The Topeka state journal., 1898-02-03
Outbreak of the KlOndike Fever
in Western New York
Causes Men to Give Up Good PO-
SitiOnS and Businesses
TO JOIN IN THE RUSH
Three Hundred People Stay Up
All Night
To Listen to a Returned KlOn-
diker Talk.

New York Feb 3.-Many people from
western New York are giving up good
positions putting their all into outfits
| and starting for the Klondike region,
says the Rochester correspondent of the
Times. The return to Franklinville,
Cataraugus county, of one Dan Frazer
seems to have been the match which
ignited the rapidly spreading flames of
excitement. In less than ten minutes
after Frazer landed in his native town
300 persons had surrounded him and
he was kept busy answering questions
until o'clock the next morning. Fra
zer talked willingly enough about his
experience, but about his own fortune
was reticent.
Il am satisfied" was the most that
could be drawn from him. Perhaps
this reticence fired excitement more
than the most golden tales could have
done. At any rate the leaven worked
so well that there started back to the
far northwest Tuesday with Frazer a
large party. Just how large cannot be
told till the men leave Seattle. From
FrankIinvilIe alone, 19 went.
Thirty-two joined the party at Sala-
manca, Buffalo, Rochester and many
towns contributed others. Among the
pilgrims were John Rhoden, president
of the Franklin First National bank
and his wife. The brigade is headed
by a. B. Robbins.
The week of Frazer's return brought
back to A. B. Bower and Q. NJ. Gillette
of Byron, GeneSSee county and Menzie
Mosier & Lee former Caledonia men.
The appearance and tales OF these men
reused all Genessee county to the high
est pitch of excitement.
Six Italians who left LIE Roy last
summer We're reported to he earning
| SO to SIS per day. Bower and Gillette
they owned two and a half claims, for
one of which they would not take less
than $4,000. Their tales have proved
so allurlng that when these men return
on March 1, they will be accompanied
by as many GenesSee county folks a
can raise the necessary money. How
widespread is the interest is proved
by the immense crowds that gather
from every part of the county when one
of these men speaks in public. Each
and every one of these gold seekers
the winter months as his reason for re
turning at this time.
Other western New York towns
which cannot boast of the return Of
their kIOndfke pilgrims are making the
most of letters from the far away Eldo-
radO. There is not a village so small
or so poor that it has not representa-
tives present or prospective IN the Yu-
kon gold fields HOlley, Orleans cOun-
ty, sent a party of six this week
Mr.. and Mrs. c. E. Clark of Perry,
Wyoming county set out Tuesday
Their plan is to open hotel on the Yu-
kOn- Three Hornellsville men have
Joined a big band whose mem bers
placed $1,000 each in a common fund
and will share all things equally
St Paul, Mimi, Feb. 3.-As the gate
way between the east and the KIon-
dixie, this city has for some weeks been
the witness of many returning parties
of gold finders and of parties of gold
seekers. The daily trains to the coast
over both the Northern Pacific and the
Great Northern are crowded, many of
the parties being made UP in the
Northwest and outfftting here but more
of them coming from the east and stop
ping off here to add to their supplies
and outfits.
Two new local companies have just
been organized and started for the gold
fields, but they have no present inten-
ton to dig for the metal themselves
having both formed dog train com
panies and planned to make their share
of the money by hauling supplies. Most
of the men in these companies are rail-
readers and about half the stockholders
go along to work.
Nearly every city in this state has
contributed a share to the number of
KlOndikers and most of them have Civ
en- something to increase the army of
dogs now en- route to Alaska. So ac-
tive has become the market for large
dogs that the local police receive daily
complaints at the disappearance of val
liable CANNES but in most cases have
been too late to reclaim the four footed
property. One woman found her dog
Grated ready for shipment; before an of
ficer could be called the train pulled out
with her dog. Several have been res
cued at the depot.
Worcester, Mass, Feb "a party of
40 men from this city and vicinity left
today for the Alaska gold fields. A
crowd of nearly 3 900 persons was at the
| railroad station to see them start. The
| gOld-SeekerS intend to operate in the
| Copper river country.
Vancouver, B. c.. Feb. 3.-The steam
er Islander sailed last night for Alaska
with over 300 passengers and all the
| freight she could carry. She had also
a number of horses and nearly all the
IElnr, ilrar.s dog