The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-09-23

dlKe is good enough for the long
headed DIR. Depew it is good enough
for them, and the next their fond par
ents and best girls know they will
have joined the now endless caravan
that threatens to keep the mountain
passes open all winter. The Goulds
have also taken a flyer at Klondike,
and there may yet be crowded into
that corner of the earth enough
heavy-weights to cause scientists to
figure on the possibility of it causing
slight wobble in that direction.
A hundred people or more, however,
have been struggling back from Skag-
uay and Dyea during the past few
| days They will not remain to swell
the lumber at the diggings, but will
worB their way home as quickly as
possible and toast their shins before
warny Eastern fires this winter.
Many OF them are not to blame for
attempting to get over the passes this
fall. Unserupulous men who wished
to sell them outfits aided in getting
them started. Others were urged on
by the statement that those who ad-
vised them aot to go in this fall were
interested il "hogging" the diggings.
They understand now that the
advice givei at Tacoma was disinter-
ested, honet advice. But there are
Others" many, many others, who
have been disappointed. Some 200
tried to gel to Dawson City via st.
Michaels aid the Yukon river by pay
ing $500 for transportation aboard
the steamea Bristol and the river boat
Eugene. These 200 people came from
all corners bf the United States, and
each and e-ery one of them ought to
be spanked for thinking of de-
pending On old fiat bottomed
boats likeIthe Eugene to get them
any place Except the Davy Jones'
locker. And yet some of them took
passage OF the old tub! Still by max
ing inqniy among reliable citizens
any Easte'n man or woman can OBJ
tain reliable information here about
men as w,ll as boats. But those un-
acknowledgements from aboardjthe
Bristol aid Eugene seem to have tax
en- everything for granted and plung
ed ahead They didn't go far. The
Eugene prung leak before she got
fairly out into the ocean and had to
return. The Bristol could not pro
ceed as she could not get her passen-
gers up the Yukon river. All hands
had to face abOut-they should be
thankful that they were not drowned
and their time is now occupied de
manding that their $500 fare be re
turned.
In view of the unfortunate ending
of this expedition it seems very wise
and cOnsiderate, indeed, to find the
citizens of Tacoma establishing per
manent 'klondike" committee, whose
duty it is to advise strangers, without
making any charge therefor or accept
ing any compensation for the same,
regarding ways and means of reach
ing the Alaska gold fields. Thus far no
unworthy vessels have been permit
ted to leave Tacoma for Alaska, and
strangers have not only been assisted
in making suitable purchases, but
have been directed in many ways that
have proved very beneficial to them.
Other Northwestern cities are now
following this good example, and here
after Klondikers arriving from the
East without adequate knowledge OF
the country will find no difficulty in
getting posted by simply making
themselves known to reliable citizens
or the "Klondike committee"
Klondike committees, or reliable
informants, are certainly needed by a
large proportion of the men and wOm-
en- who want to go to the Klondike and
are actually preparing to do so in the
spring. Perhaps your next door
neighbors are among them, as letters
inquiring about the gold fields come
from every nook and corner of the
United States. a number of women
of some means will outfit boats and
sail away to st. Michaels or Skaguay
or Telegraph Creek. Telegraph Creek,
by the way, is a comparatively new
name. 1t is on the line of the Hudson
Bay Company's Old trail to the inter
ior of Alaska and the Stikeen Pass,
| which is entered at Telegraph Greek,
and bids fair to be much travelled
next season. There are no mountains
to climb on this trail, and horses driv-
en- over can be taken right down to
Dawson City.
Gold hunters should travel in par
ties of from four to ten. 1t is cheaper
and more satisfactory. Parties are
forming here daily for the start next
February. One party,which is build
ing its own boats and barges for the
Yukon, will include 200 people. 1t
will require letter by itself to explain
how these parties form and how eX-
penses are divided. | may as well
take that important subject up in my
next letter, but | will state in advance
that the best of friends, who become