The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-19
Words of Warming to Goid-Hunters.

Baltimore sun
II few weeks the tide Of adventurous
travel. which has been held partially in
check for several months by the barriers
Of ice and snow. will begin TO flow again
toward the golden regions OF the klon-
clkt and we shall probably witness such
4 rush toward Dawson City and the adj
jacent territory from this and other coun-
tries as viii surpass even the great migra-
lions 10 California in lsi9 Many thou
sands Of men, and not a few women. have
been busily making their preparations
ever since last fall 10 move on the Klon-
dixie at the earliest opportunity. and IL is
likely that there Is scarcely q village or
rural community in the country which
Will not contribute its quota Of fortune
hunters 10 the grand army which will
soon be heading In the direction Of the
Alaskan mines.
On the great majority Of those who
have made up their minds TO so, words
OF advice and warning Will be wasted.
The hunger for gold sometimes besets
sort Of madness that cares nothing for
reason or facts. Nevertheless. in view OF
the near approach Of the season when II
VIII be feasible to reach the klondike. il
may be wen 20 point out once more the
necessity for thorough preparation for
the enterprise. Even those who have been
Systematically arranging for the jour
UtS anu lie III the AAClaN nave u Udiu
ROAD to travel to reach the land of gold.
and trying ordeal 10 pass through after
they have reached 1t. These who set out
imperfectly equipped and trusting largely
to luck viii have cause to regret bitterly
their temerity. on this point there are
no dissenting opinions. All the witnesses
testify to the same effect Comparatively
few Of those who go Will make their for
tunes. The great majority will return
sadder and poorer men. We hear OF all
the cases IN which great finds" have
been made, but the far more numerous
cases OF failure and disappointment are
not recorded. Luck may count for some
thing In the early days of new gold dig
gings but with such a crowd OF eager
and seasoned prospectors and miners as
have been on the ground for many
months. Will play but little part in the
future. Newcomers Will have to enter
the lists against experienced rivals, and
IL they are to succeed. must so prepared
70 make a systematic and intelligent
study of the situation and TO remain long
enough TO develop It's possibilities There
Is unquestionab,y money, and big money.
in the KlondiSe for somebody, but not
for everybody. AS rule. the same quail
ties which bring success elsewhere will
be necessary 10 success there.
Sold mining is no childs play under the
most favorable conditions. and in the
Klondike nature has jealousy surround
ed her treasure with safeguards Of every
character. Joaqin Miller-s letter gra-
phically describes some OF the hard
ships incident 70 life In that region.
and while the brief summer brings
relief from the intense cold. il possesses
other discomforts which are said 10 be
almost as bad. Persons who go TO the
Klondike half provided with necessary
clothing and equipment, or without money
to procure such things as they may have
overlooked will find the experience almost
uncomfortable and will have cause 10 bewail
their reckless imprudence.