The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-08-30
FABULOUS WEALTH
Klondike Not All Of It-So Writes Our
Former Townsman, o. 0. Murray,
from Seattle, Washington.

Col. r. A. Murray received a letter
Saturday evening from his son Oscar,
dated Seattle, WASH, August "a. Oscar
is at the front with his hand on the
pulses OF the Alaska gold fever patients,
but says he is not unduly afflicted With
the disease himself. The excitement at
Seattle and other coast cities is intense
and thousands of people are
arriving from the east daily with
a view Of penetrating the wilds in search
of it's hidden wealth. Every vessel that
puts out from port takes, according to
her capacity, from 200 to 600 passengers
bound for Dyea and Skagaway and
thence over the Chilkat aud White pas.
SOS and by the rivers and lakes beyond
by boat to Klondike. There is about
one chance in 10000 to get over the pas
ees, there being on a rough estimate
about 5000 persons at Dyed and 1000 at
Skagaway, most of whom have been
there for two months. The easiest way
to get TO Klondike is by boat by way OF
st. Michaels, but no boat from anywhere
can reach there now before next June.
| For one who is willing to work, the
route over the passes Is much the quick
est and best. II I go I will go that way.
Two or three going together can 90
much cheaper as there are some
things in the outfit they can use in com.
mon. You can't believe a thing you
read in the newspapers. They lie like
the mischief just to boom the coast.
For instance, the latest newspapers re.
port $5,5OO,COO on the Portland which is
hourly expected in port. As a matter OF
fact she will have q little less than two
millions. heard three Klondykers who
returned on the Geo. E. Starr Saturd ay
tell q reporter that they had q little over
seven Thousand dollars in dust and the
next morning the papers came out with
the announcement that they had re.
turned with $4,000 apiece for three
months work. 1t is a matter of positive
lhCCs uO"cNCl, UlloU VuC AK "uO
Come out this season have brought with
them all the way from $4,000 to $4,000
for their years work. The rest of their
wealth is in the claims they have secur'
ed. II a fellow haso't a mighty rich
claim he has not much to brag Of.
You will soon hear of people leaving
Klondike by the thousands, en- maese
for finds as much richer than Klondike
as Klondike is richer than the mud ii
the bottom of Lake Herman. These dis
coveries will be on the Stewart river ant
it's tributaries; in fac: have been made
and it is expected the Portland will bring
, definite information concerning them
i There is not a river or creek in Alaska
! that has not gold in it in paying quaint
l ties il cost of living is not o great.
l There is much excitement here owe
the Copper river, just this side of Cook
Inlet. 1t is the general opinion herr
g that it has the richest deposits in tn
. world. Numerous %prospectors hav'
gone up the river in the past few year
but not one has ever returned to tel
what they found or what happene'
: them. Three years ago a party OF sixt,
: went up from here and not q has eve
' been seen or heard of since. AS far u,
as any have got the river is lined wit
human bones. A short way up tn
p~rospector is met by Indians who re
y quest, him to turn back, and he goe
back. These Indians bring down to th
: trading post large nuggets of gold, som
as big as your fist, and trade them TO
= supplies, getting little or nothing 70
them. The Indians have undoubtedl
r been put up to kill the whites by tn
q traders who are reaping fortunes fror
y them every season.
q A party of two or three can outfit a
3 present prices for nine months for $50
- apiece, and il one fellow goes alone it wi
X cost him slCO or $3.50 more. I have
70 notion to Join the party of 300 who sa
from "Frisco" September l. to prospee
b. Copper river or kill every Indian on l
ID l made a trip up to Dyea and Skagawa
to see what the opportunities for cross
ing the mountains we're, but ever!
thing ia blocked there by an overcrow
TO of eight or ten thousand people at tn
two places. Only a few a cross th
lg passes at a time and those with til
most money get over first. The trip u
ID there by the inland sea is q delightf'
= = ore. I shall probably 60 south to L.
Angeles SOON.
Hugh Murray has also received a le
ter under the same date as that write
Is TO his father in which Oscar says tn,
- he and two others did some p~rospectiI
and panning near Dyea where they wi
~ return SOC They have two places
h. view either OF which is sure pay dirt.
l. heater weighing about $50 pounds b.
lie been invented. that heats. cooks. thay