The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-24
MILL LEAD FIFTY WOMEN.
Organizer of the Klondike Gold
Club Arrives in the City.
HAS GREAT ALASKA PLANS.
Proposes TO Outnt Fifty Of Her Sex
Here and Start for the Yukon by
the AIl-Water Route Every
Woman to he Well Equipped
ditiOn of Affairs At Dawson.

dition of Affairs at Dawson.
Miss Lillian II. Lennon. the president.
| organizer and manager Of the Women's
klondike Gold Club. arrived in Seattle
yesterday from her home in Chicago, and
she was not in the city two hours until
she had established an Office and entered
into contract for the transportation OF
nearly fifty women to the Klondike. Miss
Lennon Is a typical new woman, and she
! has a business air about her that is de-
cidedly characteristic OF Chicago. She
lays claim to the honor Of organizing the
first club of this description, and asserts
that IL will undoubtedly be the first to
carry the aims and objects of ali who are
interested TO successful end.
Miss Lennon shorty after her arrival
commenced 10 make the Western Union
] wires hot between this city and nearly
every state in the Union, and in the even
ing she announced that during the next
ten days fifty women would arrive from
all parts of the United States and leave
for Alaska as soon as possible. Miss Lem
mon instructed the women by telegraph
10 come to Seattle at once. Miss Lennon
talked TO a Post-IntelIigencer reporter in
an interesting manner regarding the
project undertaken by her. She declares
that she did not come to Seattle for her
health. and that she is not on the way 10
Alaska in pursuit of pleasure. On the
contrary, Miss Lennon says that she is
going TO the Yukon country TO prospect
for gold, and open a store in a village that
Is 10 be founded by her party. Miss Lem
mon said:
Il have just completed all arrangements
by which my party will leave Seattle on
a steamer for ST. Michael in the early part
OF June. and from there we will go up the
Yukon TO koyukuk river. I am In pos
session of inside information which leads
me to believe that rich digginss are to be
found in that territory, and that there Is
splendid opportunity to establish town.
California man found $4,000 on the
| koyukuk in a short time. and we will go
there largely upon his advice
You asked me the reason that prompt
ed the organization of the expedition and
I will tel you. In the first place. nearly
every woman in the party has been
obliged TO work for living, and it is now
our intention TO so TO Alaska and remain
there until We succeed In securing a suf-
ficient amount Of money to enable us to
return to the United States and pass the
remainder OF our lives without being
obliged to work from early morning until
late at night In our parry we have
school teachers, clerks. stenographers and
also number Of women who are leaving
their husbands at home ana are deter
mined to see whether it Is possible to
make fortune in the land of gold
I'VE will hold meeting in Seattle next
week and decide definitely on our future
plans. but already we understand each
other pretty well, and will have no diff
rsa1t -, 0ars to-
| fares are now all paid, and at st. Michael
there are river boats awaiting our arrival
The fare We have paid calls for first
class passage to the gold fields, and OF
course our care and living while making
! the trip. The discoveries made this past
winter will also go a great way in gov
erning our actions in deciding upon a To-
cation, but as told you before, we would
like to stop al Koyukuk river It will be
but a few weeks after we reach camp be-
fore we Will have prosperous colony.
/ We viii have barber shops as there is a
female barber in our party: grocery
stores. restaurants. hotels, a newspaper
Office and a postofffce. I was formerly
employed as special writer on the Ctncin-
natl Enquirer. and we are taking along
material for the publication of a small
newspaper. There will be ample employ
ment for all of us that need II while
prospecting for gold.
II have told all OF the ladies that TN
union there is strength, and We Will be
better able TO endure the hardships Incl
dental 10 Alaskan life than IL we were 20
go separately. have told all OF the ladies
that this is the first opportunity woman
| ever had to make a fortune. and l urged
| them TO embrace II. and IL possible get TO
| Alaska on the very first boat.
I'VE VIII go TO the northern regions
| well prepared. Every single woman will
~ fs1c avs r.
] addition 10 a years supply OF provisions.
] have also positively stated that each Of
the women must have a sufficient amount
OF money to absolutely pay all expenses
which may turn up. and have been as
sured that all OF them viii come TO Seat
+ tie well prepared from financial stand
+ point.
! After considering the outtitting propo-
s.tion carefully. and having visited In
Tacoma and Portland. have decided that
Seattle was the only proper pace TO out
fit, and during the next week I will ex-
( pend at least sl0ea IN the purchase OF
provisions and clothing. Much of THIS
merchandise l will use in stocking a
store.
For several years travelled through
] the southwestern part OF the United
States and was considered 10 be ore OF
! the very first female commercial travel
ers 10 take the road 80 you can see that
/ this enterprise Is not going TO worry me
81 forgot 20 to-. you tina. have made
+ all arrangements 20 take a circulating IT,
hrsry through 20 the Kioniike, and we will
therefore be responsible 20 certain ex-
tent in educating the people in that coun-
try. 4 number of the ladies' are splendid
musicians and pay the guitar. mandolin
and other musical instruments. and we
VIII not only be able 10 entertain cur
selves. but others as we'll We would be-
~ !, CHI .is
nents, and we would certainly have a
/ good influence over the miners and all
others who are there"