The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-04
Trip to the Gold DigGings So Fraught
with PeriIs That PrOspectOrs Must
Take Their own Chances.
ACTION OF THE BIG COMPANIES
AGENTS FORBIDDEN TO ISSUE ACCI-
DENT OR LIFE POLICIES.
New and Easy Route to the Head
MiIliOnaires Anxious for Wives.

CHICAGO. Aug. 3.-The Chicago agent
of the Travellers Insurance Company OF
Hartford, Conn, has received instructions
from George Ellis, secretary of the home
office not to insure any person going to the
Klondike region. 1t is a risk that the COM
pany does not desire to take on account of
the extreme extra hazard and because when
death takes place the difficulty of obtain
ing facts TO make settlement of claims is
too great to be practicable. The telegram
follows:
do not solicit or accept applications for
either life or accident insurance on persons
proposing going TO Klondike or Alaskan
gold fields. Circular letter has been Is
sued"
Inquiry develops that many of the prin-
cipal life and accident insurance companies
have issued positive instructions 10 their
general agents in the United States and
Canada against assuming any risks upon
the lives of persons contemplating a visit
to the Klondike. These companies have
found, so they say. that business of this
character is not profitable one THEY
fear that the great influx of prospectors
and persons totally unaccustomed to the
extreme cold OF Alaska would prove too
great a burden for them. Many of the
general agents representing Eastern life
and accident insurance companies in Chica-
go have received letters from the homa Of
fees of prohibitory nature against these
risks. The action taken by the Travellers
is similar to that taken by the Provident
Life and Trust and many of the smaller
companies.
Mr.. Harris, manager of the New York
Life Insurance Company in Chicago, has
received no instructions that prohibit him
from issuing permit to policy holders in
that company to visit the l<londike, but hs
says they have positive instructions to ac-
cept no applications for either an increase
of insurance or new policies. Our company
permits the policy holder OF two years
standing to visit any foreign country he
may desire without paying additional
premium" said Mr. Harris. I'VE inquire
into the intention of the applicant very
carefully and refuse all who contemplate
a visit to either the extreme cold or warm
countries. hence 1t would be impossible fer
anybody who anticipates a visit to the
Klondike to take out policy with us. and
for that reason no specific instructions
have been issued at the home office against
the Klondike prospectors.
The Provident Life and Trust Company
has positive instructions not to take any
office of the Equitable Life Insurance Com
pany they are refusing all such risks. The
manager of the Equitable in Chicago is out
Of the city, but his assistant stated he had
written the home office in regard to Klon-
dixie insurance. In the case of old policy
holders an extra charge is made by the
Equitable for a permission to visit Alaska.
What this charge is the Chicago repre-
sentative of that company Is unabfe to say,
but it will be at least an addition of IS per
thousand.
The Penn Mutual Is another COM
pany which has no instructions from the
home office against taking risks on lives
Of those going to the Alaskan gold fields.
Its representative stated to-day that ii was
positive instructions, to refuse new busi-
ness of this character. He said, however,
that no action would be taken in regard
to policy holders who desired to visit the
Many of the smaller companies and es-
pecially the local companies fatty refuse to
accept business of this character. They
say the risks are too great for the prem
companies is not nearly as surprising as
that of the accident The companies carry
ing accident risks are even more particular
than many of those assuming life risks.
They go on the theory that the trip over
land to Alaska is fraught with more dam
gers to life and limb from accident rhan IS
possible from disease. The only thing that
causes the accident companies TO hesitate
in canceung the policies Is the extreme
prudence that the policy holder has shown
in the past They do not care to assume
a risk on q daring young prospector who
will not take even the precautions of carry
ing sufficient clothing and food with him
to the Klondke regions. They estimate
that the greater portion OF those gong TO
that country are persons unaccustoned 10
cold and insufIiciently provided with food
and clothing.