The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-12-13
XII oNDIKE CROWDS.
Oscar 0. Murray Tells About the Great
Activity in Seattle-An Alaska Char
acter and His Gold.

j. THE DAILY LEADER is in receipt OF a
letter from Oscar O. Murray, under date
OF Seattle, Wash, December 6, from
which We make the following extracts:
Il receive The LEADER regularly. l
had read it 40 long before leaving Mad
ison that to get it now seems like meet
ing an old friend who has much news to
tell. l recently met Ira Dodsop, q for
mer Madison railroad boy.
"The army of the unemployed here 10
very great. There are thousands IN the
city who would be only too glad for an
opportunity to work for their board.
Each day adds to the list, and by Feb
ruary we will have n city Of over 100000.
No one in the interior has any concep-
tion of the tremendous proportions of
the rush there will be to Alaska ip the
spring. Passage has already been en-
gagged by thousands from different parts
of the country. Unless the %transporta
tion facilities are increased, there will be
a blockade at every Pacific coast port.
The rush will be greater here than else
where. There isn't Il vacant house Of
any description to be had in the city,
aud furnished rooms are ut a premium,
! Q ,mmanding twice as much as three
| months ago. It is almost impossible to
| get accommodations at a hotel. Board,
| however, is cheap. There are any num-
! Der of ten and fifteen cent restaurants IN
the city where a meal can be obtained
that is good enough for anybody. At
| these places one can get just such a
meal as he would ordinarily pay from %
to 80 cents for.
"Every Alaska bound boat, ever now.
is loaded with passengers and freight.
These act on the principle, go early and
avoid the rush. Pat Donan has done
! considerable lying about exorbitant
prices charged by Seattle merchants for
outfitters' supplies. An outfit can be
bought here as cheap If not cheaper
than ut any other coast town, and from
Is to 40 per cent cheaper than in the
east. There is no reason to expect any
rise in price that is not general on the
coast. for it does not cot much TO &C
from here to either Tacoma or Portland
and this the Seattle merchants re .lize.
"'Swift Water Bill and his party
reached the city a week ago Sunday di.
rect from Dawson, and the way he
threw money away would bave made
even Goal Oh Johnny blush He spent
several thousand dollars that afternoon
at the saloons and never had time tt
take any change back. The part,
brought over a million dollars in drafts
and dust. Swift Water Bills dust
| (what he had LETT has been melted, ano
for a day or two was in a show window
down town. 1t was quite a fascinating
sight to see a good comfortable fortuneil
one chunk of gold, that n would thint
be could pick up and carry away with
ont any difficulty. He would not be able
to carry it far, I can assure you. This
fellow will undoubtedly lay around anG
have a high old time until spring ane
then borrow money to go back with
He has one of the richest claims Oh
Eldorado Creek.
II do not know how much longer
will remain here. l hope soon to SETTLE
in a favorable climate with my family
That place would not be here for 1 coult
not endure the damp atmosphere.
prefer cold weather. Grass is as gree,
here as ever. I am glad to hear the oil
town is prospecting.
"With kindest regards to friends
faithfully and sincerely yours, as eve,
"OsCAR @. MURRAY.
EreG. Of Charge tn SufYerTra.