The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-02-10
CHURCH IN ALASk..
ESTABLISHMENT OF TIE FIRST IN
Tia kLCN0lkE.

Missionaries : .rtcd Work In q saloon.
This Building Vas Burned by a Drunken
Tenant Kicking over u S1.5O Candle.
Miners Generous With Gold.
Two missionaries We're last August
sent to the klondike bv two New York
women under the auspices Of the Pres
bvterian board II Home Missions. The
names Of the women are kept a secret
by the beard.
\ letter has recently been received by
Mr.. d. !. Mcmillan. corresponding sec
retarv of the beard, from these mission
aries--the Rev. :. Hall Young and DR..
W. \. NcEwen. The letter is from
Dawson City and is dated Dec. /. 1t
was carried from Dawson City to the
nearest outpost Of civilization tv Jimmy
jackson. m Indian. who has a record
tor coiug where DO other man can 60.
The letter the establish
ment If the first church i'll the klondike
and says that there IS food enough there
70 last till spring with economy. II
provisions reach the miners by the lst
Of April, the danger Of absolute want
will be entirely passed.
Mr.. Young writes that he and his
companion are the only missionaries
who reached hlondike City, two miles
from Dawson City. their destination.
before the winter set III. Since then, Of
course, nobody has arrived there.
They started at once to provide a
place Of worship for the miners. On
this point Mr.. Young writes:
Il found a newly erected two story
house belonging TO a saloonkeeper,
which he offered to let us have on the
following terms: Tie large room on the
first floor one month for 500 in adj
vance. or the whole house (there are six
) by 10 rooms III the upper story until
May -, seven months. for $500, giving
five days 10 raise the money.
well, | prayed and hustled and
called on several friends. First. | got
the 500, which secured the room for
the next Sunday. ! advertised and had
q nice meeting, attendance, 80; collec-
ton. $40.
Then | arranged TO sublet the up
stairs DOL at go per month each.
They are little, rough. cold. unfinished
boxes. but We're eagerly snapped up the
first day. [ got the renters 10 advance
ali they could and borrowed the resi-
from the gold commissioner, Mr.. Faw
Get. At the expiration Of FIVE days
paid the other 800 and got the lease o.
the building.'
But there Were troubles ahead. Or
the 2lst Of November one OF the ledger
anne home filled with whisky. Al
though candles were worth S1.5i
apiece, he lighted one and then KICKED
it over. The building was burned t.
the ground.
The pluck Of the missionaries ha'
aroused the enthusiasm Of the miners
however, and gold was forthcoming i
paying quantities. Mr.. Young argue
fer aud won the observance OF Sunda
II the camp. and the opera house,
which had been used for other purpose
on that day is now the church.
Somebody stole TWO bags Of flour frol
he missionaries, hut the thief has bee
forgiven. The missionaries have starte
a Young Peoples Society Of Christia
Endeayor and "a branch Of the Y. n
q. 4.
The letter closes:
Il walked over 20 miles on Tuesda
with the thermometer at 81 degrees b.
low zero, made II calls and found abor
30 church people who Will attend I'll
meetings.
Flour is $50 per pound; candle.
%l.50 apiece; meat, Sl.25 per pount
and other food III proportion. Flour ca
hardly lie had at any price and groce.
les can scarcely be bought at the store.
ION the other hand, some Of I'll
mines are pouring forth constant stream
Of gold and there is no difficulty in pa,
ing obligations"
The letter has been sent by Mr.. NJ
MILAN 10 the two women who sent or
the missionaries. New York World.