Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-29
A KL0NDIKE HEROINE
TO SAVE HER MOTHERS HOME SHE
UNDERTAKES Tue JOURNEY,
GOES BY The OVERLAND ROUTE.
Unaided, She Dreves the PeriIs That
Cluster About the Dreaded Chill
koot Pass-she Is Just Nineteen
Years Old.
Correspondence of the Dlspatch.)

Correspondence OF the DiSpatch)
TACOMA. WASH. August Don the
list Of the tales of courageousness. per-
severance. and self-sacrlfice concerning
those who are seeking the Klondike in
hopes Of better fortunes that OF a young
girl stands out in golden letters. II
Miss Lessarge OF this city. does not think
herself a heroine. there are thousands
OF people who do. she has set an exam
pie that many a man would hesitate TO
follow.
Six years ago this girl. then 10 years
old. came here with her mother from New
York Times had been hard in the East,
and the mother a widow, saw no appa-
rent escape from the slough of despond
into which she was steadily sinking. Like
many others. she looked TO the West,
and gathering her little possessions to-
gether. started for this place. which she
had decided TO make her home.
In the last few years hard times had
been cruelty hard out here. Mrs. Les
sarge found II necessary a year or two
after her arrival 90 place mortgage
On the little cottage which she had
bought with the money she brought out,
90 order that she and her young daughter
might live. Before many months that
mortgage falls due, but the smiles OF
fortune have not been In Mrs. Lessarge's
direction and she has no money 10 pay
The debt. which must be settled or cause
her 10 lose hoT home.
10 is In pursuit OF enough gold to pay
Of this mortgage that young girl Is to-
day Drawing the perls OF the klOndike,
N me midst Of horde OF all sorts ara
conditions Of men, and where the mem
ttr OF the sterner sex consider them
selves In dire straits Il suppose" shc
ia1 the day she boarded the steamer
Mexico, that was 10 convey her 10 the
l-kon, that IL will be very hard. But
u.n' with a pitiful smile. you know
Nat when YOU must have anything YOU
90 lot stop 10 think OF the hardships
you may have 20 suffer In getting IT,
mink il Is a great deal better that L
should have q hard time for little while
ttan that my mother should lose her
none Anyway / am going 20 try 10
zee what ! can do, and surely. II l ran
Shall be no worse off than / was be-
lore II / succeed IN making some
money enough 20 pay the mortgage
Why then. no matter how hard u has
~" ] shah be 70 very happy that IL
VII not matter at ALL"
d, is very hard for person unfamiliar
WIN ne necessities OF a person under
tfilg such trip TO understand what
aNcos this young woman Is taxing
"h'n che went aboard the Mexico AT
e,ai.e an she had was contained in her
~ which did not weigh more than
.'V pounds, ard with this OUTFIT she De
sS.'el fas wOuid reach and exist In tnc
AlondiSe eold-neids. She bought
'e-iago ticket for Dyea, and she was the
y woman IN the crowd Of men tnaL
SEQ The forward part Of the vessel.
fortunately for her, the steward was
man with heart. and gave her capin
ommodations without extra charge.
va has come 70 us that when she
laed In Dyea there was more than one
song her fellow passengers who volun-
,aed 10 do their best 10 see her safely
"fsr destination.
az Lessarge Is far from being a girl
we western type She would scarcely
/, 'sh more than a hundred pounds. and
"tner delicate in appearance. Few
t,Ts, indeed would consider her capa- \
~ sFen IN remote degree of undergoing
az haidships which must fall TO the LOT
N. Wy man and woman who attempts
no, oVefiand route. Miss Lcssarge ala
10, up Tho Yukon, because she did
suincient money 10 warrant her