The Portland daily press., 1898-02-09
ALASKA AND THE KLONDIKe.
A Maine Man Tells of the Wealth of the
Far North.

"Don't go to the Klondike," is the ad-
vice given by Charles Taylor miner of
80 years experience, sswho is as familiar
with the territory of Alaska and the
Klondike as he is with his own native
| state of Maine. $50 to Alaska, by all
MEANS" he adds, "but keep away from
! the Klondike.'
"Why?" he said. because it is haz-
| zardous and uncertain. Perhaps one in
1000 will strike it rich. How little we
hear..of those zunfortunates who, imbued
with the goli fever that has struck the
whole country to such q startling extent,
take all they have in the world and start
for the Klondike, their hearts bounding
high with hope and courage, even eager.
to brave every. hardship, every Edanger, so
long as they get there, and when that
place is finally reached, if reach it they
do, are doomed to despair akin to death.
All this sounds discouraging enough,
no doubt, but it's the plain, unvarnisha-
BILE truth.
"Seldom that we read this side of the
story, for it is usually the rosy-hued con-
dit1on OF things that is depicted IN en-
ticing lights in the newspapers. and that
because it is only the fortunate that have
a story to tell. Only those on the scene
can realize fully the frightful privations
OF those perishirg while on the way to
Klondike.
Another good reason why one should
consider the question long and we'll be-
fore he makes up his mind to undertake
the. Journey Is the fact that the best claims
have already been taken. Those who
were first on the field stood the best show.
hoe &c nypr,
claims we'll preserved. of course, and SO
say there's mighty little chance for the
thousands of gold seekers who conteln-
plates going this spring.
"Now, while advise all in. the most
emphatic terms to stay away from the
Klondike. l strongly advise them to go
to Alaska. 1t is rich country abound
ing in wealth as yet undiscovered.
tThere we will find not only the gold
placer, but an endless amount of copper.
On the Chittyua river there is one ledge
containing gold aid copper deposits that
is sure to be among the richest
STATISTICS state that Alaska yielded
but $4,000 in gold II years ago, but last
year her mines showed q steady increase.
by all means most profitable. These
mines owe their richness to the accumu-
lations of ages.
Mr.. Taylor claims that in Cooks inlet
there can be found more gold than any
one has any idea of.
"The Klondike craze is similar to that
of Leadville years ago. Then men wild
with the fever would pass right by equally
prosperous and sometimes even better
camps for the sake of going to Leadville.
just so now-go to the Klondike on
journey thousands OF miles in length,
fraught from the beginning with critical
dangers and, what is more often the case
than otherwise, get not q shovelful of the
coveted treasure in return for your labor,
and on the way pass by gold as good as
was ever found in the Kl0ndike, await
ing you light in the heart of A laska.
IL would not give up my two claims in
Cooks inlet for the whole of the Klon-
dixie. Pretty strong statement, but
mean it most assuredly.
II know Jack Mcdonald, who owns 90
claims in the Klondike, who will take
of the 10000. predict that before very
many years this Mcdonald and Clarence
Berry, whom I know well, will own and
control tho whole Of the Klondike.
"Mr. Berry has two years experience
now, which will be worth more to him
now than the richest 90 claims. 1t will
be remembered that be took $4,000
Berry, who accompanied her husband to
the Klondike when bride. picked up
$40. 600 worth of nuggets. The second
largest nugget Of tho Klondike, weighing
Is ounces and worth $2tS, was taken from
Berry's claim.
Mrs. Berry, once absolutely penniless,
is now In San Francisco enjoying herself
with her newly acquired ri,hes, while
Clarence has returned again to the Klon-
dixie. He is an alj-round good fellow,
and has given lots Of poor relatives End
friends lirt.''
Mr.. Taylor, who is "a years of age, has
been spending the past 10 days in Gar
diner, the guest of his sister, Mrs. Al
hur. He will leave, this week, for New
York, where no will join the government
expedition to the Klondike, which has
been formed for the purpose of carrying
provisions to the unfortunate men now
perishing there and on the Chil1oot pass.