The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-23
VANDERBILTs SEEKING GOLD.
TWO SOns-in-LRw Return from IL Visit
to Mountain Masses

~ KasSeS.
TACOMA, Wash, Aug. 22.-The Wander
bits are said to be members of the syndi-
cate which sent John and Frank Malone,
prominent Tacoma men, to the Klondike
district on the steamer Humboldt this
week. The arrangements at the New York
end were made by Truman w Enos. the
vice president of the Metropolitan Savings
Bank of Tacoma, which the Vanderbiits
control.
Two sons-in-law of the late William H
Vanderbilt, of New York, have passed
Judgment in a practical business way on
the transportation facilities of the noun
tain passes leading into the Klondike The
names of these gentlemen are Mr.. H. Mex
Twombly and William D. Sloane In their
Judgment, 20 per cent. of the Klondike gold
seekers may be able to get through the
passes this fail. but the great bulk of those
now struggling forward are doomed to dis
appointment.
Mr. Twombly and Mr. Sloane, accom-
panied by their families, made a trip to
Skaguay and Dyea this week and the
sights there interested them very much
They would not have missed it for any
part of their extended tour in a magnificent
private palace car that is at their dis
posal through the powerful Vanderbilt rail-
road interests. Miss Lila V. Sloane and
Miss E. j. Knowlton charming young So
ciety ladies, complete the party, aside from
the maids and a secretary who arrangeS
all the bothersome details Of the itinerary
Under the guidance of this secretary, the
Twombly-Sloane party will feast to-mor-
row on the beauties of the Yellowstone Ma
tional Park. After that they viii continue
eastward to the metropolis.
Speaking from a hard business point of
view, Mr.. Sloane comedies to Skaguay the
honor of being the new metropolis of Alas
ka because of its better docking facilities
Its wharf accommodation is confined to a
small dock. for the use of which its build
ers propose to tax the miners eXOrbitantly
The TWomDly-Sloane party viewed the
situation mostly from the upper decks of
tie palatial tourist steamer Queen of the
Pacific, on which they took passage from
Tacoma TO the north. While last Sunday
these New York society and financial ma
hobs were enjoying the novel sight Of a
city of tents at Skaguay and Dyea and the
greatest glaciers of the world, in Alaska,
tomorrow they will be in the midst of
Yellowstone Park wonderland Next Sun
day they may stand on Pixies Peak They
are very observing, and noted the things
people eat, even, at Skaguay.
For instance M fo+ T tTot Ply was i'm
was on deck at the mountain passes Of the
Klondike Other vegetables were there in
abundance, but the presence of the cucum-
Der among them excited comment even
more than the fact that a man was run
ming q lemonade stand on the beach at
Dyea. Mr. Twombly was also impressed
with the sturdy character of the men who
are going to the Klondike placers and
making pack mules of themselves over the
difficult mountain passes. Some or THESE
men were remarkable for their youth and
lack of experience among mountains and
in pack trains Mr. Twombly was not at
all enthusiastic over their prospects of
getting their per capita share OF the Zion
dixie nuggets But among the youngsters
and inexperienced men he picked out many
of the sturdiest men of brain and muscle
that the United States can produce. These,
Mr. Twombly thought, would successfully
carry out their gold mining expeditions and
perhaps come home budding millionaires.
While Mr.. Twombly found the neces-
beans. cheap at Skasuay as IN Tacoma
or New York and while it also came under
laid out and lots sold by enterprising real
estnte men, he could speak of the noun
tain passes only from hearsay.
1--WE are unable to judge of the condition
Tacoma except as we heard the reports
in general circulation. but it appeared to
be the PREVAILING, opinion ttat many o. the
prospectors would winter there and go
through IN the spring, and from what we
could see they will have no trouble in llV-
ing at Skaguay, very COMFORTABLY"
To this Mr.. Sloane ADDED:
''From what I could learn, 7 should say
that not more than One-ei2hrh Of the peO-
it is physical impossibility with the
means of Transportation at hand-but
Skaguay is an ordinary place, and they will
get along there al right
the Misses Sloane We're delighted with the
trip to SlIaguay and Dyea. 1t was one Of
the sights not given In the guide book. and
on the bill of fare"