and when
once you have put on winter clothes
they can not be taken off till the sum-
mer sun shall have removed the danger
next to godliness, then there must be
little Of the latter on the Klondyke
where bath during the nine months
of winter means death. But it is also
hot up there among the glaciers. No
night blesses the toiler under the sum-
mer sun. And the thermometer takes
rest from the winter cold by climbing
hundred degrees above zero. And
these are the months when man must
work washing out what he has dug
during the winter.
From such variations of heat and cold
there must be logical results. Natures
L. In, A 1o
South Africa. Looking up at each end
of the Brooklyn bridge we see two of
those long arms that reach down from
above differing from the others in
that they are wider apart at the base
during midsummer than in the colder
months. The explanation is found in
the necessity for an expansion Joint to
allow for the effects of varying temper
AZURE, and we are told that the struc-
ture would not last long without such
appliances The range of heat and cold
is far greater in Klondyke than in
Brooklyn. Up in those frozen regions
the same causes produce the same eff
fects. And so we learn that the
gulches are becoming one great grave
yard of exhausted humanity. In their
wild eagerness men have neglected to
consider their strength and have yield
ed to the inevitable, while their treas
ure has been divided among those who
cared for them" In better phrase II
would be said to have been divided
among those who watched for them to
die. But what chance would there
have been for return in their weak
ened condition? Hundreds of miles Of
mountain passes where the guides
force the impatient traveller to camp
for a month at time in snow and
sleet, because Of the danger in those
indescribable storms. The paths are
icy and, save in good weather, walking
is impossible, while vast abysses yawn
for those who can not stand in slippery
places. No matter how impatient the
prospector, the guides are inexorable.
They know the dangers and will not
risk their lives, even at the high wages
they command. Surrounded by the
luxuries of civilized life, we stand ap-
palled at dangers that have been sur
mounted by thousands, and are now
contemplated by other hosts. But we
have not the fever, or we, too, would be