The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-10-01

p1Dxr pRIno BACK ANY NUGGETS,

DIDN'T BRING BACK ANY NV&6G8x0I
AL Griffith arrived on last Satur-
days train from Alaska where be
went last October il company with
David Jones, Will Smith and Joe
Johnson 10 seek his fortune in that
far-of land.
He was accompanied by his FAM
lily who joined him 1t Blanche.
where they had been visiting rela-
tives for several weeks.
Mr.. Griffith called at tho KEY
STONE Office yesterday and gave Us
an interesting account Of bis trip,
and candid opinion Of the merits
Of that famous FL Dorado.
The KEYSTONE Published several
letters from Nj. Griffith during his
absence and the last Que, We believe,
located him aad his party at Lake
building two boats to
take them and their supplies TO
Dawson City.
The boats were 26 feet long and
4 feet wide On the 9th of May
they launched their little crafts on
the icy waters Of the Yukon and
sailed away for Dawson City. They
reached that famous Mecca for gold
hunters on the 10th Of June, just
fourteen days after leaving Lake
Linderman. having had a pleasant
and uneventful voyage.
Mr.. Griffith says that Dawson
had q population of about 10000
at that time. There were no hotels.
but plenty of restaurants and coffee
stands. Meals were $3.50, eggs $15
per dozen, wood $50 a cord. A
man brought in 200 chickens while
he was at Dawson and sold them
for $500!
"There was only one church,
said Mr.. Griffith, "but religious ser
vices were held on Sunday by the
salvation army people and the
mounted police, each squad having
a chaplain who conducted the ser
vices"
"Well, now about the climate, .
continued Mr.. Griffith, "it is not al
terrible 10 some people imagine
The coolest weather that We ex
perienced at Lake Linderman last
winter was % degrees below zero
but at Dawson they told me The
thermometer registered 60 degrees
below during the coolest weather
there. The climate is delightful II
summer, similar to that on Wooe
River.
From the 25th of June until thu
18th of August the nights are near
ly as light as the days. Duri2i
that time prospectors travel at nigh
and sleep during the day, thus doinl
| away with the carrying of blankets
as they do not need them whel
travelling, and during the day the!
/ lay down in a sunny place ant
sleep warm and comfortable with
out bit of covering.
There are lots of rich mine'
around Dawson, probably 50 tina
have yielded an immense amour
of gold, but nothing in comparison
to the output in the gold mines o
California in the days of '49, or tn
Weld of silver on the Comstock ii
it's palmy days.
All the ground has been taken VI
in tho gulches, but there are man,
new locations on the benches AM
rich strikes are being made con
stantly.
If claims did not pay at least on
ounce ($16) day they were no
considered worth working. Miner
received $3.50 per hour. That wa
during the early part of the boom
however; now the owners OF claim
are content with less profit.
We prospected around Dawson
about two weeks, but found moth
ing. From there We will Smith
Pert Hyde, Joe johnson and my
self went to Forty Mile, about 5
miles from Dawson. | made som
locations on Forty Mile creek, whicl
are in American territory. Abou
this time l became homesick an
determined to start back to ketch
um. and leaving Will Smith to wor]
the prospects, l took boat on tn
18th of August, going by the va.
of St. Michaels to Seattle.
It is an easy trip now to th
Klondike, for the greatest hardship
were experienced in having to pacl
all supplies over the Chilkoot pas
going to Lake Linderman, and owe
White pass if going to Lake Ben
nett. Now there is . tramway 70
carrying freight from Dyea to LAX
Linderman, and . railroad from
skaguay to the summit OF Whit
pass.
Skaguay is not enjoying the boon !
that it did . year ago; still. It
quite lively yet. Dyea 10 very dull
the town has . deserted sppearanc
when you look at the empty build
;nos some Of them once dourishin'
hotels and business houses.
n.v;d T. Jones ID prOspectln
around Dawson City. When lai
heard from him, only = few week