The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-18
A DAY OF EXCITEMENT.
Crowds TnrOnS tae Streets All Day,
Intoxicated With the News
of Gold.

Never. since the early days of mining in
California. has there been such an ex-
cil!ns cnapter added to the history OF the
Paciilc coast as that chronicling the ar
rival OF the steamer Portland from S.
l'iicAaels, with her passenger list made up
OF miners from the kloniike ard her cargo
one of treasure. Not the filmy. roseate
cioudland of the dreamer. but the hard
TACT, stored IN sacks and satchels and
blankets. and carried by hrAwny men who
staggered under the weight OF the dull
yellow metal, an indors ameut OF the won
oeTfui stories of a wonderful country. Up
and down the streets of Seattle yesterday
there surged crowds Of men. intoxicated
with the news of gold. The sunlight that
Hooded the city and was reflected from ils
thousands OF windows and from the PLACID
bosom OF the Sound and lakes was ali
golden. and II Hooded the eyes and the
souls OF men who stood almost appalled,
al the wealth that lies but short dis
tance away, bat Is to he reached by a
journey of hardship and p-ivation that
rises In an icy chain of circumstances-o
sea and fields OF snow and bleak mountain
walls.
But this the crowd forgot. and uD and
down the city and money mad walked in a
dream OF gold. woven from the tissues OF
imagination. inspired by the tales that
have been brought from out of the land of
the long, long nights and the long, long
days OF gold. II was interesting but il
was in many cases pathetic. The yearn-
ing 10 be part Of 1t ali and 10 follow the
crowd that can go was stamped on many
faces, and the thought that, perhaps. if
they could only find a stake they might
strike il rich and build the castles that
had SO many times grown up in single
night. 10 be thrown down in crumblng
chaos by rude awakening. There was
also pictured the buoyancy of hope that
marked the lucky ones who We're either
able to provide themselves or those who
had been furnished with an outfit On every
corner there were gathered knots OF men
who were swayed by the impulse of The
hour. In the center OF each little gather
Ing was some one who knew and who
could interest the crowd He had either
been there or was going. The ourfitting
men were the busiest people In town: all
other branches OF business were stag
mated and nothing hu, rumors or con-
hrnations Of rumors were handed
about nf the designations from po-
sitions OF those who were going 10 seek
the huable fortune. delivery wagon roll
ing up the street does not usually attract
any attention. Yesterday one loaded to
It's fullest capacity with tents was almost
overturned h. the curiosity IL inspired.
The fent5 re all marked pyea. That
was enough 20 set the crowds Wild. and
the dIscusso OF the subject of gold was
temporarily eciipsed by another of what
was necessary IN the way OF an OUTFIT to
get 1t. From thai the conversation turn
ed to ths subject of getting gold 10 buy an
outfit 10 get more gold with. II was all
very strange. Old-timers, flushed with
the excitement of a glittering environ
ment. talked OF California in the sos and
af Virginia city, and they were only
hushed by the man who had been in the