Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-11-04
Our Klondike Letter.

FRIEND CARPENTER: IL arrived here
after very pleasant trip across the Con-
tinent and am we'll. About the Klondike
Bold fever, everyone has it here in its worst
form. I arrived here last Saturday and
from my observations and talk with re-
turned miners the country is not exagger-
ated in the least. They are of one opinion
that there is plenty of gold in Alaska for
the right men to get it, but it will take
many years to prospect it. My advice to
everyone is not to go unless prepared to
stay at least Is months or 2 years
also to bring as little from home as
possible as you can buy the proper outfit
here much cheaper than anywhere in the
East. You can go down on the docks and
meet men and some of them will tell You
not to start until Spring. There will be
no starving at Dawson City this winter
Notwithstanding the reports to the contrary.
There may be so.De that will wander off to
the mountains and get lost in storms and
thus perish, but those who have located and
got their cabin built will work their claims
and keep comfortable as far as their means
will allow the others will have to work
for the more prosperous mine owners
There has been only five or six deaths from
any cause at Dawson City except few
who were looking for trouble and found it,
or when caught stealing, which is certain
death from a Winchester or six
shooter. This l get from miners that have
returned from Klondike. Reports that come
in every day of new gold finds in different
parts of Alaska keep one ON the verge OF
the greatest excitement There are boats
sailing every day for Jennen. Dyea and
Skaguay, loaded with supplies and miners,
some going for the first time, others are old
men who have returned for supplies and
are now going back with grub for their
partners whom they have left to look after
their claims. There is ole large sailing
ship loading with 800 horses and $50 steers
to go over the Dalton trail, which seems to
be the best at present. | think we shall
90 up to Jennen or Dyea in week or ten
days and look around and see what chance
there is to get over the passes. Once oyer
these you are all o. k, from an Alaska
standpoint OF course you have got to
have nerve and be prepared to meet all
emergencies that arise in that Country. If
anyone 10 Gloucester Co. contemplates
coming here I certainly shall give them all
the points l may know or learn and / find
| was about as well prepared to grasp the
situation as most men out here / am
working on portable tramway for getting
our supplies over the bad parts of the pass
and my experience in Colorado and Ari-
iona has taught me many points that are
very advantageous TO me here gave the
largest packers Of supplies for Alaska some
points on packing -four for wet countries
and they accepted them and are now put
ting flour up that way, as the difficulty
has been that groceries when not properly
packed would spoil their bacon. They
would pack it in canvas and then allow il
to be put down under two or three tons Of
other stuff which would squeese all the oil
out Of it, aud it would quickly spoil. /
will write you later on when / haye been
up to Dyea.
Yours, etc.
II. B. SIMMERMAE.