The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-07-21
The New Eldorado.

SERIOUS. MINERS TELL
OF ALASKA'S GREAT
RICHES.
New York Sun.
San Francisco, July 16.-Sau Fran
ciscos has nos been stirred by any min
ing discovery since the opening up Of
the great bonauzas on the Comstock
Lodge in Nevada, nearly 80 years ago,
as it has beeu for two days by the Ste
ries of two-score sun.tanued, and hard
featured miners who have just returned
from :be new Klondike camp on the
Yukon river 10 far Alaska.
These stories would have excited de-
rision were it not that all these men
we're able to furnish occular proof with
pounds of yellow gold. Not one Of
the party went into camp last fall with
snythiug more than his outfit and a
few hundred dollars. Not one came
out with lees than $1,000, a dozen
cleaned up from $1,000 to $4,000,
while half dozen averaged from S20,-
900 to 800, 600 Scores Of them
left claims that they valued at $4,000
to 81, 900, 600, which are now teing
worked by their partners or hired la.
borers. They are not boasters or
boomers In fact, they are careful Ito
warn any Que about veaturing into the
Yukon couutry unless be is young,
vigorous and brave, able to bear bard
ships, aud has from $500 to s1,e00
for outfit aod current expenses after
reaching the new gold fields Perhaps
it is these very conservative views
which have made their talk take such
poSerfal hold on the popular iraagiDa-
tion
0; course, this FIRST keen enthusiasm
may fade and next spring may see few
60 to the far north, but 90 one who h2s
observed the popular feeling here will
be surprised to see 5000 men 60 from
this city, acd perhaps 1900 or more
will start next month. The blood of
the Argonsuts flows in the veios of half
Of the CaliforDisps, aud stories Of rich
mining strikes stir them as blast Of
trumpets. Evry one here kuows the
history of the far northern bonanzas
and is prepared to discount the extra
enthusiasm of returned miners, for all
remember the hard fortunes OF the
thousands of Californians who rushed
to Cariboo and Fraser River placers
nearly 40 years ago, oniy to 6od that
there were so men for every claim and
that the paying district was SO SMALL it
could nos support 5000 meu.
Kloodike may be repetition Of Carl
boo, but from what is said by hard
headed old mioers with whom The S:.a
crrepondent has talked there is gol :
bearing country enough around Daw-
500 City 10 support great population.
and the only danger lies 10 the scarcity
of provisioes during the long winters,
when fresh supplies canuot be brought
10. Should transportation companies
do 10 better than they have dcoe for
the las. two years, and should 0,00O
or so. 900 men crowd into Klordike,
there will be actua! starvation with
abuooant crime.
All returned mioers agree that the
best way to reach ;be new gold fields
is by way of Juoeaa The journey is
mainly by land over a sncw-covered
trail, down numerous streams aud
across lakes The only very danger
Gus place is Chilkot Pass, which is
dreaded because of the sudden snow
storms that come up without warning
aud that have proved fatal to many ad
vensurous miners. The distance is
about $50 milea, acd it takes an aver
age of 25 days to cover it. James
Ladae, one of the miners now in the
city, gives an interesting account Of
the trip, aud also Of bis experience
10 the great almost unknown region.
Ladue has been in Alaska for 10 years.
but it was rot until the discovery Of
gold in Bonanza Creek that be struck
it rich. Incidentally it may tbe::::men-
1iou that be is the founder of Dawson
City. though the bonanza fod vas
made by Robert Henderson. who had
been prospectiuOg for years in the
great northwest. Ladue is hard
visaged man with keen eye aud heavy
dropping mustache. To-day he gave
this description of his jouroey to the
new camp:
1.-The most dangerous part Ct the
trip is crossing Chilkot Pass. Even
as late as May aud June snowstorms
occur. and woe to the traveller who is
caught. Chilkos Pass is itself $500
feet high. but is the only opening in a