davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

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 are two general routes to the
Kondike district From Chicago both
lead to Seattle, and there diverge. One
goes by ocean steamer west and lit
tie north, and passes through Dutch
Harbor, ut the extreme end OF the
southwest Alaskan peninsula. From
there tbs steamer turns north and con-
tinues on to st. Michsel's Island, q little
above the mouth Of tho 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, row tho principal town in
the mining district, although si1ty-dve
miles from the Klondike fields.
The cost Of the trip from Chicago
this way, as prospecting miners usu-
ally travel, is $251.5o. It is divided
as follows: From Chicago to Seattle
(second class), $3.50; from Seattle to
Dawson City, 5000.
In time the trip costs thirty days
four from Chicago to Seattle, sixteen
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19
Queer Place Of Refuge.

The passengers on 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 couple OF
sparrows, one in chase of the other,
swooped down in front of the car.
The pursued, by quick flank move
ment, .eluded its tormentor by darting
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 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 perch
for fully hlo,k, chirped its thanks
and flew away.-Philadelphia Record.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19
Alaska and Its Resources.

Alaska and ItS Resources.
Inthe purchase of Alaska, the U:nited
States acquired Territory more than
half million square miles in extent,
a part Of it within the arctic circle and
in the region of everlasting ice and
snow, where, during part of the sum-
mer, there is continuous day and dur
ing the winter continuous, dreary
night. The Alaskan coast line is
greater than our Atlantic seaboart, but
the entire population Of whites, ,Eski.
mos and fierce Indians, who are called
the Apaches of the north, is not much
more than chat of a ward division in
Chicago.
In acquiring the Alaskan Territory,
though the United States moved its
center, figured in geographical miles,
not in area or population, as far west
as San Francisco. The country now
extends from about the sixty-fftll de-
gree of longitude up at the far east
corner of Maine to the 122d degree up
at the far northwest tip Of the Alaskan
mainland. This is taking no account
OF the little island of Attn, 1000 miles
out in the Pacific, beyond the Hawaiian
group, which, since the purchase OF
Alaska, has really been our western
land limit.
The United States, therefore, may
almost say with England that the sun
never sets on its possessions.
The principal river in Alaska, the
Yukon, up which prospectors have to
work their weary way to reach the
gold fields was called by Schwatka, the
Alaskan Nile. 1t rises little more
than 200 miles above Sitka, in the
southern part of Alaska, and then
strikes northward, following q broad
circle to the west before it empties
into Bering Sea through an extensive
delta. Six hundred miles in from the
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

gold excitement one of the most for
ward was to involve it in disputes with
England on the boundary question and
the seal fisheries business.
Both of these disputes threatened
war, but white-winged peace settled
over the situation in each case and
brought the suggestion of that newly
invented English h-American institution
arbitration. However, the boundary
question is not settled yet, and the Brit
isb lion is even now roaring little and
angrily swishing its tail because OF a
diplomatic (the British call it undiplo-
matic) note from Secretary of State
Sherman demanding that British ves-
sells "keep of the grass" as it were in
the seal fishing grounds.
The Boundary Question.
it was not unexpected, Of course,
that the discovery of gold in the Klon-
dixie region would revive in a measure
the old question Of a boundary line be-
tween Alaska and the British North
west Territory,
The Klondike fields are considerably
east of Fort Cudahy and Dawson City,
and both of these are on British soil.
Into the new regions, though, Ameri-
can miners first ventured and made
the first discoveries Of gold. Since
then hundreds of them have trooped
over the border, staked out their claims
in the rich hills and begun to dig.
Should the Canadian Government pass
an exclusion act all of these miners,
of course, wouldbe dispossessed.
The difficulty Of enforcing such an
act, especially on miners who have
staked out their claims, is at once ap-
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

