The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-23
Nearing Land Of Gold.
Names of the Ships and Estimates of Their Passengers
at the Present Moment.

government of Canada, has stationed
men at every point where the emf
grants make an entry into the Ca
madam portion of the Klondike coun-
try, and no person without at least a
years supply or provisions is allowed
to proceed. There is no such regula-
ton about going to the entrance to the
land of gold, and here it is that a
horde Of hungry Would-be prospectors
must linger all winter with no money
and no friends.
Then, when those who cannot go by
the water route, but are we'll supplied
with provisions and fairly we'll off for
money, reach the point of the begin
ming of the overland journey, they will
learn that it costs not less than $500 a
ton to transport provisions to the final
point of destination. How many of the
gold hunters can afford to pay these
prices? There is but one alternative,
and that is to stay away until next
spring. unless they send home for
money, and even that means a long
wait.
Many of the steamers mentioned as
being on the way to the Yukon are
heavily loaded with freight. Aboard
the Alki were fifty head of pack horses
and the same number of cattle, all in
tended for the Klondike. The Rapid
Transit took all the freight she could
carry. The Willamette took three
hundred horses. The South Coast, car
ried the tug boat, Governor Stoneman,
as part or her cargo, as well as the
steam launch Firenzi and several small
lighters. The National City carried
the launch Hattie B. In fact, it is es-
tlmated that when the fleet Of vessels
mentioned reaches its destination, at
least thousand horses, mules and
cattle will have been transported by
them. This in addition to tons and
tons of provisions.
The best equipped and provisioned
OF all the parties are those which have
organized and chartered vessels. AS a
rule, these have taken the precautions
TO arrange in advance ways to combat
possible emergencies and carry the
members through all kinds of hard
snip. The parties aboard the South
Coast and the Farallone are excellent
examples of these. The explanation
az their foresight lies in tn fact that
they were organized and differed by
men who knew the country to which
they were going and to whom placer
mining in the toughest surroundings
was not matter of hearsay
All sorts and conditions of men ia
the only fit way to describe the vast
company that is aboard the fleet of
vessels referred to. Among them was
the mayor of an Illinois town. who had
caD1tulated to the blare of the TRIM
pets Of the returned miners, thrown
aside all the honor and emolument
winch Office brought him, and Joined
the klondike ranks. In the same
party were four bell boys of the Palace
motel at San Francisco. On another
vessel went to the nephew of Russell
Sage, of New York On still another
was the son Of that old time and
famous grain Spectator whom the
world knows as "Old Hutch"
One must not forget the women.
Wherever they could crowd in they
went. Not man in any Of the parties
faced the possibilities of starvation
and death with stouter heart than
some Of these feminine seekers for
gold. The example of Mrs. Berry and
the other women who have returned
with both health and riches, has
simply set on fire the ambitions Of
the Door and energetic feminine of
this part of the country, and the result
is seen on the passenger lists of the
outgoing vessels.
After the 18th of September it will
be paying court to death to attempt to
reach the Klondike. Yet there are
thousands Of men in this city TODAY
perfectly ready to face all this if tbev
can get transportation to the Yukon
Men who have looked on the gold fever
in various parts of the world for half
a century say there was never anv-
thing that approached the fever that
has seized so many victims and of Ali
classes. ON to the Klondikep Is
heard on every side, and fortunate in
deed is the man considered who finds
a way to achieve his ambition.