davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18

The United States Government in
1867 paid Russia $1,000, 900 for the
Territory of Alaska says the Chicago
Times-Herald.
Alaska has paid back her purchase
money in gold four times, having pro-
duced during the time it has been a part
of the United States about $50, OOO,
900 of the precious yellow metal.
To-day the eyes of the world are
turned toward our frozen acquisition
in the north, for within its borders
has been discovered an Eldorado, SEEM
ingly "richer than Pluto's mine"
A few weeks ago the word Klondike,
literally translated meaning Deer
River, was known to ~geographers and
a few miners on the Yukon; to-day it
is on every tongue and is known as
the designation, if the reports be but
half true, for a ~gold-bearing district
greater in area and richer in character
than any the world has known, with
the possible exception of California.
The reported gold discoveries of the
present day in Alaska and the report
ed gold discoveries of 40 in CaliforniS
afford many parallels. To the average
man the treasures of the coast State
were seemingly as inaccessible as are
the riches of the Yukon and its tribu-
taries. One was more than 1000 miles
across a trackless desert and over
snow-bound mountain passes, beset
by savages, whose deadly attacks
marked the trail with bleaching bones
across the Western States; the other
is nearly 1000 miles by water, through
a rigorous climate, or almost 1000
miles by land and water, with noun
tain passes to scale as dangerous as
those of the Swiss Alps.
The fabulous tales of wealth sent out
by the California pioneers were noless
wonderful than those brought back by
the men who braved the last cold
season in the Klondike mineral belt,
and in both cases those who returned
brought back with them great nuggets
of the precious stuff that left little or
no doubt in the mind Of the nearer.
The California miner in the song who
had so many nuggets that he was &C
customed to Ego a hatful blind" finds
his parallel in the Yukon miner who
claims to have washed out" $2l2 in
one painful of dirt-a process that re-
quires ten or twelve minutes.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18

great hardships in accommodating the
fortunes they brought, and they told
a story that had o dark as we'll as O
bright side. To follow their example
means q risk of wealth. health and
even life, but for those who are willing
to take the chances the prospect they
hold out is alluring.
Location of the KlOndfke District.
The richest of the mines in the
Alaska region seem to be in the Klon-
dixie, a few miles over the British
border. They were discovered, as has
been said, by a party of ~''tenderfeet,"
who, against the advice of the old
timers in the district, wandered lover
yonder in the Klondike" and struck it
rich. From Klondike comes much Of
the gold and from Klondike seems to
come all the excitement. A few
''tenderfeet," going it blind, have
stirred up the Nation. Out Of the
regions of their discovery has come,
it is estimated, So, 600, 600 worth of
gold during the present summer.
Nearly all of that gold has found its
way into the United States.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18
Queer Place of Refuge.

The passengers on q Tenth street
trolley car were treated to an unusual
sight early yesterday morning As
the car was bowling along in the
vicinity of Parish street a couple OF.
sparrows, one in chase of the other,
swooped down in front of the car.
The pursued, by a quick flank move
ment. eluded its tormentor by dartlng
under the roof Of the front platform,
and before the motorman knew what
was up the bird had perched on his
hand which gripped the lever. There
it sat contentedly, while the passengers
craned their necks to get a view OF the
odd spectacle. The sparrow didn't
seem to mind the fact that the motor
mans hand was constantly turning
around as he manipulated his lever,
and. after riding on its queer percn;
for fully q block, chirped its q
and flew away.-Philadelphia Record
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18
THE KLONDIKE GOLD FIELDS In ALASKA.

