The herald., 1897-07-31
CHARLES LAMB WENT NORTH
BUT HIS PARTNERS GREW FOR
GETFUL OF HIS WIFE
And in Consequence Lose an Oppor-
tunity to Make an Easy For
tune-Peculiar Incident

prospectors who struck it rich in the
Klondyke country, left for Alaska. For
some time previous to his departure he
had been employed on the electric rail-
way as a moterneer, but when reports
of the rich finds which had been made
in the far north began to be received here
he decided to try his fortune with party
of three others who expected shortly to
leave for the gold fields
AT that time the reports which had been
received from the Yukon were very
meager and to great extent lacked
substantiation. Lamb did not have
money sufficient to defray the expenses
of his journey, and as he had a number
of friends who were anxious to receive
authentic reports of the country from
some one who was on the ground it was
agreed between them that they would
help to pay Lambs expenses. In return
he was to thoroughly investigate the
conditions and prospect the country
sending back accounts of things just as
he found them. In addition to this, if
any claims were staked off those who
had assisted him in getting to the gold
fields were to have an interest in them.
Six men, all employees of the electric
railway company entered into the agree
ment. They were to raise IS dollars each
to be given to Lamb before his departure
and were to raise another IS each after
his departure the latter subscription to
be given to his wife to help her along.
If she needed more money before her
husbands return it was agreed that
Lambs six colleagues would furnish it.
Lamb left here on the 18th of March.
1896, in company with Norcross Barry
and Clements, all of whom have since
become men of affiuence. They journeyed
to Alaska and up the Yukon to the rich
mining districts which have been so
often described during the past few
weeks They endured great hardships
but were persevering, and in common
parlance struck it rich"
After the daring prospectors left here
months passed without any word being
heard from them. The first payments
which had been agreed upon by those
who had Joined themselves together to
assist in getting Lamb up to the GOLD
fields was made in good, faith, but late-.
when weeks continued to pass without
any word being received, they began to
Mrs. Lamb take care of herself for all
the good tehy would ever get out of the
arrangement. In the meantime the wo-
man had come to a state of absolute
want. She brought the state of her af-
fairs to the notice of one of the men
who had promised to see that her ne
cessities were kept supplied 1t had now
been so long since Lamb left without
any word having been received from
him, that the man appealed to had con-
cludied that there was no use payins.
out any more money for such a wild
scheme, and he pointblank refused to
do anything to help her.
Finding that she must depend on her
own resources. the woman started out
to find work in order to keep the wolf
from the door. This was no easy mat
ter, but employment was finally secured
in lodging house as chambermaid. Will,
pay fixed at 81 a week. She struggled
on here for several months and then
at last letters came from her husband
saying that he had struck it rich and
telling of the fabulous wealth of the
| Klondyke region.
He wrote: My father-in-law, Mr..
Norcross, has located a mine for which
he has been offered $4,000 but will not
tell you how much l have made, because
it would burst your hat-bands."
He stated that he had located a very
rich claim that only needed develop
ment, and advised the men who had
grub staked him to come to the country
at once. He said that ne would hold
the claim in pursuance of their agree
| nd, CHI IT.
when they arrived on the scene.
Five of the men, Norton Prince. Hollo-
way, Smith and two others, packed uu
and started almost Immediately. AS
soon as the letters were received, how
ever, Mrs. Lamb wrote back to her hus-
! band and told him of the treatment she
had received, and of the hardships she
had endured since his departure through
| the negligence of the men who had
| promised to look after her He received
her letters at Juneau few days before
the Los Angeles party arrived. AS soon
as he learned the state of affairs and
that the agreement at this end of the
| line had not been kept, he decided to call
the bargain off, which he did by selling
the claim and pocketing the money. Be-
fore he left Juneau the other party ar
rived. Their disappointment on learn
ing what had been done was hardly
equaled by their chagrin over their own
conduct. Argument had no force, and
Lamb positively refused to have any
thing to do with the man who had failed
to carry out their promises to care for
his wife.
Lamb came back 70 this city, arriving
here the middle of last April. The wealth
which he brought with him was various
ly estimated a t anywhere from $50, 600 to
900. He remained about week. and
then started back, first having arranged
for his wife's comfort during his absence,
which is expected to cover period of
two years.
The other men, when they saw that
they could do nothing with Lamb, de-
cided to continue their journey to the
gold fields They will arrive there with
no advantage over the other miners,
and will have to take an equal chance
with the throng which has already gone.
instead of having a rich claim already
staked out to work on.
There is one circumstance about
Lambs second departure which is worth
mentioning. On leaving here he left his
wallet in the lodging house on Los An
geles street, between Fifth and Sixth
streets, where he stopped. On arriving
at San Francisco he remembered hay
ing FORGOTTEN the wallet md teIepra nh cd