The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-21

lily on Main avenue, Taylor, and is he
ing besieged by his friends since his
return from the portals of the much
talked and little known about Yukon
gold fields. After an absence of close
to six months, he returned on Satur-
day night direct from Seattle, via the
Canadian Pacific.
Yesterday a Tribune reporter visited
him and elected an interesting story
of his trip. Though he did not get into
the Klondike, yet he is fully cognizant
of what leads to it.
with several others I went to Car.
bondale in March," he said, land on
the night of March 81 we began our
trip to the frozen zone of gold with
Juneau, Alaska, as our objective point.
OF course, you know that no news had
reached civilization of the great strikes
since made on the Yukon. In our
party, however, were two brothers.
Henry and Charles Smith, of Mayfield.
who spoke of having a claim which
would some day pan out rich in that
section.
I'VE reached Seattle in good spirits
and laid there four days, waiting for a
boat. We at last sailed on the CITY of
Mexico, which afterwards sank. In ten
days we landed at Juneau. Shortly
afterwards the Klondike strike came in
and today Juneau is practically de-
populated.
WORKED AT JUNEAU.
Henry Smith went in on the first
packing, but Charles remained at
Juneau We worked in the Mexican
mine of the famous Treadwel company
on Douglass Island. This mine runs
12O stamp mills, while the Treadwell
runs 240. The Ready BulliC a new
opening, will soon be in operation with
a large number of mills"
| What sort Of a place is Juneau?" he
was asked.
! well, 1t is a cold, wet, half-civilized
| and very undesirable little town. and
of course is hardly town now since
| the gold rush to Dawson City. For
! three months it is called fine weather,
but for six weeks it rains, rains, rains
in a steady downpour and this period
is the healthiest."
why did you not go in with the
othcrs?"
II really did not feel inclined. The
| reports were so meagre and much ex-
aggerate1 that Charlie Smith and 1
decided to remain over until next
spring. Since then decided to return
home and I did"
do you think of ever going back?"
II may. 1 expect to receive letters
from verv close friends who are al
ready at Dawson City, and if they say
come, probably will consider it. The
| expense is very great even to the point
l went and the hardships and discom-
forts are unlimited, and then your
| chance is almost one in a thousand to
succeed, A man with family and earn
ing So or $3.50 a day is far better off
| here"
VERY MUCH ENLARGED.
What is your opinion of the tales
| of the Klondike?"
They are very much enlarged. You
hear much of success, but little of the
| defeats. We had some idea of what
the outside world was getting, for we
read The Tribune, besides some other
papers which different men at the
mines received from home"
Did YOU have any returning Klon-
dikers on the boat coming back?"
| Yes, a few Some who had been in,
| others who went as far as Lake Lin
derman, and others who gave up at
Juneau and Dyea. 1t was very anus
ing to see their eagerness to get back
to civilization"
How did you find things in general
at Juneau, so far as living was con-
cerned?"
Poor, very poor. The water is snow
| water. Good food is scarce and you
are in constant danger of sickness. The
Treadwell mines are unhealthy, being
poorly ventilated, and little concern is
shown whether you remain or go, as
others soon fill your place"
Mr.. Bashan brought back several val
liable specimens of the Treadwell
quartz, queer Indian relics, and, as he
quantity said, little regard for the
country"