The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-19
CAPT. FAIR3 AIRN HOME.
Tells Everett Of the kl0ndike-ThOu-
nanda in the Open Air.

Special Dispatch 20 the Post-Intelilgencer.
EVERETT July ls.-Of course Everett
| has caught the klondike fever: in fact
IL has had /; for several months. bur The
recent discoveries have materially raised
the temperature. Capt. J. Z. Fairbairn
formerly master Of the steamer Florence
Henry, who went up 10 Alaska in April,
came home with the party OF klonGike
miners on the steamer Portland. and gave
his family a delightful surprise by drop
ping in upon them last evening. His home
on Chestnut street. near Everett avenue
was thronged with visitors today. 10
whom re eheerfulIy impaired all the in
formation he could about the famous gold
fields. Capt. Fairbairn left Dawson
City June il, after having spent about ten
days prospecting. The captain confirms
al the stories told by Clarence Berry and
others who have struck il rich in the
Klondike district and came out on the
steamer Portland.
There is a sample Of gold washed out
in the district" and tho captain handed
10 the correspondent of the Post-Intelli-
gencer small box Of the glittering stuff.
among which We're several nuggets worth
from V 10 $40. All the trading is done in
gold dust at SIG 10 the ounce Troy weight
Tor cash or SIT per ounce in trade.
The biggest find I heard of" he said,
was s2.oo0 from two buckets. equal to
twenty-seven shoveIfuls. and they didn't
use any quicksilver either"
To friend who was inquiring about
freights, the captain said that at the pres
ent time. when the snow is of the noun
tains, freight is packed over by Indians
from Dyea across the summit, distance
OF twenty-nine miles, for IA cents a pound.
A man should take plenty of clothing and
provisions. He did not find provisions
plentiful Several cases OF scurvy were
reported. the effect of a longcontinued
diet on salt meat. This. however. can be
avoided with care. cranberries grow
abnndantly and Wild onions and Wild
rhubarb abound. Moose and cariboo are
easily shot and feathered game is to be
had In season
How Is Dawson City located"
III Hes on low, marshy ground at the
junction of the Yukon and the Kloudike.
Small sternwheel steamers run UP the
Yukon for 800 or 4o0 miles above Dawson
City. There are about fifty log cabins in
the town. and innumerable tents. Some
of the miners live In the latter all win
ter. IL Is, as you are aware. in British
territory. and the camp is under the dsrec-
ton of gold commissioner II is an or
derby camp and one of the few places
where honesty is the best policy You
can hang A sack of gold dust on he out
side OF Your cabin and II is perfectly safe.
One saioonkeeper has $3.50 coo in gold in
little shack and he never locks the door.
There Is small saw mill in operation.
and 1t is running day and night The tim
Der Is chiefly spruce, and a tree that will
square nine inches is considered a good
sized tree
'''rhe mining locations are all taken on
the klondike, but there is plenty of Other
country Just promising Berry's big
strike was made on the Eldorado. If
man has money and grub 10 sustain hin,
while prospecting he Is all right. but the
mine owners now have all the men they
want and II A man goes in depending on
work 10 get along his chances are not good
No one should so without fur robes They
are indispensable In the winter. and almost
impossible 10 obtain. 4 man might pay
80. so or ss0 for a good robe here and sell
II readily there for $50. The Indians do
not tan hides and furs, and do not seem TO
understand IT."
The country is a sportsrnan's paradise"
continued Capt. Fairhairn. Trolling in a
boat down the lakes. one can easily catch
trout Weighing from two 10 thirty pounds,
while you can go anywhere IN the woods
ana Kill moose. All the miners who came
Gown on the Portland were limited las.
winter to fifty pounds of -four and twenty
I'VE pounds OF beans each with what
moose they could Kill. The country
ahouuds In the finest bunch grass / ever
saw The surface soil for about . foot and
a iiaT IS composed of moss or peat Scrape
t"'7 OH an" Won come 20 frozen gravel as
hard as steel This Is what they Tie, ON,
ira wash ~nen the warm season ouans
About the fst OF October winter sets IN
when the kIondike and all ,he streams
freeze solid. Very little surface digging is
done TIE general method Is "a sink !,
sh5ft four by eight feet to bedrock. and
| theh alH "u, a room twenty-five feet
/ SQUARE. ping this earth on the dump To h,
washed These rooms are limited m
twenty-five fest square for the rass,y +,,st
iney C'nroi Eet natural ventilation for
room larger than that
tain?" g.
Yes; I hope to get away as,.f, at,,,.
I toe &o'h OF this month Tn. steare~
Portland. which leaves Seattle ., ~
G3fh viii make -. Mirhaely az the roo',,b
~ TIE ukon in about thirteen avs
rom theFe by steamer 70 Dawson t-if.
VIII take from twouty-thr.a 20 ,,.,e,.,,
NE da}S. We expect to go F.v 49, 20
I bfrt ana over the Summit an ,r~t,.ts,s.
! on "" other side We shall &c down ~
river tn boats about 2sl miles 10 th.. tin
ity Of 'ae kiondike"
rs the camp In pretty healtbf.l co,,,i.
ton" - eof'ai-
/ Yes. There was little sickness excon,
tHe s<lftE have mentioned ANA sn,se
eases whore usinsrs were ssfr.-f,..- -,
TIE effects ~ inhai'n- fatl ras - ~
tn3h ts ouH e. neraliy sprakinS th. rI,,,ste
+ s. HgslhfufF '''9'S
=. a. 'ft-sse and fwo others win ~. ,,.l,s,
+ 'la'- 1ifha1Fn Vsneu ,hev leave s.,ars,t
! tir captain saw james E.,-as ~ r.
+ '.' "ofEfHS on the Kiondike "a, s1s . a..
SF9 . good }sE." whlcb rror,,s..s -
return ifc 8sSe met 3lere sv- tsv,s.-,.s
ms At}orn"5 John = AiNer ~ $50
MO i~ doing wei There are ~. -
I te@Fetf " ho~r eyes are ,ufred ro th@ ~,
-. 90, WIN DETER nniualion 10 try