from Seattle to st. MichaePs Island,
and ten up the Yukon to Dawson City
by the fast boat. The distance in gen.
eral figures is 2250 miles from Chicago
to Seattle, $500 miles to st. Michaeps
Island and 1890 miles up the Yukon
to Dawson. 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 S99
miles from Seattle, and then 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 q 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 q
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 that 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 800 thousand feet, and
about 500 feet are required to build
boat that will answer the purpose.
Still other travellers carry whipessws
and get out their own lumber, and a
man handy with saw and hammer
can build boat in three or four days.
To continue the trip, though, boat
is necessary and by some means or
other one must be had.
After securing his boat tho travel
er floats down Lake 'Lindeman and
Lake Bennett and then has half q mile
of portage where his boat has to be
moved on rollers. There is any
amount Of rollers to be had, though,
for earlier beaters of the path have
left them. This half mile overland
brings the traveller to Lake Tagish,
through which he goes six miles and
over q quarter of mile of portage to
Mud Lake, and on to the White Horse
Rapids. Here there is another port
age Of three-quarters of mile, and
the traveller brings his boat to Lake
Labarge. From there on the journey
is through Thirty Mile River, the
Lewis River. $50 miles to Five Fin
ger Rapids, to the Yukon at Fort Sell
kirk, and then down stream $50 miles
to Dawson.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19
THE KL0NDIKE GOLD FIELDS IN ALASKA.

border. They were discovered, as has
been said, by party of 1'tenderfeet, "
who, against the advice of the old
timers in the district, wandered cover
wonder in the Klondike" and struck it
rich. From Klondike comes much OF
the gold and from Klendike seems to
come all the excitement. A few
stenderfeet," going it blind, have
stirred up the Nation. Out of the
regions of their discovery has come,
it is estimated, $2,e90,000 worth OF
gold during the present summer.
Nearly all of that gold has found its
way into the United States.
It is hard to tell where the Alaska
gold fields are located except that in q
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
se&. Before the discoveries in the
Klondike the most productive districts
had been along Forty Mile Greek,
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 al the immense country over
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

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 hearer.
The California miner in the song who
had so many nuggets that he was ac-
customed to ~go hatful blind" finds
his parallel in the Yukon miner who
claims to have washed out" S212 in
zone painful of dirt-a process that re-
sduires ten or twelve minutes.
Poor Mans Mines.
The Alaska and California gold fields
are alike also in being placer mines.
Placer mining is commonly called
poor mans mining" for the reason
that it is done without machinery,
while the implements required in the
work are few and of small cost. A
placer miner can get along very we'll
with pick, shovel and gold pan. If
the dirt is not rich he can accomplish
better results by running it through a
eluice box, but where the yield is in
nuggets instead of fine gold he prefers
10 span" it.
The great Klondike strike was made
nine months ago, but nothing was
: known CT it in tie United States until
June Is, when a vessel called the Ex.
celsior arrived in San Francisco laden
with miners from the Klondike, who
IN turn were laden with gold.
They told almost incredible tales Of
) The richness of the newly discovered
district, where fortunes had been ac-
cnmulated in few months. Expert
faneed miners and ''tenderfeet" seemed
TO have shared good fortune alike, and
with some justice, too, for the credit
sof the discovery of the new gold fields
! Is due to the inexperienced men.
Another vessel brought to Seattle a
second party of successful prospectors
and ton and half of gold. These
men had endured peril and undergone
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

The cost of the trip this way can
not be definitely stated beyond Ju-
neau, because after that point it de-
pends somewhat on the bargain made
with the Chilkoot Indians, who pack
supplies through the pass, and the
length of time the overland part Of the
journey requires. The cost from Chi
cago to Seattle is the same as by the
other route, of course, $51.50 second
class and $40 more for first class. The
steamer fare up to Juneau and on to
Dyea is S42. What it costs on the
overland trip each traveller determines
partially for himself, but the Indians
who act as guides and pack supplies
do not work without big pay.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19
DAWSON CITY, IN THE KLoNDIKE GOLD REGION.

coast it is more than @ mile wide and
the volume Of its water is 30 great as
to freshen the ocean ten miles outfrom
land.
The principal cities Of Alaska are
juneau and Sitka. They are both
thriving towns, and probably they will
thrive from now on, for time at least,
as they have never thriven before.
Alaska is ruled by a Territorial Gov
ernor, who just now is ]. G. Brady,
recently appointed by President Mo
Kinley to succeed James A. sheakley'
The Governors residence is in Sitka.
The citizens up in that frozen coun'
try do not vote for President of course,
baing under Territorial government,
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

