The Saint Paul globe., 1897-09-13

although the weather was almost I'LL
bearably hot, we lost no time in str1k-
ing out for the new gold fields. Reach
ing Dawson City, after enceuntering
indeScribable hardShips, we struck out
over the Chilkoot pass, which, in the
fall of the year, is easily crossed.
Arriving on Bonanza creek, near the
Canadian line, we staked out claims
and did placer mining on a small scale.
But the gold did not come in quantl-
ties large enough to insure us quick
fortune, and we gave up these claims
and worked our way into Canada, fol-
lowing the creek and prospecting as
we went. At the confluence OF Goid
Bottom creek with this stream we
struck it rich and there we located,
taking UP the two claims we now own.
One is located on Bonanza creek and
the other on Gold Bottom. We mined
until the winter became so severe that
we could do no more, and then we
housed ourselves up for the cold spell.
When spring opened we went to WORK
again and then it was that the yleld
became largest We began taking out
about 81 .25 to the pan, and some days
the yield would reach 81 to the pan;
Each of US took cut from $500 TO $29o
a day in dust and nuggets.
FINALLY | decided to bring what
wealth / had amassed back home, and
on July Il last ] left my interests IN
the Klondike to the care OF my part
ners, who had proved to be square men,
and I started on the return trip VIA 9l.
Michaels. There l boarded the steam
ship Portland with my wealth, and
after an uneventful voyage reached
Seattle, Aug 90 I deposited my gold
there and received money in return:
What have I done with the money!
Well, have spent some Of 1t, but there
are still a few dollars in safe hands
remaining. 1 prefer to say as httle
about that part of my affairs as neceS-
sary."
AFTER your experience in Alaska
would you advise people to go TO the
Klondike' was asked.
"Oh, my advice would cut no figure
one way or the other Withpeople
who have the gold fever" replied Mr..
Zahn, "but one thing is certain. Thou-
sands of the people who are already up
there and intend to go in the spring
will come back sorry and poorer for
their experience. The influx will be
something great in the spring. People
will swarm the Klondike by the thou
sands, and then, after while, they
will-weI, they will swarm back home
again
What supplies should person have
before starting for the gold f1elds?"
"The prospeetor should take along
provisions enough to last him at least
a year and a half If success should
come to him It would hardly come
sooner than that time. Of course when
/ went into the country proVlS-
ions were not as expensive as they are
now, nor We're the people who were
already in the country the leeches
that the newcomers have proved to be.
My outfit cost me about $3.50 before l.
left the states, and at Dyea l spent
| probably $100 more. From that time
until we struck the Yukon country L
spent very little money. Since the
great rush to Klondike, however, my
expenses in the country were heavier.
But by the time the leeches began
their graft you see | was prepared TO
meet their demands. Nobody should
think Of going up their on hunt for
gold without plentiful supply of pre-
visions, good clothing, and enough
ready cash to meet emergencies-sa
about $500. | know there are people
who have rushed off to the Klondike
with no supplies and hardly enough
money to get them over the Chllko0t
pass, but these people are foolhardy
and are bound to meet with privations
and probably with starvation and
There is not an oyer-supply of provis
ions in the country. Before winter is
over the supply will have been ex-
hausted. Last year the Yukon river
froze over solid by Nov IA, and I be-
lieve that winter will set in this sea-
son at least two weeks earlier. Then
will begin eight months of about the
coldest weather to be experienced any
where. During that time all the gold
"a ic tn Out
of doors life is impossible. OF course
you may so out a while at time-a
very short While-but to remain in the
open air means to freeze to death.
Chilkoot pass is practically closed to
travel by this time, and all who have
failed to get into the Klondike country
up to date will be compelled to ramain
where they are until spring"
did you suffer much from the win
ter?"
Not great deal. The summer
months are very warm and the winter
months are very cold; but right here in
ST. Paul we have very warm and very
cold weather"
How about the mosquitoes?"
'Mosquitoes"' exclaimed Mr.. Zahn,
heaven save me from them. Why,
they are about the worst pest the Gre
ator ever sent to this earth. Those
as long as a match and they keep right
after a fellow until he goes almost
crazy. One of the insects will take after
! you and others will fall into line until
millions of them have gathered to the
attack. Then you have to stop, build
a fire and smoke them out This is the
way you so about in the summer time"
Isn't there some way of keeping
! them from tOrturing you?"
10 6
with netting, but that don't do any
good. Mosquitoes will get through the
net or anything else you might wear.
| No, about the only way to get along at
all is just to let the mosquitoes eat
away and fight them the best you know
how"
Did you see many women in the
KlOndike country?"
! mo; not one woman prospector. That
country is a good place fer respectable
women to remain away from just now
I have read a whole lot Of pretty sto-
ries about women who have gone to
! the Klondike to brave the trials ana
| tribulatiors up there for gold. Now
I don't YOU believe any of them. They
are like most all the other news pub
/ lished in the papers about the Klon-
! dike-mere rot. Those gold fields are
/ without a doubt the richest in the
/ WOrlu ana Inere IS plenty or the yell
/ low metal for all who succeed in locat-
ing it, but all the time was up there
! did rot hear of any fabulousiy rich
! strikes Plenty of geld has been takei.
! out, to lie sure, but not as much as the
/ papers would have their readers be-
! lieve."
I'D yol say this after the large
sum : ia Lila aaed in the short time yJu
have been working the Klondike
! fields?" was suggested.
'.Eyerybodv has not been as success