The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-22
A KLONDHEER RETURNS.
HOmnIne Mccullough Tells of His
Experiences in Gold Fields.

Homnlne Mccullough Tells of His
Experiences in Gold Fields.
Brunswick, Ca, Sept. 21.-When young
Romano Mccullough returned yesterday
from his visit to the Klondike he found
a host of friends, who were anxious to
hear Of his experiences. In course of con-
versation with the Morning News CORE
spondent, he said, in substance:
when I left Brunswick in February it
was to go to the Klondike and get stake
If possible, and if I failed, then to work
for wages. The wages paid were more
than the ordinary, and l found that men
got from $1.OO to 81 so per hour. This
was pretty good, but the prices of things
offset 1t entirely. Board with lodging
were hard TO get. and cost so per day.
The meals were 81 apiece, and when
you got them they consisted of three
BIS" bread, bacon and beans, with but
little of the bacon. There was no grum-
bling at that though, and we were glad
to get it. Other food consisted mostly of
prunes, and one man near my spot had
twenty tons of prunes, which he was sell
ing at a good price. Everybody has to
build his boat 10 go down the river, and
that was the only time l felt at home.
When we got started on that boat it was
IKE WOTklDB Oh the GGOIEld COdSl. i lie
people who go to the Klondike carry
money with them, and it is usually
a fairly well-to-do, but daring sort of
character that you meet up with. l had
heard 1t said that no woman could pack
it across the trail, but this is mistake.
as 1 saw several and they were getting
along very well. II is hard though, and
the person who goes 1t must have the
toughness of leather and the most perfect
confidence in themselves. All out there
are for gold, but those who get it are
few and far between. There are not over
seventy-fve paying claims and the chances
Of locating are growing simmer every
day. The ones who make money make
it in big stakes, though, and as a rule
they let 1t go freely. My observation is,
however that more money Is carried into
that country by prospectors than is ever
carried out AS a rule, the ones who
make the most money are not after claims
but are selling something to eat and
drink. Whisky was 81 per drink before I
got there, but shortly after that big
supply came in, and it was selling at so
cents per drink when I left. Steers for
butcherng purposes brought 81 1000 each,
and meat sold at $3.50 per pound. Moose.
for eating purposes, were $500 each, and
other things in proportion, for some time
after I got there. When a newspaper
came to Dawson City the man who got
it would hire nan and charge so cents
admission for us to come In and hear him
read it That is the way we got our war
, news, yet strange to say, there were
oftenumes the most absurd rumors afloat
as to the destruction of our battleships
by the Spaniards, and they almost al
ways lad some persons to believe them.
The majority of people who leave the
Klondike without striking a paying claim
is so great that one would be astonished
at them If he had not been told. Com
ing down the river l passed steamboat
captain and asked him about the number
of boats he had passed with people in
them who were getting out of the country,
and ne said on an average of one every
fifteen minutes. The ones who have struck
it rich only go there now in the spring
and in the winter months they pun out
and leave others to work their claims. Il
Is a great country for those who desire
10 see the sights, but this is the best
country to live in"
Mr.. Mccullough left Brunswick with
$1,000 on his person, and while he spent
a large sum OF il on the several months
trip and Travelled over 1900 miles by land
and water he does not regret it.