The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-15
ROMANCE OF A MILLIONAIRE.
| Pennsylvania Man Saw IA rift in the
Moonlight. Then ''StrucIs IT Rich"
| INr.nr,, liz M. III 49,,

MOOnitSht. Then "StruclS IT Hich."
From the New York Journal
Philadelphia, Nov. 12.-John c. Strand
an old resident of the keystone State Is on
his way back here to spend some of the
millions he has been making in Circle City
in the Klondike region.
He finds his suburban villa, two miles
from Circle City. wholly inadequate TO his
needs and he longs for civilization. as
Barnato longed for it, in order to build a
splendid house and buy fine horses
He win bring his family with him, for
this new millionaire is blessed with a
wife and two promising youngsters, and
some Alaskan dogs The children are only
two and four years old respectively, while
the wife is combination of these num-
bers-24
But John C. Strand Is 35 or thereabouts,
and he thinks he is of an age to give up
work and settle down to enjoy his newly
made millions. Perhaps he viii "go into
Wall street"
When the steamship City of Helena
sailed from San Francisco early In March
she carried among her passengers one who
He wore a suit of what had once been
brown tweed, but it had faded to yellow.
His hat was a battered derby, and his
shoes rejoiced in many patch. His bag
gage consisted of a number Of fur gar
ments, which were strapped into a great
bundle.
His wife was also shabblly dressed and
his two youngsters wore little red cotton
dresses week days, and on Sundays their
L.
1t was a contented family, though and
the passengers on The long journey North
noticed how they all seemed to enjoy each
others society. They were specially jubi-
liant over the prospect of going to the Kon-
dixie, and more than once the man, John
c. Strand, was his name, said that ne felt
It in his bones that there was a fortune
ahead OF him.
singular thing about this prospector
was that he had such queer tools with him.
He carried an ice pick and a chisel a
shovel and a common garden hoe.
When asked what use he supposed be
could make of these things in the frozen
Kiondike regions, he replied that he in
tended TO use them until he could find bet.
ter ones. They were all he had he said
ard ne did not intend to throw them away
until he could buy more.
They cost him nothing, except the trou-
BILE of transportation, and he would stick
to them. They had all been used in the
kitchen garden at home, mentioning a
pretty town in Pennsylvania from which
he came, and ne would use them in Aias-
Ia.
Day and night these tools were care
fully cherished, along with the bundle OF
skins; for on the Klondlke steamships OF
the poorer sort there is small storage
space, and the passenger. who cannot pay
for space must look out for his goods him
self.
When John c. Strand arrived at st.
Michael he took a steamer up the Yukon
along with the others. He had decided to
stop at Circle City, but he said he did not
intend TO locate there; it was too crowd
ed tor a poor man. His entire capital con-
sisted of $50. which was barely enough
according to Klondike reckoning TO carry
his family through a months living of the
most frugal sort.
Passengers aboard the Yukon steamer
wondered how Strand lived. for they sell
dom purchased anything OF the ships pro
visions Ii afterward transpired however,
that Mrs. Strand had a little kerosene
stove in her baggage on which she cooked
beans and such frugal food
At Circle City most of the passengers
dlsenbarked, and that was the last that
was seen Of the Strands for long time.
They struck off North and prospector
coming in a few days later said that he
met them about three miles further up
and that they had located and were going
to work on a small claim.
one night Strand. 80 the story goes, was
lying out side Of the little house which
he had temperate erected for their dwell.
ing. and was looking off into the moon
light.
Ahead OF him arose a great bowlder OF
rock, which formed The beginning of The
Alaska mountains at thai point. The rock
was q gray, with iron streaks running
through Il, suggestive Of gold, but hardly
promising q very rich yield.
Suddenly. as Strand lay there In the
moonlight, he CHANGED to see streak In
The rock broader and deeper in tone than
The rest II was near crevice. and the
crevice appeared 10 split the great bowl
der in two
Disheartened by his recent poor success
ne lay and watched the dark, rich streaks.