The San Francisco call., 1897-08-13
HIS BREAD FROZE SOLID.
Adventures of the Brother of a San
Francisco Policeman in the
Frozen North.

One of the most interesting letters that
has come out of the Klondike gold fields
since the great strike was made was re-
ceived few days ago by Police Officer
Brownie OF this City, and is given here in
full. 1t is from his brother, Robert G.
Brownie, who has been in Alaska for two
years, and has been at the front since the
rich diggings were discovered.
The Rosie" who is referred to in the
letter is the wife of the writer, who fol-
lowed her husb band to the frozen north
when he reported that he was making
hea dway working as a tinsmith in a shop
at Circle City.
Some Of the in cidents related will be of
material aid to tn ose who intend tenn pting
fortune on the new gold fields.
DAWSON CITY, June o. 1897.
Ny dear Mother, Brothers and Sisters: This
letter has 10 go for every body this time, as the
boat leaves for st. Micnaels in the morning.
She came down from Sixty-mile. and we did
from you was the one Addle wrote and sent
up by George KlStch, the man that Jim was
acquainted with. Well, suppose you know
that we have left Circle City, and all Forty
mile and Circle City are here. Dawson City
is on the fiat in the same place where Jim and
camped at the mouth of the Klondike River
when we came in. LOIS on the river front sell
for $25O0 for 25 feet front by 100 feet deep.
This is the best mining district that has
ever been found in Alaska. A mining claim
sells all the way from $40, 600 10 $50 600
Most every BODY that was in Forty-mile last
gear is rich now Calvin, the man that
worked for, could sell out for $4,000. Tell
$50. 600 and only sold out one claim. He
has one left that will bring him another
$4,000. Jim Bell, the man that drove the
dog team at Sheep Camp, sold out for
m -
rich, and there will be four tons of gold
dust go out on sthe next boat. AS high as
$1700 has been found in one pan of dirt. 1t
seems beyond belief, but it is a fact, and only
two miles from the Yukon River, where boats
have oeen passing he place for years.
But missed it. Had been one week later
as well as the rest OF the Forty-mile men.
am now working for GuIse, the man that kept
the tinshop in Gree City. Calvin has gone
out OF the tin business, and II ne had not, |
would not work for him. as think he aid not
give me fair shake, and only paid So wni e
Guise pays $40 in CIRCLE. did not make So so
day and Calvin knew l was not making
any money, but he never wrote me a word
about the Klondike strike, and to Others he
writing and telling them to come up as
fast as they could come. Well, lett Circle
City on the 18th of Februarypto come up on
The ice. My load weight was 389 pounds.
without the stove, blankets or gruubox. From
Circle to Dawson is almost 800 miles, and tell
Jim coming in is almost child's play to that
kind of a job.
have slept in a tent when it was 20 below
zero. was making bakiug-powder bread in
the tent one night. and after mixing up the
bread forgot to grease my Dan first. set the
bread down to grease the pan, and when got
back to it the grease was frozen and 1t took
me few minutes to dig the grease out and
get 1T meled When / got the bakipg-p pan
ready the bread was frozen solid, SO that had
| to mix up more.
After getting here went to the mines and
located O claim in the Honker district This
iS
gold there, but l do not know If it is rich or
not. When got there all the Bonanza district
ana wen: up the Yukon River on the ice to get get
out raft OF logs, and when the ice broke three
OF us came down with the raft and we lost it.
That raft was worth $500, so that was an
The steamboat came soon alter and wen
to work IN the tins hop, SO that was all about
myself. was very glad to see the steamboat,
as l was very hungry, not having had any
thing to eat but beans and tea for a week. /
had no -four, sugar or bacon. Two or three
days be. ore the steamboat came an Indian
was cooking some moose, meat over camp
fire, and l sat down on log so as to get the
smell OF it. That was the next best thing 10
eating it. When Rosie came she had bread,
doughnuts aud coffee, and milk and sugar in
the grip, and we had great least the nigth
that Rosie came on the first boai-it was d
freightboat and had barge along with her.
Rosie camped on the barge with another lady.
Sne has got a picture of the boat and barge,
which she will send to you when she gets q
chance. When said camped ! meant she had
a tent pitched on the barge, where she slept,
ana q te on the steamer.
Rosie brought along 400 pounds OF -four
from Circle. Flour cost $50 sack, and then
one was in luck to get IL in Dawson until the
steamboat came. 1t is only $6 now. We are
living in the tent we came IN with. Have got
it set up OH four.foot log wall. Have got a
floor in our mouse. Few houses in Dawson
have. There are but wooden or log houses
in Dawson. Most are only frames covered
with canvas.
1t has heen very warm-from 80 to 80 in the
shade-but we Will have to build house be-
fore winter sets In. II Dave had come in with
u> last year we could have gone out with a
$4,000 sack this spring. Dave could be
making more money here in one week than
he could make driving milk wagon in San
Francisco in two months.
Grub is higher here than in Circle City, but
wages are also higher. Wages in the mines
are SIS day.
Rosie does not say a word about going out
now. Tell Adde to let the house go at $1,000
and try some other agent.
cannot think OF anything else to tell you.
but remember US to any5ody that asks about
u.s. will now close with my love to you all.
| remain your loving son,
ROBERT G. Brownie.