It is hard to tell where the Alaska
gold fields are located except that in a
general way the best of them are along
the Yukon. There are a few 'lode"
miners near Juneau and along the
southeast coast of the Territory 1.-THE
most accessible part of it), but the ore
is of low grade and. mining is made
profitable only by the most careful
management.
The placer mines, from which pros
pectors are said now to be lining their
pockets with gold, are in the region
remote from civilization, little known,
and, on account of its uncertainties,
dangerously alluring to the average
man. This gold-producing country
of the interior is in the vicinity of the
Yukon near where that great river
turns to the west in its course to the
sea. Before the discoveries in the
Klondike the most productive districts
had been along Forty Mile Creek,
partly in British and partly in Ameri-
can territory, and tho Birch Creek
district, all in American territory.
Along all of the river in this section,
tributaries to the Yukon, gold dig
gings exist, and in many places pay
the prospector we'll for his trouble.
In all the immense country over
which the placer mining extends it is
estimated that up to last year there
we're 1000. miners. The districts in
which most of them worked we're in a
q broad belt of gold-producing rock,
through which quartz veins carrying
gold occur frequently. Through the
gold-bearing rocks the streams ha We
cut deep gullies and canons, and in
their beds the gold which was con-
tanned in the rock is concentrated.
The mining Il this country consists,
therefore in washing out the gravel Of
these beds. So the miners worked,
being fairly we'll paid for their labor,
until the "tenderfeeSS" made the Klon-
dixie discovery. That was nine months
or so ago, and the news of it is just
reaching the outside world. 1t was
not long in reaching the miners along
Forty Mile and Birch Creeks, though,
and they %shouldered their picks and
moved forward in a wild rush at the
first word of the new lucky strike. As
a result gold dust and nuggets by the
ton are turned into the minis out on
the coast, and men who never before
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18

In time the trip costs thirty days
four from Chicago to Seattle, sixteen
from Seattle to st. Michael's Island,
and ten up the Yukon to Dawson City
by the fast boat. The distance in gen.
eral figures is $3.50 milesfrom Chicago
to Seattle, $500 miles to st. Michael's
Island and 1890 miles up the Yukon
to Dawson. a total of about $500 miles.
The other way to the Klondike, the
mountain route" is shorter in miles,
but equally long in the time it requires
and a great deal more difficult. By
this route the traveller sails more di-
rectly north to Juneau, which is 899
miles from Seattle, and hen goes by
lake and river and over the mountains
1000 miles to the new mining terri
tory. On arrival at Juneau the trav-
eler changes to a smaller boat and
sails 100 miles north to Dyea. From
there he has a portage of twenty-seven
miles through the Chilkoot Pass. The
last half-mile of this pass is over a
glacier and the ~severest of climbing.
Chilkoot Indians are employed to pack
supplies to the top of the pass, but
from there on the traveller has to pack
his own load.
After getting through the Chilkoot
Pass the traveller reaches Lake Linde-
man. At hat point is a sawmill,
where boats are sold for $75 each.
Travellers who do not care to pay that
price can purchase lumber and build
their own boats. The lumber can be
bought for $100 a thousand feet, and
about 500 feet are required to build a
boat that will answer the purpose.
Still other travellers carry w~hipesaws
and get out their own lumber, and q
man handy with a saw and hammer
can build a boat in three or four days.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18

that it goes down to 70 degrees and
lower. During all this kind of'winter
up in the Yukon region little can be-.
done but sit about a fire in a vain en-:
deavor to keep warm, for darkness
exists most of the time, and the life
seems like that Of a man uncomforta-
bly, seated at the bottom of a well.
During the summer season the days
are sometimes even O little bit hot,
but not for long. In that time. too,
there is almost continual day, for that
end of the earth flor it may be so
called) is the one that is pointed d.
rectly at the sun. -
But as the summer brings warmth
and daylight it also brings mosquitoes:
And such mosquitoes. Creatures that
buzz and bite in such a way as to-
make the dreaded Jersey variety seem
by comparison like the silvery, angelic,
sweetly, humming fancies Of a peace
full dream. The travellers who return
from the Yukon region tell stories OF
how brave and strong men, courageous
enough to undertake the perils a jour.
ney to that country involves, actually
break down and sob in utter despera-
ton and despair under the torments
of these terrible pests. The ice and
the magnificent distances" OF the
country are not the only drawbacks to
it's exploration or to journeylng to the
gold fields; the mosquitoes must ever
be remembered.
Of course, in the southern part OF
Alaska, where Juneau and Sitka are
situated, the winters are not so rigor-
GUS. There the weather is compare
lively mild, and in summer is said to
be delightful. But Juneau and sltka
are infnitesimal as compared with the
whole country, and they are not IN In
dex to what is furnished farther up
and farther inland.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18

