The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-08
Mr.. MAGU|REO ON KLO NDYKE
The Theatrical Manager Talks to
the Stampeders to Be.
ALL ABOUT THE COUNTRY
What Some of the Montanans Said to
the Visitor in Seattle : Religion.
Wages, Dogs and Other Things
in the Alaskan Country.

John Mcguire. who has Just returned
from trip to the Northwestern cities
and to British Columbia, writes the fol.
lowing in regard to matters of much in.
terest here:
! probably the best advertised town
To-day in the entire country is Seattle
Inls comes, of course, from its being
considered the gatewayto the Klondyke
visited there few years ago and the
quiet atmosphere of dead town per
vaded everything. To-day it is differ
ent. Its streets are teeming with peo-
| pie, and new arrivals are added almost
eNers houf OF the day. In passing
| through its crowded sidewalks ones
ears catch, 'Chilcoot pass or 'Skaguay,
Dyea and Yukon but more frequent
| ~ than all others the talismanic word
| 'klondyke
Inc crowds are not of the ordinary
| makeup pertaining to most American
cues elther-the soberly dressed mer-
| chant, the dapper-looking young clerk
or bookkeeper, the sensible and peril
nent dress of the mechanic-you see all
these lii a lesser degree, but picturesque
ness is added by the intermingling of
men who sail the seas-the typical
makeup of many old miners, suggestive
of the Days of old, the days of gold,
the days of 49, 1t is remarkab BILE how
numerous are the latter. Then there
are the young men who have had their
experience in the various camps of our
great WESTINGHOUSE, resolute sturdy
felloWs-who are buoyed UP with the
TWO glorious qualities-hope to achieve
and resolution to dare. To give more
color TO the picture, here and there. at
snort distances, will be seen probably a
returned Alaskan or Klondyker with
furs and buckskin, the most conspicu-
out part OF his raiment, while al almost
every street corner you will encounter
dog team of from two to six or seven
hltched to sled capable of carving a
goodly load. Imagine the usual street
noises of a crowded thoroughfare the
number OF express wagons and Other.
vehicles. the bells of cable and electric
cars with the cars own peculiar noises
IN motion, and you wonder and ask
yourself. What creates this mighty tur-
MOL" 1t is answered in one word
'klondyke.
1T has been my lot in life to be pres
ent at some of the rushes to the biggest
gold finds of the world | can now re-
member of men leaving these camps in
dire disgust and damning the snare
which allured them to seek fortune
where none was to be found The same
uiSslnSs made thousands wealthy and
added millions to the worlds wealth |
call attention to this feature of old
times simply to show the difference be-
tween the present excitement and all
preceding ones.
During my few days stay in Seattle
TINS week, met many men who had
been to the great mining region. In any
conversation / could not find one man
VINO spoke disparagingly of the great
new El Dorado, nor did / find one man
who had not in part made his arrange
mentS for speedy return. 1t was NV
gooo fortune particularly to meet a
lew Montana boys whom / well knew.
and as a kind of an amateur interview
ef, decided to get some information
from my friends regarding Dawson. the
mines, the manner of mining, cos. of
living, social and religious life there.
togethef with such other items as may
interest the Standards readers.
Last Sunday evening the latest ar
rivals from Dawson were a party of
hVe, who brought out the evidence of
success, some considerable gold dust
among them were two old acquaintances
Al Murphy, who, few years ago,
was sergeant of police in Helena. and
John b. Kelley, who is Il miner, and
worked some years in Marysville, and
wei known in Helena. The boys con-
sidef themselves among the lucky ones.
Iney own several good claims, whose
richness is beyond a doubt. They left
Dawson Nov %, and came out over the
ice, with their dog team of five. This
team is acknowledged to be the finest
in the entire klondyke region. and the
dogs are well known by every one in
Dawson City. They are of the native |
breed of 'Siwash' They can pull a sled
Of LOO pounds. Their cost. originally. |
was $1,000. l question from the manner
m winch they are cared for at the |
transfer company's office in Seattle if |
any money offered could now buy them. |
one or two of them have made records |
d possessing most extraordinary intel
igence. The advantage the native |
log has the ir1r
has greater endurance and Willingness
o work. and requires less care The
logs are fed only once a day, then at
llght, when they are each given a GER
ain allowance of dried fish After
eeding they, instead of picking their
eeth, pick their feet, as they never
alow the snow to harden within the
hollow of the foot. This the imported
log does not think of; consequently.
he snow gets packed and frozen.
anne and useless canine being the re-
ult.
The Siwash dog does not bark. but
o use Mr.. kelley's words, They whine
ike a kid Should one of them whine
very dog within whining distance will
axe up the chorus; hence the policy
t feeding them only at night. When,
fter hard days work and a good
neal. they paw out a hole in the snow
nd euddling themselves up they sleep
peacefully until the early whistle calls
hem to take their place-one deep
ach one knowing his own location. in
when. with a Siwash halloo.
hey're off again for another days run
"Messrs Kelley and Murphy made |
he trip over the ice in 80 days. 1t was
OF a pleasure trip by any means, for
days over the Skaguay pass the Their
lometer ranged between 90 and - de- |
rees below zero. On the way down !
hey met Sam Word, Our Sam who !
as TO blaze the trail and show the
Their fellows how To make it Sam.
18th few of his party, are in winter
uarters, just about 800 miles from
kaguay. or you may put it within 800
lilies of Dawson City. The point where
e is camped is called Five Fingers.
he river Yukon there divergng into
We forks, between each one of which
perpendicular bluff rises, each to the
titude of about 200 feet II is only
trough one Of these forks is il possible
II boat To pass. Pat Boland. 81 7