Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-05
GOING TO KLONDIKE
VIZ. j. ii. BAscoMB, OF THIS CITY.
WILL PROBABLY LEAVE TO-DAY.
IS AN EXPERT INNING ENGINEER.
VIII spend Three Years I'm the AIas>
kan Gold-Ficids-Iiopes to Reach
Them In SIX Wecks-iiis Experis
enccs In the West.

Mr.. J. II. Bascomb. OF this city. an ex-
pert mining engineer. will probably leave
Richmond to-day or tomorrow for the
Klondike. At a late hour last night.
when Mr.. Bascomb was seen by Dis
patch man at his home. No. f10i east
Clay street, he had not made up his mind
positively that he would go to the Alas
kan gold-helds. but he said that he was
pretty certain he would start In day or
so. He has arranged the details OF his
proposed trip with wonderful minuteness,
and hopes TO be in the Klondike within
six weeks.
In order to do this he will have to
leave at once and catch a steamer which
leaves San Francisco for st. Michaers
on the 10th instant. While the news
gatherer did not speak Of finances to
Mr.. Bascomb 1t was said by friends OF
his last evening that he would carry
along $1,000 for pocket change and TO
defray the expenses of his trip and in-
sure his ability to return home should hs
desire 20 return.
AN EXPERIENCED MINER.
Mr.. Bascomb Is an experienced miner,
He was one Of the earliest settlers or
Leadvilie, Col. and was I'm several OF tho
largest and most successful mines of
Colorado and California In the early
seventies. 1t Is said that he made a
great deaf OF money during those days.
About twelve years ago he came TO Rich
mond to live, but kept up business rela-
tions I'm the mining States.
Speaklng of the Klondike gold-fields.
Mr.. Bascomb said that they far exceeded
ANYTHING that California had ever seen.
and that within the next year there would
be 5000 people IN them. instead of 1900.
as now. He could not see why the few
Americans who had been In them at
work for the past few months or years
could not have remained there and have
become fabulously rich I'm gold. instead
of rushing right back home with their
S35, ,O00 or $4,000, or Sl0D0oo, and spreading
the news, so that the land would be
flooded with people. MIR. Bascomb said
that the gold found In Alaska. from what
he had read from the government experts.
was of the very richest kind and many
hundreds of people were almost daily
passing over the greatest veins Of II.
SET UP A CLAIM OF HIS OWN.
The sneaker added that he proposed
ting up a claim Of his own. He will make
three years stay OF II. If he goes. ana
will operate his claim FOR all Il Is worth
from the most scientific standpoint.
Speaking Of tho prospects Of this coun-
try. Mr.. BascOmb said that from the tes-
tlmony OF experts, there was an almost
limitless quantity of this gold. and that
there would in ali probability be plenty
of work there for all who could stand the
climate at about Sl2 n day Now, at
the most exorbitant prices for provisions.
a mans living will only cost him 81
day" continued Mr.. Bascomb. 80 you
see he would then have a net profit from
his labor OF s. a day. That's better than
a man can do around here, ain't it?"
| The newsgatherer nodded affirmativey.
and Mr.. BascOmb went on. "Of course
| its pretty rough up there. but can stand
! that. No one can tell what the snlt
will be, but I'm going for fortune"