The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-07
WHAT GERMANY THINKS OF KLoN-
DIXIE.

me German people. as Is wall known,
are very conservative and slow to be-
Heve IN anything 10. fully suestanuated
cy facts Thar skepssc.xm led them 10
place but small credence in the tases OF
untold riches when they first came from
the new wonderland. But gradually the
news from Alaska received confirmation.
and as soon as the far-reaching conse-
auences Of the gold discovery were duly
impressed On the minds Of the German
people. many Of the most adventurous
appeared eager 20 rush 10 Alaska at once.
Fortunately for the welfare OF such TEL
lows all the leading German Journals
were prompt in cautioning their reaoefs
against undue haste by pointing OUT Inc
narushtps OF an Alaskan winter. and oE
demonstrating the absolute uselessness OF
arriving at the gold regions before sum-
Hser- On the other hand, many unscrIpa-
lous agents OF steamboat lines, partico-
larry of those starting from Engiisn ports,
sent their circulars broadcast throughout
Germany, and made IL appear as X netn-
ing was needed but passage. on one or
their boats and "a little money TO take
the person from New York 20 Alaska 10
insure for woula-be gold-seekers a first
class opportunity to become rich. But the
Germans had seen such circulars before,
and knew how little they were 10 De re-
lied on. With their usual good sense and
business enterprise they now commenced
TO investigate the matter thoroughly,
with the result that they decided to wait
till March or April before making any
move in the matter further than 10 pre-
pare themselves with the necessary funds
and looking for consenial travelling COM
panions. AT the present time the people
OF Hamburg and Berlin are as well posted
about Alaska as the people OF Chicago
and New York. and there Is little danger
that any OF them will so to the Klondiks
without being duly prepared for 1t.
The latest advices from Germany were
dated In Hamburg December IA, and
stated that, as far as Is now known in
that city. about four hundred men will
start from there for the Klondike in the
spring. A party OF twenty-seven klon-
dikers were to take steamer At Bremen
on December q, and are about due in
New York. These men, It Is said, have
made arrangements 10 30 10 San Fran
cisco to buy their outfits in that city.
and to start for Alaska as soon as they
can secure suitable passage. All other
parties which leave Germany later in the
season will be strongly advised to go to
Skaguay by way of Seattle, and not to
buy their outfits till they come here. Tho
writer of this article is correspondent for
the leading papers Of Hamburg. Berlin,
Cologne and Vienna, and has demon
strated the advantages Of Seattle in
number OF articles. Besides. party at
Hamburg who takes great interest in
Klondike affairs. and whose advice Is
sought by all who intend to go there, Is
fully impressed with the Importance OF
Seattle as the best last starting point on
the Pacific coast.
Among the 100 men previously men
toned are large number of miners from
noyw nNoSn nd
mining districts. None OF these, 1t Is
true, has any experience In gold mining.
but 1t Is believed that they will give 4
good account OF themselves, as they are
known to be trustworthy, frugal, and ac-
customed to hard work and rough cli-
mates. They win come here in small par
ties and each party will be accompanied
by one or moro men who have been In
America before, speak English fuently,
and are conversant with tho customs
here. Every man who wishes to join one
OF the different parties must show that
he possesses at least 1900 marks (about
$42D. before leaving the German port. 1t
is calculated that the steerage passage
from Bremen or Hamburg costs $40. ev-
erything included. and the railroad fare
from New York or Baltimore to Seattle
$50 so that each man will have about
$3.50 on his arrival here.
All men provide themselves in Ger
many with several pairs Of heavy shoes,
good underclothes. flannel shirts, over
alls and such things. and 1t Is thought
that the $3.50 will sufice to buy provis-
ions, tools. the balance Of their outfit,
pay for their transportation to the Klon-
dixie. and leave them at least 500 cash
In hand when they arrive there. No mat
ter how that may be, think the men
will manage to get along nicely. partic-
ularly as many of the men Will have more
money than the amount stated. Should
these people be able TO make good show
ing a large number OF their feiow-coun-
trymen Is certain to follow them next
year.
have also been informed that several
hundred men from Austria intend going
to Alaska next spring. Those I have
heard from belong exclusively to the
provinces OF Bohemia and Moravia. and
there may be others did not hear OF as
yet. They are said to be mostly poor
people and are now trying to raise the
necessary funds from relatives and
friends. Many OF them may not succeed
in getting the money, yet II appears that
quite number. say from $50 TO 200 men.
will come here from the different Aus
TRAN provinces. As I shall be promptly
notified OF all movements In this respect,
few weeks from now will probably
place me in the position TO say something
more on this subject. w. L.