Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29
GOLD! AIASkA!!

Have you decided to join the gold
hunters in Alaska where the precious
colored metal now awaits your coming
and where little hardship, labor and
perseverance has brought to a Grand
Rapids boy riches and wealth at the
rate of more than $4,000 (estimated) in
six months? The breathing airs of
Spring have blown fever laden breeze
over the twin cities for several weeks
until at present the malady has become
gale in epidemic qualities and catch
ing strength. At every lounging booth,
in the barber shops, in the stores, at
the banks, in every group on every
corner-all conversation drifts toward
Alaska and the prospects it offers for
picking up money on quick and easy
terms. The fever is not of the physical
system, but rather of the mental state,
temporal excitement Of emotions
coupled with fond hopes. Men of a
household are seeking to mortgage
their homesteads to raise money enough
to go to far off iceberg regions. They
will leave their families behind for a
year or more until they can return
with great abundance of the medium
we are all after. Ten applications OF
mortgage as above were made at one
of the banks in our city during this
week. Young men are gathering up
! their little bunch of cash or otherwise
hustIing for the shekels to pay boat and
railroad fare, and money is in great
demand to be spent Alaskaward.
About one year ago Albert Gray, OF
this city, departed with others for the
gold fields of Alaska. He has written
home, and to the Centralia Enterprise
for publication, most encouraging letters
of his success and of the chances there
These letters account in a greater OF
less degree, perhaps, for the intense
gold craze that has sprung up here. III
notes sent after Albert was six months
the gold country he tells of himself and
pardner making a strike as high as $13C
i'll one day at the grub stake; that Oh
the gravel dumps of Hunker creek "a
person can pick up from $40 to Sl5 any
day they might want to overhaul the
| dirt" He estimated his interest II
claims worth at least $50, 900 and tolc
where miners below him had taken ou
three hundred dollars in one shovelfu
of dirt. Since this letter was published
number Of twin city people have
made up their minds to start. We
sincerely hope that all who go will meet
with as good fourtune as has Mr.. Gray
and find abundant riches.
Mr.. VIM. M. Romlne, travelling
passenger agent for the Great Northern
Ry., was registered at the Witter House
Wednesday and while here sold si2
tickets to Alaska. The purchasers were
Orrin Gray and son Oney, Irving Kells
Ed. Mahoney Jr., and Joseph ant
William Hudson, Of Dexterville. Thu
party will depart next Monday. Ii
addition to these the following
persons expect to leave within two
weeks: Messrs. Irving and r. A
Dunaven, Frank r. Houston, Reubel
Lyon, Severe Voyer, Geo. Huntington
Fred Jorgenson, Milton Miller, D. 0
Fisher, Joe Snyder, Geo. Laufer an(
Ralph Bulls, of Baskerville. Their
are others seriously considering th
proposition of going and this lis
includes John Andrews and son Ernest
Chas. Scott, Arthur Arpin, Emme
Ward, Henry Painter, Frank Billmyre
A. B. Cotey and son Coole, of Pittsvllle
Dick Kernighan, of the Pittsville Pilot
No doubt others are hanging in thu
balance but have not yet preached thei
thoughts. Ho! for Alaska.