The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-06
WOMEN DUG NUGGETS.
Vanderbilt Party Have a Pleasant
Trip Up Through Alaska.

Chicago, Sept. 6.-There was a stir of
excitement in the Auditorium Annex
hotel last evening as party of ten, es-
corted by a number of bell boys, hur-
ried through the Michigan avenue en-
trance to the corridor. The whispered
comment, Those are the Vanderbilt
girls, and that is Sloane and Twombly,''
revealed their identity Marching past
the crowd of guests, the entire party
lined up in front of the hotel desk, and
in a few moments Flats G, D and F
were set aside for the affiuent guests at
the rate of $50 per day.
When the same ten started toward
the elevator they left the following
names on the hotel book, smeared and
blotted with much ink: Mr.. and Mrs.
H. NICK. Twombly, Miss Twomb1y, Mr..
Miss L. V. Sloane. Mrs. e. J. Knowl-
ton and two maids. New York city"
Fresh from the klondike gold fields,
the daughters of the house of Wander
bi1t, with their husbands, VIM. D.
Sloane and H. NICK. Twombly, best
known among the 400 of New York,
arrived in Chicago on special train
from the west via the Chicago & North
western railroad.
Each member of the party is loaded
down with gold nuggets, tied with rib
bons of bright hue.
Pictures of the frozen regions of
Alaska fill several large boxes carried
by the party. All are anxious to say
that they dug the gold with their own
Mr.. Sloane says. was used by the wom-
en-, who know more abOunt pink teas
than digging gold.
Once in charge of the bell boys the
party was shown to the $50 per day
apartments. After removing the stains
of travel the entire party, minus the
maids, entered the cafe of the Annex.
On leaving the cafe Mr. Sloane was
confronted by visitors.
m in deuced hurry" he said with
a smile. I've got to take all this party
of gold diggers to the opera, and I can
talk for just 60 seconds
All the feminine members of the par
ty crowded around Mr.. Sloane, anx4ou
to tell they had really dug gold. Mr..
Twombly hurried away for a few min
utes to talk business with a Chicago
banker.
I'm going to talk at the rate of 60
miles an hour" continued Mr.. Sloane.
I'VE have been away from New York
six weeks. We are travelling in pri-
vate car. We arrived tonight and leave
for home in the morning. We have had
more than jolly time, only the girls
will have sore hands for weeks to come
from using five pound picks in digging
gold.
1--WE were as far up in Alaska as Cir
Gle City. We spent most of the time in
Juneau. Don't know very much about
the gold fields. They tell me in that
country that it is a good place to start
a company, but you know they may be
only wanting me to spend my money
on some scheme.
I'VE have enough pictures of Alaska
to start a gallery. Each member of our
party was armed with a camera. We
wore bearskin garments and so did the
women. 1t was not a case of style, on
ly a good time, you know. I guess all of
our party will write books on the trip
for the next year. The trip to Alaska
beats Europe. No comparison at all for
a good time. Go to Alaska and forget
society for time. There. now, 1 have
been 81 seconds telling that, and I'm
about dead. All aboard for the opera"
and the genial Mr.. Sloane hurried to
the carriages, followed by his party.