The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-05-19
FIZZ ON THE KLONDIKE,
Ten Thousand 'SmalI Bottles" Or
dered for "Swiftwater Bills"
Patrons in Dawson.

There will be warm time in Dawson
when ''Swiftwater Bill' Gates receives
his first consignment of 10000 bottles
of California champagne. The floors of
his new palace of Amusement for
Gents and Ladies" will swim with real
Did fizz, and the size of the average head
on the Klondike will approximate An
dree's balloon. For months, so Swift
water" has figured it, the Yukoners
have been yearning for a gentleman's
drink. Forty rod" of the most fero-
,ious brand has been the nearest APP
proach to it so far, and, as is well
known, forty rod" is not a drink for
a ladylike gent in the new diggings.
After the river opens up this year forty
rod" will not be in it. "Swiftwater's"
first cargo of sparkle will have reached
Dawson then, and the festivities will
be due.
f. b. Mulgrew, traffic manager of the
Alaska Transportation company, made
the deal for the champagne with the
Klondiller recently and his breath
was taken by the lightning rapidity of
Gates arrangements. Mulgrew called
on him the day before he left for the
north to see about shipping some goods,
provided a market might be found in
Alaska for them. MulgTew had already
agreed to send some light wines to st.
Michaels to parties holding a govern
ment license there, and he sought out
"Swiftwater" to try to sell him a stock
of wines for his Dawson resort, which
is to furnish the river city ''Barba1y
coast" pleasures within few weeks.
'I've got some good California cham
pagne," said Gates.
''How much can you put in Dawson
for me by Augusta" said Gates.
Ten thousand bottles" replied Null
grew, with thoughts of staggering his
questioner.
make it 100000 and I'll sign and pay
down." was the cool reioinder.
This was Bills idea Of quick business
and he was disappointed when informed
that it would be impossible to fill so
vast an order. So the paper was drawn
up and the bold signatures of William
B. Gates witnesses that he agrees to
pay and deliver in dust or nuggets, at
SIT an ounce, the price per bottle set
upon the wine.
You see," said Gates to Mulgrew. 81
want to get a supply and be sure of it.
l hate to go back to Dawson--and I'm
starting now-and say to the boys that
[ amt fixed for good. l tell you, the
fol 7
get thee flying light. just want to
be able to put out my flag and have on
it 'Swiftwater's cargo of champagne
will be here soon and there'll be enough
to go round"
The transaction involved over $780,
900, and while the lawyers were prepar-
ing the contract Bill kept on insisting
that he would be short with less than
100000 bottles. When he had finally
affixed his name to the document he
leaned back in his chair and with a
thump on the table that made ink blots
on adjacent things he said: THAT
means 100000 for me and the eternal
gratitude of every mothers son that
ever handled pick on the Yukon.
LIES dull enough at the best in that
country, and it would be a - shame
if the boys can't get a gentleman's
drink when they've got the dust to pay
for it. I'm going to set the ball rolling
in Dawson, and I'll bet a thousand
ounces that before the winter in cham
payne will be the only beverage that
goes in Dawson.
"Dawson's going to be the greatest
mining camp in the world, and there's
more money going to be spent there in
the next two years than ever changed
hands anywhere on earth. / expect to
make million right in my Palace Of
Amusements and Ladies' and Gentle.
mems Place of Rest. It's to be the
grandest place that ever a leg was shook
in or gentleman bought wine for a
lady. EX-Sheriff James, of Napa, is one
of my right-hand men, and things are
going to be run in style. I've bought
more liquor for the boys than they can
carry away in year, and that amt no
small creek full" - San Francisco
Chronicle.