Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-20

Yesterday the Register received two
letters from Arthur W. Bikker, who
left this city last summer for the Klon-
dixie. He is on his return, having
found it impossible, as did hundreds
of others, to get to the gold fields this
fall. Mr.. Bikker will return to this
city as soon as possible, and will make
fresh start in the spring. His letters
follow:
To the Editor of the Register.
DUTCH. HARBOR, Alaska, Oct. l. 1897
I arrived at St. Michacis September oath,
and | assure you no person in this coun-
try had a harder time leaving Seattle
than your humble servant. l slowed away
on the famous steamer Portland and
after we were out to sea thirtysix hours,
l came on deck and they made me work
like slave. The work l did not mind
so much the only objection being the
continual grumbling and cursing of those
in authority over the ship. We arrived
at st. Michaels Sept. 24th, and finding it
impossible to get up the Yukon, on ac-
count of the shallowness of the river, L
decided to make my way back to the
civilized world. Therefore l took the
steamer North Fork and came back TO
Dutch Harbor, where l got left. | am
here now, and am scheming to get to
Seattle, from where l shall come back
to Wheeling and stay till spring.
There is much talk at St. Michaels
about starvation on the Yukon this win
ter. All those in camps along the river
are beginning to realize that it is a mat
ter of life and death, and many are COM
in he In ariu
er not being deep enough to allow the
river steamers to descend. l have seen
gold nuggets and dust enough amongst
miners coming down to make any man
almost crazy to get there. They have
struck it rich again in our side of the
boundary line, on the Manook creek. in
Alaska. The miners who came from there
showed us handfuls of nuggets, and cri=d,
This is the stuff on the Manook creek!"
There is still much excitement in st.
Michaels and all along the river. the
news of new strikes travel all along the
route. 1t is $500 miles from Seattle to ST.
Michaels, and from there to the Klondike
it is 2.200 more up the Yukon. From
Wheeling to St. Michaels it is 5000 miles,
and to Dawson it is $500
After l arrive at Wheeling again 1
shall have been 1900 miles without spend
ing a cent. I regret very much not being
able to get up the river. but so do hum
dreds of others who have pocketsful of
money. But money makes no difference
in this case. The river is now beginning
to freeze, and much fear is felt for those
who are unable to get out before the win
ter sets in. 1 tell you it is, indeed, terri
bly, cold already in st. Michaels, and will
be much worse before the minimum is
reached. However, in spite of all that is
being said, people are still coming up only
to be disappointed and compelled TO stay
in st. Michaels for the long northern
winter of the Arctic Circle, or return
home All the money in the Bank of Eng
land could not take man up the Yukon
now. 1t is too late, and everybody must
wait for at least nine months. / am
coming back for the winter to Wheeling
and during the same l shall try and find
some responsible parties who will stake
me with food and clothing for the trip
next year. when 1 shall proceed 10 Forty
Mile Creek, on the Yukon, and then go
220 miles across the country, southeast, to
the headwaters of the Tanana river, in
Alaska where there are numerous creeks
which are most certainly worth prospect
ing. If you should hear or any one who
may become interested in sending me out,
you may tell me upon my return. There
are two steamers here to-day-a govern
ment cutter, bound for San Francisco,
and the steamship Bristol. bound for Vic
toria, B. c. The Humboldt has just ar
rived with quite lot of enthusiasts bound
for ST. Michaels. / cannot tell when
shall succeed in getting out of this hole,
but rest assured l shall do so.
l will write you again when ] arrive
at Seattle, San Francisco, or Victoria,
whichever it may be
Yours most truly,