The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-13

much of the exceedingly high-priced
provisions as my little capital would
purchase. 1 arrived poor, but / escap-
ed starvation.
While in the Klondike I made a
careful and thorough investigation into
the situation there. On my arrival at
Dawson 1 was surprised to see thou
sands of excited and idle men IN
groups all along the streets. Go which
way I would, the same view confront
ed me. After listening to the general
conversation, 1 learned that the ex-
element was caused by the fact that
it was considered impossible for boats
to get in with provisions. One small
boat had come in with a partial load
of sugar and whisky. 1t brought word
that no other boat could get over the
bar at Fort Yukon. Notices were post
ed advising those who We're short Of
provisions to go down there and win
ter, the N. A. T. & T. Co. offering to
carry all who wished to go free.
About $50 men awaited themselves of
this opportunity and afterwards $50
mere went in barges and boats.
About Oct. Is the river commenced
to run clear of ice, then the spirits of
the men began to tighten as day after
day came and went and the river kept
getting clearer. Every one expected to
see the boats pull in with supplies. I
heard one man offer to bet 10 to l that
the boats would be in Dawson by the
18th, and so confident was every one
about this that the bettor could get no
takers.
But alas, the 25th came and no boats
and the river soon filled with ice, and
the last hope Of supplies getting in
Gied. The excitement was now greater
than ever. In the meantime, old-timers
who had money enough, had started
out to get supplies from those who We're
coming down the river. OF course, the
new Corners did not intend to sell, but
when they were tempted with $50 a
sack for -four, or So a pound, a great
many were induced to part with it.
In this way all who had money
enough to pay this price soon got
enough. AS there We're a great many
who had made up their minds to go
out, there were quite number of out
fits offered for sale, and prices soon
fell to 81 a pound for everything COM
prising an outfit, whether it was flour,
sugar or a crowbar.
Put as those who were going out
had to keep about 200 pounds to feed
them on the journey, and most of them
had not over 500 pounds altogether, it
nan. Men who have been there for
years, will not try to live on less than
1,500 pounds of good provisions for a
year.
THE class of men who fare worst are
those who go there light" expecting
to get work as soon as they arrive at
SIS per day, deluded by the statements
that there is work for all. Instead of
that, it is almost impossible to get a
days work.
Several men told me they would
have to lay up all winter The general
opinion of the miners was that there
would be starvation in the Klondike
this winter. There are 10000 people in
Dawson and work for about 1000 all
told.
THE reports regarding the richness
of the claims are very much eXaggerat-
ed OF course there are some good
the thousands of men who are there.
stance, I know of a case where man
left Puget Sound with $3.50. He went to
Dawson, remained there three weeks,
then sold some of his outfit and came
out with less than $500 Yet I saw an
this very man had risen from poverty
the Klondike, and this is not the only
instance of the kind.
after coming out, I heard of rich
strikes that had been made in many
different places, while the fact was,
there were no rich strikes made at any.
"On Henderson creek 1 saw men who