The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-23
REAL FIzz ON THE KLoNDIKE.
ed for ''Swiftwater Bilrs" Patrons
in Dawson.

ed for "Sviftwater Bilfs" Patrons
in Dawson.
From the San Francisco Chronicle
There will be a warm time in Dawson
when saltwater Bill'' Gates receives his
first consignment of 1000 bottles of Cali
fornia champagne The floors of his new
Palace of Amusement for Gents and La
dies viii swim with real old tizz, and the
size of the average head on the Klondike
will approximate Andree's balloon. For
months, so saltwater has figured 1t,
the Yukoners have been yearning for a
gentlemans drink. Forty rod of the most
ferocious brand has been the nearest APP
proach to il so far, and, as is well known,
forty rod is not a drink for o lady like
gent in the new diggings. After the river
opens up this year forty rod" will not be
an it. "Swiftwater's" first cargo of spar
kle will have reached Dawson then, and
the festivities will be due.
f. b. Mulgrew, traffic manager of the
Alaska Transportation Company, made tho
deal for the champagne with the Klondik-
err early last week and his breath was TAX
en- by the lightning rapidity of Gates ar
rangements. Mulgrew called on him the
day before he left for the north to see
about shipping some goods, provided a
market might be found in Alaska for them.
Mulgrew had already agreed 10 send some
light wines to st. Michael to parties hold
ing a government license there, and he
sought out saltwater to try to sell
him a stock of wines for his Dawson re-
sort, which is to furnish the river city
"Barbary Coast pleasures within a few
weeks.
1--WE got some good California cham
payne" said Gates.
How much can you put in Dawson for
me by August?" said Gates.
"Ten thousand bottles" replied Mulgrew
with thoughts of staggering his questioner.
Make 1t a hundred thousand and I'll
sign and pay down." was the cool rejoin-
der. ~
This was Bits idea of quick business.
and he was disappointed, when informed
that it would be impossible to fill so vast
an order So the paper was drawn up and
the bold signature of William B. Gates
witnesses that he agrees to pay and de-
liver in dust or nuggets, at $17 an ounce,
the price per bottle set upon the wine.
you see," said Gates to Mulgrew, ~
want to set supply and be sure of 1t. /
hate to go back 10 Dawson, and I'm start
ing now-and say to the boys that l amt
fixed for good I tell you the fellers las
got little use for me if j get there flying
light / just want to be able TO put out
my flag and have on it, "Swiftwaters car
go of champagne will be here soon, and
therell be enough TO go round "
The transaction involved over $l00 600,
and white the lawyers were preparing the
contract Bill kept on insisting that he
would be short with less than 100, 600 bot
ties. When he bad finally affixed his name
to the document he leaned back In his
chair. and with thump on the table that
made ink blots on adjacent things, he said:
THAT means 10000 for me, and the eter-
nal gratitude of every nother's son that
ever handled a pick on the Yukon. Life s
dull enough at the best in that country
and IL would be a shame II the boys
can't get a gentleman's drink when they
have got the dust to pay for it, I'm GO
ing to set the bali rolling in Dawson, and
III bet thousand ounces that before TIE
winters in champagne will be the only
beverage that goes in Dawson.
''Dawson's going to be the greatest
mining camp in the world, and there s
more money going TO be spent there in the
next two years than ever changed hands
anywhere on earth. I expect TO make a
million right in my Palace of Rest It's
to be the grandest place that ever a leg
was shook In or gentleman bought wine
for a lady. Ex-Sheriff James OF Napa Il
one of my right hand men. and things are
going to be run In style. i've bought more
liquor for the boys than they can get away
with In year, and that aln't no small
creek full"