IS The United States Government in
1857 paid Russia s7,2O0O,O0 for the
Territory Of Alaska
Alaska has paid back her purchase
money in geld four times, having pro
duced during the time it has been part
of the United States about $50, ,0O0.-
600 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
inely '.richer tlan Pluto's mine" "
A few weeks ago the word Nendlke,
literally translated meaning Deer
River, was known to geographers and
= 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 o 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
rresent day in Alaska and the report
cd gold discoveries Of 40 in California
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 trlbu-
taries. One was more than 1000 miles
across q trackiess desert and over
ssnow-bound mountain passes, Seset
~ .oyooas uhose daadly attacks
marked the trail with bleaching bones
across the Western States; the other
b nearly 1000 miles by water, through
rigorous climate, or almost 4ooe
miles by land and water, with noun
tain passes to scale as dangerous as
these of the Swiss Alps.
The fabulous tales of wealth sent out
by the California pioneers were no less
wonderful than those brought back by
the men Who braved the last cold
season in the Klondiks mineral belt,
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19
breakfast Picnics."

People get up early in the morning
out in Nebraska, and from this habit
some enterprising social leader has
evolved an idea which has become 9
fad in the neighborhood Of Grand
Island, where breakfast picnics" are
in vogue. The guests start out at 4
O'Clock, breakfast in the woods, and
come home before the sun makes
things too hot for comfort. York
Sun.. =
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

but they DO send delegates to the Ma
tional political conventions. The judi.
cial function there is exercised by Q
district court, established in 1884.
The court sits alternately at Sitks and
Wrangle. How odd for court to sit
at Sitka and Wrang!e.
And speaking of Wrangle, among the
things Alaska has done for this coun-
try aside from stirring up the present
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

lice, whose captain is a civil officer.
Though there are said t0 be 5000 peo-
pie in Dawson, few houses have been
built, for the principal reason that
lumber is 800 per 1000 feet. The
general fear is, of course, that there
will be great suffering there this win
ter, and it will be increased, it is e1-
pected, by the rush of unprepared
prospectors who sailed for the new
fields Immediately on learning what
luck had befsllen those who have but
recently returned.
To give an accurate idea Of the cost
of living in Dawson City, the price
list of general store there is herewith
given:
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19
Tho Centre of the Gold Region.

Dawson City, the centre of the new
mining region, although si1ty-fve
miles distant from the Klondike, is
said to be q typical mining camp
minus the guns. The British Govern
ment enforces its laws in Dawson, and
those laws prohibit the use of firearms,
so few men carry guns. The laws OF
the camp are enforced by mounted po-
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

The Secretrry of State has issued
commission to Louis Behrens, r. l..
Meyer, o. G.. Marjenhoff and Is. E. BIZ
caise, of Charleston, as corporatOrs OF
the Charleston Fire Deparl ment Aid
Association. The purpose ot the COM
pany is to aid its sick and bury its dead
members.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

The assistant attorney general has
received from Greenville the copies
of the final orders signed by Judge ci-
monton in the three other Original
package" cases. Each case has been
dismissed with the costs falling on the
liquor people.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19
A Perilous Journey.

A Perilous Journey.
Every one OF these men has 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. They tell a
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 un-
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 adyenturers. thougbru on
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

In an alteration at colored Baptist
church at Yorkville Henry Jones, alas
Henry Fry, shot and killed Andy Oar
by. Both the parties are colored. The
fuss originated over white woman OF
bad character.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

The State of the 18th says there is
locked up in police headquarters in CO.
lumbia a negro Pullman car porter
named D. w. Alexander, who has been
arrested by Chief Daily upon suspicion
II he proves to be the right mar, a very
serious charge will be made against
him. He is said to have assaulted .
lady on q Pullman car. He jumped
from the car when the chief made for
him, but was caught.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

Governor Ellerbe has granted par
don to Chas. r. Hatfield, who was.
convicted of manslaughter in Darling.
ton county in October, 1896, and SEN
fenced by Judge Aldrich to term OF
three years in the State penitentiary.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19
MINERS CROSSING THE cH1LKooT PASS.