Canada in a retaliatory measure by the
United States, Canadians know better
than they can be told.
It is not believed, however, that
Canada will attempt to exclude Amer.
lean miners. tits true that the United
States excludes Chinese, but Canada
probably recognizes that keeping out
Cinnamon and barring the way for
Americans are two different things.
Topography, Population and Climate.
The Territory naturally falls in six
grand divisions. They are the Arctic
division, a t~reeless expanse diversified
by icy hills and mountains and with
no inhabitants but the Eskimos; the,
Yukon basin, with it's extensive forests
near the coast and it's inhabitants of Es-'
kimos and Indians; the Kuskokwim dis
trict, the Aleutian district, comprising,
the islands off the coast,twhere fshingi
and sealing are the chief pursuits, and!
where the population is mixed Aleutian
and Russian blood; the Kadiak DISTRICT
including the mainland and. islands
south of the Alaskan range, and the
Sitka district, including the archipel-I
ago and the coast, extending south to;
British Columbia. The Sitka district,
is that seen by the tourists from the,
States. They gaze on its enormous
forests and imagine they have seen the
country. As a matter fact, they do
little more than set foot on the Terri
tory.
The census enumeration of 1890
gave the population of the Territory as
0,329, of whom 4416 were whites, 81
blacks, 1868 half-bred Indians and Es-i
kimos, Is, 735 natives not Eskimos,
(Indians), 2125 Chinese and 84O0 Es-,,
kimos. The number of whites has
probably been more than doubled since
then, as the Alaskan gold fever set in
in mild form three or four years ago..
In winter the thermometer falls so low
in places that no one will recognize it'll
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18

A Perilous Journey.

Total. .S3SS,ooV ".....
A P~erilous Journey.
Every one of these men has a story
to tell of the vast riches of the new
gold fields, but they tell another
story, too-a story of hardship, trial
and suffering through long winter days,
when the sun was smiling on this
earth's other pole and leaving them in
miserable cold and darkness. Theytella
story of prodigious travels, of stagger-
ing journeys and the dangers that be-
set the traveller. They tell what q
trip it is to reach the gold fields, and
when they get through the faint.
hearted prospector, who isn't thor
oughly convinced that he wants to IN
dergo the trial, decides to forego the
trip to Alaska and dig up his wealth
at home or go without. Some Of the
gold-mad adventurers, though, rush on
unheeding, crowding into the Alaska
bound steamers without anything like
enough supplies or enough money to
see them through ten days of travel
on land. Miners who have been there
say that such as those will perish.
How to Reach the New Gold Fields.
There ore two general routes to the
Klondike district. From Chicago both
lead to Seattle, and there diverge. One
goes by ocean steamer west and a lit
tie north, and passes through Dutch
Harbor, ut the extreme end of the
southwest Alaskan peninsula. From
there the steamer turns north and con-
tinues on to st. Michael's Island, little
above the mouth of the Yukon, in Ber-
ing Sea. At that point passengers are
transferred to the river steamers to be-
gin the long journey up the Yukon,
which winds northward and eastward,
and finally brings the traveller to Daw-
son City, now the principal town in
the mining district, although sixty-five
miles from the Klondike fields.
The cost of the trip from Chicago
this way, as prospecting miners usu-
ally travel, is $251.50 {. 1t is divided
as follows: From Chicago to Seattle
Second class, $51.50 from Seattle to
! Dawson CITY. 5000. 49,. col.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18
]:Sf|t0RAM kERWYNS~
A. q 2zz:14sfSz.1 k9F0RTUNE.
M2R2E 352

