The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24
FROM HART HUMBER.
A Description Of Active Life in the Gold
EieIds.

A ~ - "
Fields.
Special Correspondence of the Standard.
Deer Lodge. April 22.-Hart Humber,
a well known resident of this place,
who now ranks among the "oId tim
ers' OF Dawson City, having Joined the
gold seeking hosts in the frozen north
esting descriptive letter under date of
Dawson, March 3. to a member of his
family in Deer Lodge. Those portions
Of Mr.. Numbers letter not devoted to
family affairs TEEN with interesting
lore of active life in the gold fields.
and, coming from one who Is not given
to romancing. the information is there
fore to be relied on as entirely trust
worthy. Quoted below are paragraphs
of interest to the outside world from
Mr.. Numbers letter, which is dated
Dawson City, March 3, 1898:
Il just got 10 letters from the post
Office which arrived in Dawson only
yesterday, the first mail since last Sep
TENDER. Out Of the number five from
home folks n the rest from specu-
lating friends all over the United
States asking all kinds Of unanswer-
able questions. Have had a very pleas
ant winter UT to date.
Major Walsh has just arrived here.
You know he has full power and au-
thorfty to make and enforce any new
laws that he may see fit. Heretofore
we have been entitled to 500 foot
creek claims from rim to rim. He now
allows 100 feet, which is forcing the
people to go on down to American ter
ritory, where your claims are 1850 feet
long. ] don't think there is a creek in
this immediate vicinity that would not
be big pay If they were outside, but
In here 1t costs from $500 to $500 and
even. in some localities. ST. 900 to send
a prospect hole to bedrock. Four of us
boys Just came in from a stampede so
miles from here on what is known as
left fork of Durham creek, Indian
River division. We started with sleigh,
stove, tent, nine pairs of blankets,
three robes n provisions for ten
days. 1t was a hard trip, but we went
properly prepared and suffered none.
although IL was 66 below zero one night
n lower han 45 all of the seven DAYS
we were out. Nothing is known of
the creek, but it was our last show to
record a 500-foot claim. You are only
to stake four claims in the
Northwest Territory. I have several
other interests which 1 have bought
and traded for. 1 Won't go home broke
mex fall.
You can have no conception of the
difficulty we have in sending out or re-
ceiving mail. No one has received a
scratch from the outside world for over
six months, and the last mail I got
was in September. so you see I am
still six months behind times. There
been a shortage of provisions here
beyond a doubt, but no one has gone
or will go hungry. I made several
with friends and still have
six or seven months supply on hand
all very choice, too. i even have 80
pounds OF butter left. ! have written
home every opportunity and have start
ed numerous letters outside to you all,
but doubt whether many have reached
their destination. / am going over to
No. 26 above on Sulphur creek to re-
three months to represent said
for half interest. 1t only costs
you 81, $50 TO represent in this country, |
or 80 days work. The new governor
will enforce the 90 per cent. royalty,
is also a drawback to this coun- |
try. The sun now shines about five
hours per day and has but little
Will have pleasant weather
in about six weeks. Then six weeks
more and the mosquitoes will appear on
the scene. I was never in better health
than at present. Dawson next summe
will undoubtedly be the seat OF all
kinds of malaria. as IL is built in a
swamp and has no drainage. 1 will
stay in town at all, so don't be
a La rmed about me-"