The San Francisco call., 1897-07-22

spring of 1896 with about 5000 in cash.
| From Juneau he went over the divide
and reached Forty Mile early in the sea-
son. There he bought an interest in a
claim which promised well and set to
work. He was the most enthusiastic
youngster l ever saw. He was already
making plans for investin the fortune he
expected to acquire. Whether he was
skinned or not l don't know, but his
claim didn't pan out we'll. He didn't get
enough out OF it to pay his expenses and
his capital soon gave out. Then he sent
b ONE for money. 1t didn't come, and
finally dlsheartened and sick he decided
to start for Juneau in company with
two other miners. In one of the numer-
oas rapids on the long journey down the
river their boat was upset and the boy
was drowned. That is the way his golden
dream turned out.
at is freque mt thing for prospectors to
lose everything they have in the ire ach-
erous waters of the Yukon. And l want
to tell you another thing ndoubtedy
these men nave brought down as much
gold as they say they have. / don't ques-
ton their word in hat respect, but | DO
believe that q great deal of it belongs to
other parties. The men who have stuck
to their claims have sent their dust out
by heir friends, and great deal that has
reached here, as well as that now on the
way, belongs to men who are yet in
Alaska.
"There are times when the Indians
bring plenty of game into camp, and then
there are long periods when there is none
/ H. k4I T., ~f
salmon may be caught, and if salted down
comes in very handy in the cold season.
They do catch fish through the ice
hich the Indians call the Iosch, and
which bears some mblance to a cat
fish, but lis skin is more like that of a
rattlesnake than anything else, and man
| wouldn't eat one unless he was starving.
AT one time last winter -four went up to
$40 a hundred, and you could not get a
potato or vegetable of any kind.
zone fellow | knew thought he would
make a great stake by taking in a lot of
onions, but the 8 cam boat people in load
ing them put them down near the boiler,
and when they were unloaded they were
all spoiled and had to be dumped into the
river. The men who have come out say
they are going back again, but don't be-
lieve tenth of them really will. They
have had enough OF it, and are glad to get
home alive. A. for myself. brought out
conside erable money. My partner is still
up there, but in the spring he will clean
up and get out of the country, and l don't
think either of US Will ever go back.
There's lots of gold there, but I'd just as
soon take trip to Hades in search of it,
and guess a man would stand just as
good a chance of finding it there as in the
Yukon"
A letter from Juneau reached here yes
terday which goes to confirm the reports
of the rush to the gold fields. The writer
says Juneau bios fair to be depopulated,
and that nearly every one who can get
away is making preparations for crossing
the divide" and that good many
women are going. He also speaks of the
terrible condition of some of the miners.
and says it is reported that there are 200
men at Forty mile without dollar and
unable to get out. He also reports fresh
discoveries in the Sum Dunn district,
which place is easy of access from Juneau.
In this city the excitemont is still increas-
jng and more wonderful stories are ex-
pected when party which is due here on
Friday arrives.