The evening times., 1897-07-19

afternoon WIN llle ueIldi Nuie oA 'iN ''NNO
er Olki for the north. The steamer was
packed with gold-seeEers, tier hecdlng'
baggage, provisions ana tools, and several
score Of sheep and horses.
big crowd gathered about the steam-
er's wharf early in the morning, remaining
there until the vessel was out of sight
Tho scene was a lively and pic
turesoue one. Those who were going
ON the steamer seemed only anxious 20
gel away. willie the crowd on the WhaH
looked on as though regretnng that lley
were none OF the fortunate number 1lere
was much cheering ana waving oil hanukef-
cb,efs and hats v hen the steamer cast OH
be- anchor line.
This city, and, in fact, the entire North-
west. is on one grand fever OF excitement
over tn, stories OF rich gold finds tolo by
the men who arrived yesterday on oiie
Eeamer Portland Everybody is talking
about tire Kloadike gold mines, ana ap-
parently every other man one meets as pre-
pairing TO leave for Klondike.
Thousands Of persons stood On The DOCK
The majority Of them rad been There an
aav Someone circulsted story that
the captain of the steamer, fearing she
would be too crowded. intended 10 leave
port during the night. The result was
that more than one miner who had pur-
chased an outfit and had his ticket in D
pocket spent the night On tie cock. The
sun was stili sleeping behind the mountains
of the east when tbOse ''who have TIE
fever" reCan TO gather on the COCK
Where they came from is hard 70 tell.
There were faces there that are not
familiar in Sea tile. The surI0un ding
towns contributed their share, for every
town, village and hamlet in this State
and British Columbia. hea ring the news
from Klandike. is in the same fever Of
excitement that has been raging in this
place for forty-cight hours.
II would read like abSurdity, but more
than one person did not leave the wharf
Tor food. Some lad il with them; others
said they would not be hungry, so the
vessel left on Ter Journey to he far north.
One light have thought that The main
deck Of lie steamei would have been kept
clear. so that The gold-SeckinC passen gers
would have ohanCe 10 ST oil about. Rut
space was too valuable. and on the main
deCk had been constructed cattle pen.
II these The horses and sheep VIII stay
uniA tie .oulney 10y water is ended.
When Dyes is reached the pen VIII be
reduced to it, original state and the lumber
put 10 new use. 1t was the intention that
the steamer should leave at 8 C'clock in
the morning, but if the company had at
tempted 70 send her away at that tin
tie men who had purchased tickets and
stiIl had their baggage and provisions to
place aboard, would lave used folce to pre-
vent IT.
Another steamer viii sail today. packed
with humanity, and third one will leave
here Tuesday. carrying as many psssen-
gers as tie law will allow Every tIcket
Tor TUESDAY, boat has been sold. Ahead =
the comp nies are selling ICONS on steap,er
booked TO leave aS fast as they can be
placed in readiness.
Men are leaving an sorts Of positions =,
20 there, and Seattle and Tacoma are
hvelier than they have been for vear,
All classes are going, from prominent nro-
feSsional ard business men 20 stevedores
Charles u Hamilton secretary of tho
North American Transportation COMPANY.
who returned on the Portland. is the
busiest man in town. His office is be-
sleged by persons impatienuy waiting
portaton to the new Eldorado
The riches OF the KloDdf5e have
been upderestimated.' he said .sThe
Portland brought in here not less than a
million and a half In gold. bat the report
has gone forth that the total was only
100000 I believe that the outnut or
kiondike VIII not be less than $50 GOO 600
during the next season. The figure searrS
Ia - -,
kun country but to us who know the esti-
mate it is regarded as conservative -
II was stated this morning that ahour
S7o".ooo was stacked up in one big room
in the steamer but it later developed that
dozens or men had refused 70 store their
money and had held on 10 it. 1t has also
been discovered that several Of tie pas
sengeTs smucgled their gold through I'm
blankets, bedding and clothing This was
done tn avoid paving charges to the steam.
shin company The company officials as
sort that they know OF one person who
sr7uegled $4,000 worth Of gold in a roll
or heddng
There is more gold IN Alaska than even
tie widest story has Indicated" said p
miner who has Just returned from the Yu-
kon district with S1Oo 900 worth OF ore -
The placer mines are so rich that there
is not one of them that will not yield hand
somely in return for work AS soon as I
purchase some machinery that we need I
intend TO return to Alaska and Join my
partner, who has remained at work on our
joint claim. In the next five years, with
our new machinery, we expect TO take mil
Hens of gold out of that bit of land"
This is only one story The town has be-
come gold mad ever since the Alaska
steamers began to bring gold by the ton
TO this port. The lucky miners who came
down this week on the steamer are be-
sieged by people who want detailed in for
nation about the new place. the route, gar
ments, supplies climate, cost of living. O.
transportation and the thousand and one
things needful for the miner 90 know.
For the land trip by way of Juneau and
the Chilkoot Pass all outfitting should be
done at Seattle, where ample supplies an
implements for miners are kept II
stock The steamer Excelsior viii sail from
San Francisco for Dawson City and Yukon
Point about August / {. and the Portland
will sail about August 3 olater saflings
have been announced. This route IS 3, advised
by the returned miners for those who want
Co reach the ground in time to acquire
olaims and get TO work before winter
sets Ia.
The trip 10y steamer takes from -four
70 six weeks. and the fare for 5000 miles
OF river travel is 81 so first class and S12s
second class. As nearly ALI tho x,.o,l- ~