The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-05
FUN FOR THE K%LONDIKERS.
rurrR HOFFMAN HOUSE oLUB TAX
INC IN NEW FORK.

Rntr Hunply OF Cnnulnngne-A Gun
T,,, scared but wsuids't shoot-Ono Wight
=, the Grnncrcy Ciub-An Oner Refused.
I'm n. tho Hoffman Houso. they call 1t the
KIondike Club. 1t is composed Of number Of
gold lined gentlemen from Alaska who have
stopned here on their way to the mint in Phila.
dolnhia. After they got through with the mint
tbcv won't have any money to burn because
goo gold pieces aren't infammable, but they
yju have 10 hire express wagons to carry the
price OF an evening enjoyment around town,
iudRing from tho pace they are now maintain.
inc Al present tho Hoffman House safe Is sag.
ring under tho weight Of their nuggets. Thoy
bovc enough ready money In combustiblo bills
IN set forth the livcliost time that has been seen
in this town within the memory Of man.
None of them Is enormously rich in so far as
what he has brought back from the Klondike
with him is concerned. The gold they left be.
hind them is their riches. Probably not one
of them has moro than S25 900 In gold with
him. but several of them have several claims
eacb that may be worth almost any amount and
can be sold at the rate Of half u million per claim.
On that basis they are spending money with tho
nonchalance Of n Russian Grand.Dukc in Paris
or a Partisan fortune hunter prospecting New
York for matrimonial millions, In tho party
are three Irishmcn who arc bound for the old
sod to buy a chunk OF it for the old folks, tho COW
and tho pig. after which they intond to return to
the Klondikc; n German who fifteen years ago
was q penniless immigrant and who might pos
sibly bo bought out now for five million dollars;
two Pacific coast mon who have never seen
New York before; an Eastern college graduate,
and n rollicking Swodo with a stupendous ap-
| petite for enjoyment. OF such diverse elo-
ments, kneaded into a thorough fellowship by
the sterile hardships Of the search for gold, is
the Klondike Club made up. BY common con-
sent the members are taking their enjoyment
OF civilization together.
Upon their arrival in town the club decided,
first, to stick together; and, second, to go some-
where where they could get oysters. Since
leaving Alaska their most poignant ambition
had been to get outside of a large assortment of
fine oysters-about six dozen per man. the Ger
man said, licking his lips. All the way across.
the continent they had denied themselves this
luxury on the advice of the college man.
Don't take the edge of by starting in on
any oysters but the best" he entrcatcd them.
New York Is the only place TO get oysters.
Why, those New York oysters. they're 30 fresh
and firm and cold and delicate---"
Hero the rest Of tho party interrupted him
with a howl and sent into the buffet car after
champagne to make the waiting seem less tedi-
Gus. So on their arrival at the hotel County
Kerry, one of tho Irish trio, suggested that they
go at once to the cafe and start in.
NO" said Happy Alec. the Swede. I'VE
don't want to give ourselves away here. Let's
take q walk up Main street here until we reach
an oyster sign"
1t was not a long walk up Broadway before
they came to a restaurant bearing tho longed.
for inscription: Oyster and Chop House." In
rushed the German, ahead of the others. cast
himself into a chair. grabbed the waiter by the
coat lapels and shouted:
Chop me of three dozen oysters for a start
Tho rest of the party arrived almost upon
Two dozen raw" Dozen oysters and hur-
~. ,,em up" Bring all the oysters you've got"
ci aim% on the the h hSIf sh raM "oS s@ait aRa fetch tMG d @o a
dozen oysters on the clam shell and two dozen
clans on the hard she'll" Bring me n barrel
OF oysters and an axe"
Three walters proceeded to hustle after the
orders. while the day manager anxiously con.
OF. the visitors being an up-the-State Fish Com.
mission looking, for shell fish under the legal
conversation, which, however, ceased abrupt.
~ upon the entrance OF the orders, Fora few
Then Scion. formerly Of Sacramento, lifted his
head adh and sighed in ecstatic tones:
The college man was more practical. Haven't
you any oysters bigger than thcsef' he asked
Get you some, sir, by the time you come in
But I want 'em now"
The waiter looked perfectly blank. "MIn.more
oystersf' he finally
Certainly; all round. Isn't that right, boysi"
THAT goes shid the Klondike Club in
SAY, what's the proper thing to drink with
thesef' asked County Kerry as the second as
My boy" replied Scion, there's only one
thing to drink when you've got money. Waiter.
How much. siri" asked the waiter.
"How much d'you s'posei DXou take this
we'll speak"
Dozen after dozen Of the raw oysters disap-
peared from view, followed by the champagne,
and when they were gone SO was the clubs col
l sftd appetite, except in the case Of Happy
Bring the bills separate" said County Kerry;
lone for the oysters and one for the drinks"
picked up the bin for the eatables first.
rr; %T'n g. do liar a In no calculated in tones of sur
You've eaten more than thirty dozen oysters,
ST. said the waiter besides the celery, and
oh. that's all right" said County Kerry.
a aSnny; boys. What do yor think o: thisI Ten
reckon it'd cost in Dawsoni'
'Divil an oyster ever got into Dawson unless
but a meal like this, II it could be had, would
be easy at 800 in the DUST
Dead easy agreed the others.
Then the college man paid the vino bill.
merely remarking:
THAT looks pretty easy, too, when you've
been paying $50 II bottle for wine"
As they rose to go an almost forgotten some-
thing popped into the mind of Scion.
we'd ought 10 grub-stake tho walters" he
remarked, and producing II dollar bill he laid
IL on the table.
All the others followed his example, except
that some OF the bills were twos and there was
one five. The German gave this. He held It
In ono hand and what looked like a small yellow
pill in the other.
(Which will you takel' he asked the nearest
waiter.
The bill, please sir" replied that function
airy, ncrvously, wishing to be on the safe side.
You're a dunderhead, . remarked the Ger
man, putting the nugget back in his pocket.
THAT nuggets worth $50"
As they were going the day manager APP
proached and obsequiously inquired OF the col
lege man:
WHO won, SIR"
won what"
won the contest, SIR"
"Confesti What kind OF a game Is thisi
What contcst2'
why, the oyster eating contest, sir, DO.
You wish nothing said OF it"
Contest noLhing!' said the college man, en-
phatically. That was nothing but a square
mpui biVVV nm the SIN 10 HOY. - bn on