Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-07-29
THE NEW GOLD DISCOVERIES.

is wild with the gold fever and all
the routes to the region are thronged
with prospectors.
The new Eldorado lies just across
the Alaska boundary in British terri
tory. 1t is of recent discovery, but
already there are several thousand
people on the ground and more are
focking in that direction. The dis
covery of the Klondyke regions pre-
sents a story that is uniquely inter-
esting. Around Forty Mile, on the
Yukon river, is a tribe Of Indians
known as the Shckers, and with them
is man who years ago was known as
George Cormack, but who is now called
"Slick George" IhSeptember last at
the head of party Of Indians, he left
his hut near Forty Mile camp and
started in a southernly direction, say
ing he intended to find a new gold field
before he returned. He came back
two weeks later and startled the min
ers with the announcement that forty
miles away there was gold to be found
in plenty. The streams abounded
with the yellow metal and all that
was needed was for somebody to pick
it up. Many persons looked for the
place, and in time the word reached
Forty Mile camp that untold riches
could be found along the bottom Of
Bonanza Greek and its tributaries.
Men who had failed at the former camp
Immediately packed up their belong
ings and set out for the new fields.
1t was hard and trying journey, but
that was nothing with the promise of
millions at the end Of the route.
The following is an abstract Of a
letter sent from the Klondyke region
by prominent and wealthy young
business man of San Francisco:
"The excitement on the river is in
describabIe and the output Of the new
Klondyke district almost beyond be-
lief. Men who had nothing last fall
are now worth fortune. One man
has worked forty square feet Of his
claim and is going out with about
$4,000 in dust. One quarter Of
claims are now selling at from SIS, 900
to $4,000. The estimate Of the dis
trict given is thirteen miles, with an
average value Of 100000 to the
claim, some are valued as high as
100000. If reports are true, it is
the biggest placer discovery ever
made in the world for though other
diggings have been found quite as rich
in spots, no such extent of discovery
has been known which prospected and
worked so high right through.
The journey to the gold fields is any
thing but pleasant and is nearly as
long as that to the end Of the rainbow
where the proverbial pot of gold is to
be found. To get there you must first
cross the continent, which you can do
much easier than they did in 40, but
there the trouble begins. You must
then travel $500 miles to st. Michaels,
an Alaskan seaport. Then you 60 up
the Yukon river 1896 miles further
to Dawson City. Then you are in the
center of the gold fields. You are
also in the midst of country, appall-
ing in its inhospitable appearance and
conditions, and are surrounded by
climate only fit for white bears, rein
deers and esquimaux dogs, and not
very good for them. Food is scarce
and very dear it takes fortune to
get you there, and it will take another
to get you away, if you get away at
all. More people are anxious to get
to the Yukon country than can be ac-
commodated by the various transpor-
tation companies and it is believed by
many that the vessels now fitting out
at San Francisco and destined for Daw-
son City by way of st. Michaels, will
never reach the former place. The
river begins to freeze about September
10, and it is not possible for vessels
leaving San Francisco after August to
reach Dawson City for at least five or
six days after the extreme cold has set
in.
The rush to Alaska has developed
hundreds of schemes to secure the dol
lars of the gold-crazed people. Many
transportation companies have been
formed which agree for ridiculously
low rates to take miners to Dawson
City and supply years food. Most
of these have chartered small gasoline
schooners, in which they declare they
will take their passengers to the Klon-
dyke. AS these vessels will draw from
four to ten feet of water, and there is
not more than two or three in the Up
per Yukon, it is impossible for any Of