The Springfield herald., 1898-01-21
BACK FROM DAWSON.
AcHEYENNEM EMAN's EXPERIENCE
Ex-Sherin FrcdentisI Says That There Is
Plenty of Food and Lots of Gold-He
Came out In December.

Denver, Jan. IA special to the Re-
publican from Cheyenne says
Ex-Sheriff Ira l.. Frcdcndall of this
city, returned this morning from n
five-month's trip to the Alaska gold
fields, one month of the time having
been spent at the famous city of Daw-
son. Mr. Frcdcndall. with several
companions. left Dawson on December
2. last. and arrived at Dyea on January
4th. They had no difficulty in making
the Journey which was by way of
Chilcoot pass. although the tempera-
ture WAS at times - degrees below
zero. A wcll-beutcn trail is worn for
the entire distance between Dawson
and Dyea and only strength and en-
durance are necessary to make the
journey speedily and safely.
Mr. Fredendall brings very encourag
ing reports of conditions ut Dawson.
The food supply there is ample for the
population. which is. including the
outlaying placer districts, upwards of
5000. A large proportion of the
miners and prospectors have provis-
ions sufficient to carry them well into
next summer and in the town of Daw-
son are food supplies sufficient for all
who are there. The relief expedition.
which is being carried on by the gov
ernment, is pronounced by Mr.. FIRE.
dendall to be absurd. Supplies cannot
be taken by pack train ns the mules
cannot carry enough grain to keep
themselves alive during the journey,
to say nothing of carrying other sup
plies. The people of Dawson and vi
cinity do not know that the relief eX-
pedition is coming and do not know
that any necessity exists for such an
expedition.
Mr. Fredendall says the mining pros
poets exceed by far the expectations
he had when he first sailed for the
klondike last August. Thousands of
prospectors are working the gulches
along countless streams in the district
and are daily making new discoveries
of pay diggings. At the present time
upwards of SS.0o0,000 in gold dust is
stored In the vaults of the Northwest
ern Transportation Company Mt Daw-
son, and it is firmly believed by CON
servativc men in the district that the
Klondike will send out fully $1,000, 600
in gold this year. Mr.. Fredendall speaks
OF Dawson as n quiet town when
compared with the towns of Dead
wood, Cripple Greek. Leadville. Nir-
ginia City and other western mining
camps in their earlier days. Captain
iNhS anu pbtu
of Fort Russell. who started for the
gold fields in behalf of the government
In July, are at Circle City. where they
will remain for the remainder of the
winter. None of the persons who tried
to reach Dawson by the way of the
Yukon succeeded in getting there and
all are stranded at Fort Yukon or
Circle City. There is an ample supply
OF provisions at these points.
Mr.. Fredcndall secured several
claims and returned to make arrange
ments for working them thoroughly.
He will start back in about three
weeks and expects to make the trip
from Dyea to Dawson in fifteen to
twenty days. He reports the rush
from Seattle to the Alaskan coast
towns as being enormous. An average
of 400 people leave Seattle daily and
the steamers carry more than their
legal quota of passengers every trip
While Mr.. Fredendall gives glowing
account of the possibilities of the new
El Dorado he advises no one to &c
there, nor does he advise against the
trip. but says that every man should
use his own judgment as to the posi-
bilities of success.