The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-03

the Yukon River, down to the mines, from
there to ST. Michaels and back to San
Francisco, which will be done as soon as /
can learn fully about the Klondyke coun-
try. 1t will be my endeavor to show the
less fortunate gold-seekers, l mean the
poor men, Just how small an amount OF
; money man requires to reach the mines
and some hing about the work and wages.
/ My present ideas are that the hardships
! have been greatly magni6ed, and that
there is dis position to keep the poorer
I class OF men out of the mines for while
at least.
II know that was what we did when we
!. discovered the Idaho mines in 1862, and
! afterward In 1868 and 1864 in Montana,
and am inclined to believe that is what
is being done in the Klondvke, 1t is only
| human nature for every man TO want to
! get his friends IN before the rush comes.
+ Now, understand distinctly; that l know
| nothing about the mines or the character
/ of the country; or the hardships to be en-
dured in the locality OF the Klondyke,
and would not permit myself to. advise
any one 10 ge.there busted. If Il find the
hardships great shall say so, and if l
find the mines limited in area or riches, /
shall state the plain unvarnished truth.
And if + can't get through on my short
and rather a abbreviated bill of fare shall
say SO, bat teeI il great spirits and hope
to do the poor miner a good turn by my
own example and experience. want to
show them, too, that there is no need of
+ whisky en- route or in the mines.
+ Personally ana not a teetotaler, and
! through all of my manhood, like most
Westerners, l used wines and liquors
rather generously, but, of course, 1've
nothing of this sort with me now, and /
shall certainly not touch anything of the
kind in the klondyke. because, in the first
place, it may not be OF the very best quail
ity, and besides [ want 10 show the N iners
who are inclined to over-indulgence it is
not necessary in that cold climate. Of
course, 10 be sure, | NAV fail in many of
my present plans, but shall endeavor to
do the best can. And in conclusion the
Bible says: Let him who putteth on his
armor not be rash with him who pulleth
it off, -
Experienced as he is in mountain clim D.
ing, possessing sharp, bright and pene-
trating eyes, a constitution of iron and
will power of steel, be does not under
estimate the hardships that might be en-
] countered, and as q word of advice from
the standpoint of an old timer to the in
! experienced he sounds the words of eau
ton: beware, GO slow and don't get ex-
cited
To use his own words: 'fBe like Grant;
/ don't be in hurry. and if you start out to
! do thing do'it if it takes all summer"
| That was to empha asize the necessity of
caution and the necessity of carefully
! looking after supplies before starting.
Many people going to the mines exercise
exceptionally poor Judgment, so am in
formed, by Improperly proportioning the
! food and outfit of clothes.
] Speaking of Joaquin Miller, he has the
| appearance OF an old-tlmer in all but one
thing, and: thai is weakness 10 which
all human nature is liza BILE. On tue little
finger of the: right hand be wears
lustrous diamond ring, the stone of W hich
is as large asa pea. 1t creates vast con-
trast from the character he is assuming,
and the one weak point of human nature
IS the desire TO exhibit beautiful dia-
monds.- WILLIAM NJ. JONES.