The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-15
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT..
ABOUT the Klondike, the New Land OF
Gold-cho Boyhood Of Some Great
Men-Orisin of the ord Picnic.

In describing the Klondike, the new
land OF gold, with the intense cold of
an arctic region in winter and the most
extreme heat i'll the three short months
OF summer, The Great Round World
says:
During this latter season the sun does
not set till 1890 and rises again at 8
a. III. There is no darkness, midnight
being almost as light as midday Dur
ing the hot months all kinds of insects
poster tho inhabitants. The horsefiies
and mosquitoes swarm in such numbers
that the rigors of winter arc considered
preferable to the warmth OF summer.
In addition to tho horrors of the
climate there is no real supply of food
obtalnable from tho Klondike region.
There is practically no farming done,
and so no crops to amount to anything
are raised. Practically all tho food used
ut the goldfields must be carried there
by the miners, and the method of travel
is such that it is impossible for one
man to carry all the food he will need
until the open season comes round again
and he can secure fresh provisions.
When the winter once sets in i'll the
klondike country the people arc com
plctely shut off from the rest of the
world, the only way to reach civilian
tlon being by long and exhausting
journey Oh snowshoes over mountains
and through fearful gorges, through
which it would be impossible to carry
baggage. The only communication with
the outer world is through the mail.
i,t, l..
tho winter, tie mail carriers being
mountaincers who understand how to
travel these arctic mountains over Cla-
ciers and snowy peaks.
Tho returning miners have all told
the same story of the journey and the
lack of provisions, but, in spite of this,
crowds of men are hurrying into this
country. which is already on the verge
OF famine Those who have taken food
with them arc unable to get it carried
to its destination and it is said that the
road Is now blocked with it. The only
means of transportation is by Indians
Oh mule back. The mules are very
scarce, and the Indians only work when
they feel like it, The chances arc that
many men will be starving in the Klon-
VIM tiliS WIIlltT, WnlIc UafroIS ana
boxes of food will be piled mountain
high at the last station, waiting to be
carried through the long succession of
waterways and portages. A portage is
place between lakes and rivers where
the waters become so shallow or so rapid
that they cannot be navigated, and the
boats have to be lifted ashore and car
ried overland until it is possible to
take to the water aGIin.
The word Klono;kc is said to be a
INSTRUMENTATION of the Indian words
"thron dok, CT "duick, " which means
plenty of fish,, from tho fact that the
Klondikc is Il famous salmon stream.
The river is marked "Tondak'' Oh the
Canadian maps.
In the KlondiEe district are n number
of rivers flowing eastward from the
Yukon. In all of these gold has been
found. The Stuart river, which lies
south of tho Klondike, has been found
to he as rich i'll gold as tho Klondillc,
and it is confidently asserted that the
Alaskan side of this region is as rich in
gold rs tho British Columbian.