great hardships in accumulating the
fortunes they brought, and they told
3 story that had dark as we'll as a
bright side. To follow their example
means a 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 Klondike District.
The richest of the mines in the
Alaska region seem to be in the Klon-
dixie, q. few miles over the British
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

Governor Ellerbe has offered areward
of 800 for the apprehension and con-
viction of Pat Dreher, the negro who
killed his wife at Lewiedale a short
time ago.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

There will be no further attempt ON
the part of Mr.. Wesley or his attorneys
now to get possession of the agricultural
hall property at least until the hearing
Of the appeal in November before the
United States court Of appeals and the
final determination of that appeal. On.
the 18th Attorney General Barber wired
the assistant attorney general f-om
Greenville, that the supercedeas had
been granted by Judge Simonton and
the execution stayed. Judge Town
send, in accordance with this order,
has amended the bond and forwarded II
to Judge Simonton.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

There are now two ''original pack
age" establishments in Laurens.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

Last week committee of six leading
negro preachers of the Methodist
church appointed by the conference
called on Governor Ellerbe, presenting
him with q report adopted by the con-
ference dealing with lynchings and ~
saults. Serious apprehension was ex.
press. d at ''the growing d;sregard Of
law and order manifest throughout the
country, North, East South, and West.
The orderly Investigation and punifh,
uent Of crime by cou are often sup
planted by excited anu prejudice judg-
ment and the cruel and inhuman taking
of life by mobs." Governor Ellerbe ex
pressd himself as pleased with the po-,
sition taken by the conference =
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19

The carload of whiskey shipped TO
Anderson after Judge Simonton's de-
cretal order and injunction, was seized
by the constables by the Governors
advice. The reason given by the Coy
ernor is that the shippers consigned the
liquor to themselves as agents and not
to q regularly appointed agent in this
State, who happened to be resident Of
the State.
The State authorities admit that the
decretal or1er settles quite thoroughly
the question Of shipping bottles by the
carloed lot, yet at the same time It i
pretty certain that any such shipments
not made under the exact conditions of
the Gukenheimer shipment will be fol-.
lowed by legal proceedings. There
can hardly be doubt that the State
will not attempt to interfere with
shipment made exactly Al in the
Florence case. So far as sales by the
cask or in cases are concerned, there
can be no question about them 30 long
rs the regularly appointed agent Of 2
house in some other State sells the
stuff in the shape it was received.
The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-08-19
AGRICULTURAL HALL. CASE.
Over a Thousand Increase on the
Pension Rolls. :
STATE SEIZED The WHISKEy.
Dismissed With 0osts--A Manslayer
Pardoned-A Reward by the Gov
ernor-Palmetto Chips.

There has been q large increase in
the number of the pensioners OF the
State this year. In all l, 1877 new names
appear upon the rolls. This year great
pains. have been taken under the new
act to care for all applications filed and
there will hardly be any complaints.
The clerks in the comptroller's Office
are busy transferring all the figures to
the big 6nal pension sheet, and the
board hopes to have the checks for the
individual pensioners in the several
counties go forward to the clerks OF
court Immediately. This year almost
half of the pensioners come under the
head of class G, No. 3-widows. Last
year they numbered 1865. The total
number Of pensioners Of all classes is
5,S41 against 4. ia last year. The fol-
lowing facts about the 800, 900 appro-
priation which is the same this year as
last will be of interest to the pension
ers: Last year the class A pensioners
received 50 a month apiece or $96 for
the year. The total amount paid them
was IS, 1S4. This year the class A'per-
sionefs will get nearly 800 less, the
act having reduced their monthly pay
ments to SO. Last year the class B
pensioners got $29 10 each, or total OF
50, 573. 80. The class G men drew $45,-
S42 and the widows $38, 140. 40, each
getting $19.4 40 apiece. This year the
class A pensioners will draw $72 apiece. 4
The class B men will get in the neigh
borhood of $15. so apiece. The ex-
psnses last year were something over
$500 paid to the several county boards
of pensions. This year the expenses
will run up to about s, 400, under the
provisions of the new law.