Horror, r~epugnance, vengeance in her
blazing eyes, she regarded him with a
look that made his very soul shrink
within him.
Your rewardr' she cried. Monster!
self-confesSed thief, forser, and assassin,
your reward is-there'"
She fitted aside to make room for an
other form, suddenly appearing over the
threshold of the door of the next apart
ment.
1t was the Sheriff of Ridge6eld, and
he held in his extended hands
The villains reward, indeed!-a pair
of glittering steel handouts.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18

ter, and it will be increased, it is ex-
pected, by the rush Of unprepared
prospectors who sailed for the new
fields immediately on learning what
luck had befallen those who have but
recently returned.
To give an accurate idea of the cost
of living in Dawson City, the price
list of q general store there is herewith
given:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18

the means of transportation to til
frozen region are owned by American
companies.
In the past miners of any national
ity have been free to enter any new
diggings and stake out their GLAZING
without restriction. Canadian miners
are now free to work across the border
in the Alaskan fields. What the result
of an exclusion act would mean to
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18

rose above the level of the commonest
of miners have come back to civiliza-
ton and comfort loaded with gold to
last them a lifetime. Take as an IL
lustration this list of returned miners
who came on the Excelsior:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18

An Orlando FLA. citizen, who is
known locally as a successful inventor
has devised an apparatus cy means OF
which he says he can by suction trans
port grain for several hundred miles
from inland fields to river boats. ~
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18
To Secure American Sailors.

Lieutenant-Commande Hawley will visit
many Of the lake cities to recruit sailors for
the navy, the object being to secure more
Americans Of the high standard required
thar are to be found in the seaboard cities.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18

A farmers Find.
At Colon, Mich, a farmer found q gold
ring In a potato hill.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18
Alaska and Its Resources.

Alaska and It's our
In the purchase of Alaska, the United
States acquired a Territory more than
half a million square miles in extent,
q part of it within the arctic circle and
in the region of everlasting ice and
Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-03-18
Epidemic of Epidemics.

Denver, Colo, March 15.-A special
to the News from the City of Mexico
says: The republic of Mexico appears
to be having an epidemic of epidemics.
Three have already been reported,
which are carrying off hundreds of peo.
pie, in various parts of the country, and
now comes news of two more. AT
Japan, in the state of Vera Cruz, an
epidemic OF scarlet fever is raging to
such an extent that the people are flee.
ing for safety, while in the same vicin.
ity an epidemic of typhoid fever, which
has much resemblance to yellow fever
has broken out in most virulent form.
Reports from several Gulf cities say q
similar disease prevails there, and the
physicians predict an epidemic of vel.
low fever, as they say this is always q
forerunner OF that disease.
Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-03-18
Will Meet at EIlensburg.

Olympia, Wash, March 15.-State
Superintendent Brown has designated
Tuesday, April 27, as the day for hold
ing the regular biennial convention of
county superintendents. This conven-
tion, which is required by law, will
convene at Ellensburg. Each county
superintendent will come prepared to
discuss any question, which, in his
opinion, concerns the administration of
his Office and the welfare of the public
schools of the state.
The state board of education will also
meet at Ellensburg on Saturday, April
"a, to outline plans for reading-circle
work and to make necessary regulations
for examinations according to the re-
cent laws of the state.
Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-03-18
Patent Convention With japan.

Washington, March 15.-In response
to very many inquiries that are being
received at the state department from
American manufacturers who are con-
templating the introduction of their
wares, now protected by patents, into
Japan, notice has been prepared stat
ing that the president has proclaimed
the patent convention recently negoti-
ated with Japan, the exchange of rati-
tications having taken place at Toxic
on the Sth ultimo. Consequently, the
convention goes into immediate opera
tion and it is now possible for Ameri-
cans to patent their inventions in Japan
in conformity with the provisions of
their law.
Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-03-18
Floods on the Mississippi.

Memphis, Tenn, March 15.-The
Father of Waters" continues booming.
The levee on the Nicely cotton planta-
tion, ten miles above here, has failed
to resist the powerful current. At
Memphis 1000 acres and the bar is
completely under water.
Two great -wheelers, capable of
carrying thousand passengers each,
this afternoon issued a notice of excur-
sions into Eastern Arkansas, giving a
view of the overhowed country and sub
merged plantations. This means a trip
fifty miles due west from Memphis,
through the tops of trees and over
cabins, farms and small villages. Past
high water has offered no such oppor-
tunity.
Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-03-18
EXPORTS OF PRODUCTS.
Statement for February and the Past
Eight Months.

