The Philipsburg mail., 1898-07-29
SIM MSHIVELY WRITES
ALETTER FROM DAWSON
He Has Met Pete Clarke, Martin Costello,
Frank Parkman and Jake Franz
man from Philipsburg.

Dawson City, N. w. T.. June 49,
After many days of pull we have
reached this city without any acct
dent, even small We landed here on
June 10. at 8 10 a. M, and had to drop
down the river front mile and more
to get place to moor our boat, from
the fact that there were SO many boats
we could not get in. We at last found
place, camped. and are still here, and
wondering what to do.
About the city, I will write you
little. AS near as one can guess it is
about two miles long, on the water
front. mostly built of canvas. Wooden
buildings are few, but very good. The
most imposing ARE the gambling sa.
looms and dance halls. The population
is estimated at from five to six thous-
and Among them are quite number
of women. Take it all il all, it is a
HI of town. have seen two Of the
four steamboats, arrive, which were
frozen in on the river below last win
ter. Their cargoes were whisEy-very
few passengers. By the way, | must
not forget to tell You whisky is passed
over the bar at 50c {. drink, and plenty
drank at that. Meals at the hotels
50. so, and everything one buys is i'll
like proportion, SO you see how we'll
one can do here if he has not got %
good claim. 70 get a claim is almost
impossible, as the whole country IS
staked for q distance of from forty to
sixty miles III every direction. They
have an idea in their heads here that
the ROthschlds have agents coming up
on the river boats to buy any ana all
kinds Of locations. Some of them viii
be woefully disappointed. J. think.
About the good ground you have heard
it all. It's true there is some wonder
fully rich ground, like in all other
mining ceuters. Some few poor men
have become rich in short time; but
what is to be the result Of all these
people coming here no one can foresee.
I have been four days out and have got
nothing yet. How to catch on, [ am
a little puzzled over. I think. per-
haps, can get claim on the halves.
That is. develop for the half. That
is the custom so far as [ have learned.
l have not seen much Or heard from
new strikes. could have heard more,
perhaps, had l stayed in Philipsburg.
+! 70 tell t,le truth. much that has been
written of this country has been
guessed at. However, it's a good coun-
| try to come to if one can get a good
claim, and if he cannot get good
claim. why he had better stay at
home.
All of the boys who left the burg tc
come here have arrived. All well.
Those whom I've met are Pete Clarke,
Martin Costello, Frank Parkman and
Jake Franzman, and all seem to be
hopeful Of success.
The sh-ups are daily coming in.
1t is estimated that there will be from
twelve to sixteen millions leave as the
result of last winters work
forgot to mention. wages $15 PEI
day but l am told they will not re
main SO long, as the mines are closing,
after the wash-ups are made; but they
will commence drifting when the sur
face water freezes. Judging from the
number of idle men on the streets
work for wages will not amount tC
much when SHOW flies. l never in al
my life saw so many people in one
mining camp, and they have not more
than half arrived up to date.
I have not heard from anyone since
came away. The hope you are al
blessed with your usual good healtl
is the sincere wish of your hum bic
servant. Sim Shively
+. S.-Will hear from me if l catch