The San Francisco call., 1897-07-20

out $14 000 He is going back III the
spring, and seems to be very well satisfied
with the result of his work.
B. f. Purcell is man about sixty years
of age and left his home near st. Louis in
April, 1896, bound for the Yukon. He did
not reach the Kiondyke however, until
the 1st of January, 1897, and while he de-
clines to state the amount of gold he has
brought out with him, says that he sold a
half interest in claim No. % above Dis
covery on Bonanza Creek for $21, 900, not
incIud ing the dirt already on the dumps
and says that he is very well satisfied. As
he expresses it the Ell Dorado aud Bo-
nanza Greek districts are golden
wonder, but he is OF the opinion that the
Stewart River country which is about
eighty miles above Dawson and which
was being explored as he came out, will
be found to exceed in richness anything
yet discovered. He says there is room for
100000 men in the mining districts of
Alaska without any crowding, but that
the suffering this winter will be terrible
and characterizes any attempt to reach
there this fall as foolhardy.
Myers says. the pay dirt on the claim he
has been working is more than $50 feet
wide and at least foot in depth and that
he has never taken out pan which gave
less than 81. On claim 27 in the same dis
trict he says there was streak eight feet
wide and five feet deep which went from
$17 to $50 pan. That claim sold for
$50, 900, and 100000 would not buy it to-
day. 1t is owned by Big Alex McDon-
aid and James Doughty. He tells of
man named Andrew Nelson who made
$40 900 for a partner who had given him
grub stake and had never seen the claim.
The largest amount brought down by any
one member of the party is placed at
between $4,000 and $So,ooO. Myers built
the third house erected at Dawson City,
and says the discovery of gold in 49 is a
mere bagatelle compared TO that of the
Alaska placers
The men tell narrowing tales of their
sufferings and say that the hardships
which must be endured in order to exist
cannot be exaggerated. Several of the
party have not yet recovered from the
scurvy. and all appear to be physically
dem oralized. Their lust for gold, how
ever, Is not dimmed, and they are anxious
to resume the search for hidden treasure.
While wages are very high, said one of the
party, man had much better work a
claim on shares. for he hes got to make .
great deal of moneb to repay him for
going to such country. Last winter was
mild one. the thermometer only reach
ing about 20 degrees below zero. During
severe season it frequently goes away
down in the eighties.
Referring to the amount of dust brought
down ON the Portland, they say it is i'm
possible to make a correct estimate of the
total value, as nearly every man. secreted
all he could in his personal effects and
clothing. Said one: sit would not sur
prise me to know that two million dol
lars worth of dust and nuggets came into
Seattle on theasteamer.
With one or two exceptions the men in
tend remaining in San Francisco until
ready TO start on their northern journey.
Going to the mines the men say the route
over the divide" should always be taken,
and in coming out the river route is
prefera BILE. One of the men claims to
have lost a satchel in which he had over
$1,000 worth of walrus ivory, and each of
the men has brought down some of the
stuff. One beautiful specimen of walrus
tusk was shown for which the owner said
he paid $5, and which must be worth at
least $50 or $50.
A member of the party tells of the ex-
perience of a man who located the claim
adjoining his. This man had been in the
Alaska mines for more than five years
and had been unable to make Strike"
At last, becoming disgusted with his luck,
he resolved to leave the country. On the
day before he was to leave Circle City
word reached that place of the Klondyke
discovery. He decided to try his luck
once more ana Immediately started for
the new diggings. In three months he
had taken out more than SIC, QUO and is
still pc gging away, resolved to stay until
he has $60O,00O. A man should not. how
ever. say these gold-seekers from the
north. remain in the country more than
one season without coming to the world of
civilization. BY coming out he acquires
new lease of life, as it were, and goes back
better qualified to cope with the hard
ships to which he must submit.
"Our greatest privation," said Mr.. Pur-
cell, sis the scarcity of fresh meat. A
small band of cattle was driven in last
fall, and if it had not been for these I
think a great many of us would have
died. Any kind of beef brings so cents a