The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-01-05
HE CAME BACK
Returned KIondiker Tells
His Experiences
GOLD, GOLD, BUT NO GRUB
SITUATION AT DAWSON CITY
SITUATION AT DAWSON CITY
GROWS SERIOUS
Robert Hughes Gives His Adventures.
Poor Men Should Keep Out.
Capitalists Have "Cinch'

Robert Hughes, well known to many
Los Angelenos as an experienced miner
who has been identified with all the
principal mining camps of the west dur
ing the past ten years, has Just returned
to Los Angeles and his family from
Dawson City. Alaska. and the Klondike
gold fields. Mr.. Hughes arrived in the
city on the noon train Sunday and at
once left for his home, where he re-
mained with his family until yesterday,
when he was interviewed by Herald
reporter to whom he gave his personal
experience Of the trip to the Klondike
gold fields.
Hughes left Los Angeles on the goth
Of July last. Arriving at Seattle he was
compelled to wait two weeks owing to
the burning of. an Alaska boat. On Aug
ust 18th he left Seattle on board the
steamer Utopia. Arriving at Skaguay
he found that II was impossible to get
over the pass, owing to the trails being
blockaded, not by snow, but the car
casses of dead horses. He therefore
took the Dyea route, paying for having
his pack freighted to Lake Linderman,
distance of twenty-eight miles, at the
rate OF 40 cents per pound. Arriving at
Lake Linderman, Hughes took passage
the same day with nine others on boat
bound for Dawson City. Reaching
White Horse rapids boat containing
half of their provisions was swamped
while going through the rapids. After
passing the rapids a little steamer COM
mn ndad hU In, Chfpotf 70 tnnk tho
party on to Dawson City, where they
arrived August 9th.
The passengers had been told by
friends below that they could find sup
plies In plenty when they reached Daw-
son City, but they found to the con-
trary. The supply of provisions was al
ready short and mass meetings were
being held frequently to adopt the best
measures possible under the circum-
stances. One of the principal speakers
at these meetings was Captain Hanson
of the Alaska Commercial company who
offered and finally furnished transport
tation to 400 people back to Fort Yukon,
where they could obtain the necessary
supplies. According to Mr.. Hughes re-
port these 400 men are now chopping
wood at 4.50 per cord to pay for provis-
ions to carry them through the winter.
They cannot return to Dawson City be-
fore next June.
Dawson City is far from satisfactory
place for a poor man. In fact 1t is no
place for anyone without capital or a
years supply Of provisions. A good
square meal costs from $3.50 to SIS and
anything like drinks or cigars so cents
each. Flour is worth 800 per sack and
ordinary supplies, such as bacon, etc,
s1.25 per pound. And before Mr. Hughes
left supplies could not be obtained for
any price except from those going back
to the states who had an over supply.
Dawson City is a typical miners camp
and now has a poulation of about 5000
with all the usual Accomplishments of
great mining city. Gambling is carried
on as a legitimate business and much
money changes hands daily. The Daw-
son City opera house was well occupied
by various attractions from the variety
theater with tickets at $3.50 to IS and |
smuggling matches at 500 per ticket and |
$40 for boxes. There were few respect
able womert in Dawson, but a larger |
number not SO respectable. Saloons did |
a thriving business but it was difficult |
to obtain good article of liquor at any
price.
Along in October the daylight dawns |
about 9 o'clock and the night comes on
about $3.50 p. m. At the close of the year |
the days are still shorter. There were |
numerous restaurants where people with |
dust" took occasional meals, but a ma
jority of the inhabitants prepared their |
own bill of fare according to their sup |
ply Of provisions. This supply, Mr.. |
Hughes soon discovered, was not suf- |
flcient by more than half for the popu-
lation Of Dawson, and he concluded that |
he would better return with the rest for
q better GRUB stake"
Concerning the Klondike, Hughes says |
that Ell Dorado and Bonanza creeks are
the only fields where results Of conse-
quence have been obtained Both are
fully occupied by c<Eims for many miles,
and the best diggings are controlled by
a few wealthy companies. 1.-THE Ell Do
RADIO Kings" is the name given the con-
trollers of the creeks. Wages had been
reduced from $3.50 to 81 per hour for ex-
perienced miners and there were hun
dreds who could not obtain work. There
was no chance for man without money
or enough provisions to last until June
next, and this problem was more i'm
portant to the Klondikers than the gold
product or the little stampedes occa-
stoned by new strikes along the creeks.
The people Of Dawson City confidently
expect relief by the government by June,
which is the earliest time boat can
reach them with supplies. But he
thinks there will be much suffering and
probably starvation among the poorer
classes before that time. The Alaska
Commercial company was advising all
such to return to the states at once, Of
fering them transportation to Fort Yu-
kon.
The prospects for the gold hunters in