The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-08-14
Advice to Klondyke Gold Seekers.

an old resident of Reno, written al
Seattle July Both which contains
advice to those contemplating a trip
to the Alaska gold fields. The
Journal says:
The article in our columns by
Gordon A. Rice, on the new mines
In Alaska, comes from a young
man who has spent several years
in the Northwest. Being located,
as he is, at the very distributing
point of the new Ell Dorado he is
doubtless we'll posted on the posi-
bilities of the country. He is an
old Remote and we'll known mere
and his statements will be taken as
reliable.
The following extracts from the
letter will be of interest to those in
our community who contemplate
seeking their fortunes in the new
Ell Dorado:
1t has been demonstrated beyond
doubt the Klondyke placers are
the richest ever discovered during
the Christian era. One steamer
brought into Seattle this month 90
returning Alaska miners, who sold
over 5000 of gold dust, and this
amount is known not to represent
all the dust brought down on the
steamer l speak of the "Portland.")
Some of these miners had been in
Alaska for several years, others but
a few months, but all of them mark
this) took out all the gold they
had within a period of six months,
and only. about six weeks of that
period devoted to actual washing
or "panning," the rest of the time
having been given to digging up
the frozen earth during the winter.
The fact that no man on the Port
land had less than $4,000 and that
some had 500, 900 shows the claims
to have been rich. The further fact
that none of the men sold out, and
that all are going to return shows
that the claims have not "petered
out"
There you have the bright side
of the picture, and it is the brighter
for being strictly true. Now, lel's
look at the dark side, and, to show
you that it is dark, let's turn the
light of truth full upon it. A trip
from Reno to KIondyke Dawson
City, N. w. To- is longer than a
trip to Europe. 1t costs more for
fare; nine-tenths Of it must be
made through a wilderness of water,
snow and ice. 1t entails a more
hazardous mountain climb that the
ascent of Mont Blanc, with none of
the latter's modern safeguards. 1t
necessitates the descent of torrents
beside which shooting the rapids"
of the st. Lawrence is child's play.
Itleads the traveller from temperated
latitudes into country colder than
civilized man has ever inhabited.
These are some of the obstacles
that must be overcome, and which,
| fear, the gold fever has lead many
to overlook. And in this lies the
danger of a hasty trip to the new
bonanzas. Then, too, it should be
borne in mind that of all who sue
cessfully reached the new Mecca not
one in a hundred has struck it
the other SO have so far escaped
starvation by working for wages for
the lucky few, and that such a
chance will not be presented to all
when the thousands now on the
way reach the diggings. !
There have sailed during this
month from this port over 600 pros
pectors. Within the next month a
dezen steamers will leave here, the
booking on which exceed 1000. To
get to Klondyke these people must
either go up the Yukon from St.
or over the mountains
from Juneau. The boats on the
Yukon cannot take one-half the
people already booked for St. Mi
chaels. By the land route every
thing must be packed from Dyea
over the Chilcoot pass and all the
Indians on the trail cannot trans
port the outfits already at Dyea,
although they are paid 90 cents per
pound. Either route requires from
one to two months time, and both
routes will be closed by ice not later
than September 10th, probably by
September 1st. Those who do not
get in before that date will have to
winter amid the ice gorges of the
Yukon or the avalanches Of The
Alaskan mountains, and the man
who lives through either experience
will have to be made of the sternest
stuff. All the powers of endurance
of the strongest man will be taxed
to the limit, if even he is properly
'grubbed" and clothed if he is de-
ficient in either of these requisites
bis friends will never again hear
from him.
If you have the fever control it
until Spring; come now if you can,
10 Seattle and learn by contact with
those who have been there what you
will need to accomplish ANYTHING |