Washington, March 15.-The month
ly statement of the principal articles of
domestic exports for the month of Feb
ruary and for the eight months ending
February 28, last, issued by the bureau
of statistics, shows that during Febru-
ary the exports were:
Breadstuffs, $15, 5,OO6, ,657, decrease,
as compared with January, of about
So, 700, 900; cotton, $17.19O, 73s, de-
crease of about 1850, 900; mineral
oils, 81, ,561, 148, an increase of $780,
900; provisions, including cattle and
hogs, $12, 40s,S11, decrease of about
100000
For the eight months, the exports of
breadstuffs are given at $136, 951, 7S9,
as compared with $94,224, ,249 for the
same period last year, cotton, 1886, ,66S, =
701, as compared with 14O,324, ,625
for the corresponding period last year;
mineral oils, $41, ,7S4, 1866, compara-
tive gain of about $500, 900; provisions,
including cattle and hogs, $1S, 77S,16
a comparative loss of about $500, 900.
The total exports of these four arti-
cles during February amounted to $40, =
1877, 354, a net loss, as compared with
January, of about $l3, 900.
For the eight months the gains were
about $50, 100000.
Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-03-18
ON THE WAY TO ALASKA.
Al-Ki Left Port Townsend Crowded to
the Guards.

Port Townsend, Wash, March 15.-
The steamer Al-Ki sailed this morning
for Alaska with 245 Yukon prospectors,
80 dogs for sledging and 80 packhorses.
The using of the packhorses over the
divide to the Yukon country has never
before been tried, and old miners who
have repeatedly made the trip are of
the opinion that horses cannot be of
any service.
The AlKi was so crowded with pros
pectors and their outfits that she was
forced to leave 900 tons OF freight on
the wharf here. Never before, at any
season, has the rush to Alaska been so
great.
The steamers Willapa and City Of
Topeka both arrived this morning from
Alaska with few passengers and a
little freight. Just now nearly every
thing is going in and almost nothing
coming from Alaska. Among the To-
peka's passengers was G. S. johnson,
ex-United States district attorney for
Alaska, who is on his way to Washing
ton to ask President Mckinley to ap-
point him governor Of the district. He
goes well recommended.
Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-03-18

New York, March 15.-Fire invaded
the cruiser New York on Tuesday
while the vessel was lying off Tomp-
kinsville. The forward magazine is
surrounded by coal bunkers. In it were
1000 pounds of guncotton and 5000
pounds of powder. Smoke poured from
the magazine and an alarm was given.
For the first time in the history OF the
ship the automatic fire alarm had
failed to work
Water was turned into the coal bunk
ers and there was no stint in the guam
tity. so that before the cruiser had
passed Governors island it had taken
into the hold such weight of water
that it gained three feet in draught and
had to be sailed with great caution.
Arriving at the navy-yard the New
York was pumped out.
An examination was made, when it
was found that the fire had not origi-
mated in the magazine, but in the coal
bunkers adjoining.
Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1897-03-18
POLITICS IN SCHOOL.
A New Branch of Learning for Chicago
Children.

Chicago, March 15.-Chicago child
ren are to receive instructions in the
theory and practice of politics. Men
of advanced thought assert that a move
ment of this kind is necessary to insure
the perpetuity of the republican form
of government, and it is to be attempt
ed in systematic manner. No def
mite programme has been arranged, but
the work will probably be undertaken,
or at least begun by the Civic Fedora
tons committee on education.
Richard Waterman, jr., secretary of
the committees; w. A. Giles, principal
of the Watt Graham school, and others
interested in the subject have been dis
cussing the preliminaries for some time
past. So far as planned, the movement
contemplates the addition of thor
ough and complete course of civics in
the public school curriculum, with the
object of drilling pupils in the theory
of politics and good citizenship, while
the practical part will be impaired by
voluntary participation in auxiliary So
cieties.
The Woman's Club, of Englewood,
and similar organizations have become
! interested ia the movement and are
studying the subject with view OF
being able to assist the Civic Fedora
tion's committee with practical sugges,
tions for giving the matter effective
form.