The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-07-29
THE HARDSH|PS Of GOLD MINERS.
MANY PERISH.
Within a few Years 1000 Miners Died and
their Gold was confscated.

Frank Moss, an old-time miner. who
four years ago was one OF party OF
Americans TO first visit the klondyke
country. returned the other day and
tells a story of horrors and starvation
seldom equalled even in modern nov
els He describes Klondyke as plac-
er camp seven miles long and thirteen
miles wide, located in a sink. walled In
by boulders of rock 5000 feet high
Gold. he says. abounds. but no ordin-
AIRY man can stand the hardships or
the unCivilized region. When Moss LETT
here four years ago he was sturdy
fellow over six feet tall. From hard
ships and privation he is a cripple for
life and badly broken in health. In
three years he saw over 1000 graves
made in the klondyke basin, large
majority of the men dying from star
walton. The steamship companies bring
in all food and allow no private impor-
tation. Consequently 1t is not uncom-
mon to go for weeks with only n scant
supply, and for days entirely without
food.
The gold brought In last week to
Seattle. Moss says does not represent
the findings of individual shippers. but
a large portion of II was confiscated
from the effects of those 1000 miners
who fell a prey to the hardships. AT
the death of a man possessed or dust
his body is buried without a coffin, and
the dust divided among those who care
for him. With proper reliefs establish.
ed by the government, Moss says, gold
can be taken out at the rate of S2,OOO,-
600 month.
The richest strike has been made by
a 2l-year-old boy named George Horn
bower of INDIANAPOLIS In the heart
of II barren waste known as Boulder
. field he found a nugget fer which the
transportation company gave him S5.-
700. He located his claim at the find
and in four months had taken out over
100000.
The richest section of Alaska, Moss
says, is as yet undeveloped 1t Is 100
miles from Klondyke and known as
Black Hole of Calcutta. 1t is inhabited
by eX-convicts of Bohemia, and muir
ders and riots take the place of law
and order. 4 few months ago the
Klondyke settlers organized justice
committee, and its law prevails there
now.
With the great crowds preparing to
go to the scene now. Moss says, hun
ger and suffering will be great, when
added to other hardships to be over
come by those who survive. Moss re-
turned with $4,000 in dust and left for
his old home at Dubuque, Ia, where he
will spend the balance Of his years.
The steamship Umatilla. which ar
rived Wednesday from Puget sound
ports, brought down almost 100000
worth of Alaskan gold, of which $780,
700 was in gold dust from Seattle. con-
signed to Wells Fargo company. There
were several other shipments of gold
In sacks. some direct from Juneau, and
advices from that place are to the ef-
feet that at least $3.50. 900 worth of dust
was waiting shipment at various Alas
kan stations.
Among the sensational advices was
one from St Mchaels that over $4,000
900 in gold dust, which had not been
included with the fortunes brought here
by miners, will be shipped through
Wells Fargo company, other lucky
miners having reached the island since
the departure of the Excelsior and
. Portland who have secured greater
fortunes individually than those whose
stories have already been told. ,
b. w. Shaw, formerly an Insurance
man of Seattle, has written n letter to
n business man concerning the klon-
dyke country, in which he states frank
ly he does not expect to be believed.
This is great mining strike says
Shaw. probably the greatest on the
American continent or in the world
Gold has not been found in great pay
ing quantities except on two creeks
and in about 200 claims Some of the
pay streaks are nearly all gold. one
thousand dollars to the pan is not an
uncommon thing, and as high as 100
ounces have been taken out in a sim
gle pan. 1t is not unusual TO see men
coming in with all the dust they can