The San Francisco call., 1898-12-17
HARB0URNE
 IS ANXIOUS ID
 MAKE AMENDS DefauIting Librarian
 Heard From. WRITES FROM THE KLONDIKE TELLS THE STORY OF HIS WAN DERINGS AND TROUBLES.
WRITES FROM THE KLONDIKE

ALAMEDA, Dec. 16.-John W. Har- bourne, the defaulting librarian of the Alameda Public Library, Is no longer in hiding. He has written to a close friend in this city divulging his whereabouts and imparting the information that he Is doing we'll He writes that he Is filled with remorse at his shortcomings and says his one object in life will be to re- pay the losses of all who suffered by his dedication. In mitigation of his offense he asserts that the financial assistance he rendered certain friends led him into wrongdoing.
 Harbourne has still many warm friends in Alameda. and they have frequently announced that had he, when his troubles came down upon him, stayed here and faced the music they would unhesitatingly have made good his shortage.
 The missing librarian is in the Klon- dike, and has an interest in a claim fif- teen miles from Dawson City. The pro- ceeds from this, he writes will enable him to pay back within year every dol lar he owes the city of Alameda or his friends.
 Harbourne had fled to the gold fields of the frozen north, but this Is the first information received directly from him. When he left Alameda under a cloud, he says, he did not have with him the money he was reported to have carried away. He states, in fact, that he had barely enough to pay his expenses for a couple of days, and had to seek employment within week after leaving this city in order to keep from starving. He first took the train to Pleasanton, Alameda County, from where he walked through the Tassajara country and over the Mount Diablo range to Antioch, where he boarded steamer bound for Stockton. He worked for a few days in a Stockton hotel and then made his way to Sacra- mento. He secured employment at the capital city, remaining there three weeks. From the proceeds he saved enough to pay his fare to Seattle.
 He worked around Seattle for several weeks doing odd jobs and then fell in with a party bound for Klondike. Harbourne was an expert chef and was invited to join the party to take charge of the culin- ary department. After experiencing many hardships he and his new found friends reached the gold fields. His companions staked out claims near Dawson, but Har- bourne went farther on. and finally, &C., cording to his letter. struck 1t rich.
 He evidently heard of his indictment by the Grand Jury before he left Seattle, for he suggests to his friend to inquire if the charges against him cannot be quashed if he repays the amounts for which he de-
 You will probably think it strange" writes Harbourne, that I gould stop in Sacramento where have many acquaint- ances without having my identity discov- cred but after I got out of Pleasanton and took to the road I cut my mustache off with a pair of scissors and after that hardly knew myself, and I believe could walk up Park street, Alameda, without any of my friends recognizing me.
 q wish had my life to live over again. I have always been good to people I thought were my friends and it never dawned on me until I was deep In the hole that they had been pushing along a good thing In another year, unless all indica- tions fall, I will be able to square myself. I wonder If I paid back all the money was short If the people of Alameda would still want to prosecute me-