Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-09-07
SAFE IN PORT.
Treasure-Laden Alaskan Steamer
Arrives at Seattle.
Brings with Her Only 3575. 900 In Cold
Dust and NuEget,-Her Pasaen-
gers Tell Interesting 3tortes
of tho Gold Fields.

g. Seattle. WASH, Augs3O.-The steamer:
Portland arrived here at three o'clock
Sunday morning. It was IA hours after
the Portland was sighted of Cape Flat
terry before she arrived here. The Port
land carried 13 miners, each of whom
brought only a small part of his stake.
The total amount of dust on the vessel
is perhaps $575, 900. The Portland was
delayed by the failure Of the 2. B.
Weare to arrive at St. Michaels and by
a storm on the North Pacific ocean.
What tho Passengers Say.
There are two facts about the Klon-
dixie brought out clearly by interviews
with passengers on the Portland. They;
are, first, that Alaska's fields are rich
with gold; second. that awful perils
threaten those who seek it. The Yukon
miners who came back on the Portland
without exception estimate that not
less than $4,000, 900 will be taken out
of the Klondike district next winter.
Many of them think the amount will
reach fully $15,000,000. Following are
extracts of interviews with some OF the
passengers:
''You can believe almost any statement
about the richness or the Klondike digRings
that you hear: They are rich beyond de-
scription."
TITS hardly fair to Judge the Klondtke
they may seem. The work that has been
done IL little more than 'gophering.' It
was impossible to do systematic and thor
ou8h prospecting Of claims. Next win
ter they will get down to solid work. Then
look out for results"
Nav
dorado) are richer than anything that has
ever been found in the world so far. Larger
nuggets and richer pockets have been
found in many places, but history has no
record where the pay streak has been 50
wide and the gold SO evenly divided as
nous producers for the next ten years
at least"
''There are big chances for capital on the
Yukon. There are many miles Of good
ground which will yield handsomely when
worked on large scale. which the average
outfit costs from $50 to $1,000. and a pros
pector must find it pretty good In order to
make his board bill. Consequently he
looks for the rich spots only. whereas cap
ital could work ground that the miner has
rejected and make it pay Big
1T Is just as good and even better than
the Canadian side." says q Arm believer
in the American part OF the Yukon. There
10 lots Of rich gravel, on our side. Out
side Of the Klondike strike nearly all the
gold diggings have been found on Ameri-
can territory. There are good chances
there for prospectors and for capital
''Warn people to stay out OF the Yukon
this winter. Tell them 1t means starva.
ton there. Telegraph to every paper In
the country that miners will starve there
IL more people 60 In.
I'm warning people to wait until spring
I simply act for the miners. who speak in
the name Of humanity. There is gold in the
Yukon country, plenty Of it, but to seek Il
this season under these circumstances, is
sheer madness. It 10 even worse, It II
criminal to those who already are In the
country"
1T is almost Impossible to take in enough
supplies. and to go without supplies means
starvation. as there is not near enough
food in there now for the people already
In the district"
"Buildngs cannot possibly be put W
to accommodate everybody, and wintcrins
in tents Is out Of the question"
ANYONE who has q good situation
would be foolish to throw it up and &c
into the Yukon until more is known about
the country. So far only glowing account,
have come out. There are plenty Of hard
luck stories which are yet to be told. NJ
one will lose anything by not going to thu
Yukon this fall"
1.-THE Yukon Is the last place on eartl
for q man to look for a soft snap. The
very best will be hard living there"