The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-08-21
GREAT CARGO
OF THE GOLD SEEKERS
The Bristol Crowded From Keel to
Promenade Deck With the
Searchers For Dust.
AN INTERESTING ASSORTMENT
Magazines and Bicycles Are Found
in the List---Former II Spccu-
lation, Latter for Truck
ing Outfits.

Victoria, b. c., Aug. 1S.-No steamer
ever carried from a Pacific coast port a
larger or more strangely assorted
freight of men and their belongings
than did the big 1900 tonner Bristol
when she sailed, bound for Skaguay.
To say that every foot of accommodate
ton was occupied is both ~hackneyed
and inadequate. She was full. up from
the bottom of her lowest freight deck to
the promenade deck. Men and horses
hundreds of tons OF cargo had been
sifted in where space was found avail
able.
Upwards of 500 men were aboard with
their horses and outfits to last for one
or two years. Only those who have
outtitted large companies can realize
whatt this means. A crowd Of thousands
tnronged on the wharves n APP
.proaches, msingling with the waiting
throng of miners. photographing them
and the ship in all conceivable positions
and pouring over the Vessel to crafty
heir curiosity. The great bulk of the
freight aboard was limited to the neces-
sites OF life for the men and pack ami
mails. Very few attempted to take lux
uries with them. 1t is a grim fight thai
is before them and they realize it. Only
It ipfrequent intervals during the load
ing of H. Bristol did any novelty go on
board. and much speculation was at
once excited.
A large bundle of old magazines
claimed considerable attention for a
time, and smiles frequently were in
dulged in at the expense of the unknown
~prospector who proposed to crafty his
literary taste in the wilderness. Pres
entity the expressions of uncomplimen-
tary opinion We're hushed Wien a friz-
zled veteran of many a mining rush
claimed the package with the casual ob-
servation:
Il reckon l know what 1 am doing.
If those magazines aren't worth $40
apiece before we get to Dawson, those
diggin's amt like any Others on the
face of he earth"
Paper mall is not yet taken to the
klondike, and no one has taken the
trouble to pack in reading matter as
yet. Hence the old miner undoubtedly
will realize quite a liutle pile for his
thoughtfulneSs.
Another object of curious attention
was a stack of bicycles. Who ever heard
of bicycles in a mountain country 50
rough hat only the surest footed horses
could go through? The owner explained
that lie had found that, with a little ex-
tension from the saddle to the handle
bar. he could push 400 pounds of bag
cage over the pass as easily as he could
carry a hundred weight on his back. OF
course, for difficult climbing the bike
would nave to be abandoned. But ii
would pay for itself, he said, several
times over before Ia time came. This
man has been in he Yukon country be
fore and has one in by White Pass
with a Wheel. so he knows what he IL
talking about.
Tbs dogs were still another attraction
at the docks. All kinds were in evidence,
but Newfoundlands and St. Demands
are preferred. A good specimen of
either of these breeds commands i'm
mediate sale here at from SIS to $3.50,
while the owners of large and rough
coated animals suitable for northern
work have for weeks taken good car.
at Victoria to keep them under lock am,
key at night. Otherwise they unques,.
tionably would AVE followed twenty
or more that We're stolen during the first
week of the Klondike craze.
OF the miners who sailed quite a mum.
Der took advantage of the concession
just made by the Canadian customs OF.
ficers to the effect that each American
going into the district may take with
him, duty free, 100 pounds of American
provisions, rugs and Blankets, clothing
in use and cooking utensils. OF course.
woolens of all kinds are cheaper on the
other side of the line, hence the conces.
sion is not as valuable as would at frs,
sight appear.