The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-20
THE RUSH TO THE COAST
Scores of Chasers After the Will
o'-the- Wisp.
EXCEEDS ALL ESTIMATES
Cooperative Party From New York
Bound for the Klondike-The Trou-
bles and Tribulations of Party
of Teuton Gold Seekers.

Missoula, Feb. 1s.-As the weeks roll
/ by the rush to the coast of the Klondike
! treasure seekers is assuming proper
| tons that are beyond the estimates
| made earlier in the season. Every
| westbound train that passes here has
scores OF chasefs after the will-o'-the-
wisp. The tenderfeet from the East
have lost some of their enthusiasm by
the time that they reach here but while
they wear jaded appearance, they are
still confident. They have not lost the
expectation of picking up nuggets. but
they begin to realize that there is some
trouble on the road to the fortune that
awaits them at the end of their jour-
ney. Three days of living on the leath-
cry doughnut and the puncture- proof
sandwich of the railroad lunch counter,
has caused them to realize to a limited
extent some of the privations that are
ahead OF them. The fellows that live in
the baggage cars with the dogs will be
in good training to live anywhere by
the time they reach the coast.
To-day's train was in two sections,
each carrying contingent of thenorth-
bound army of prospective millionaires.
On the first section were two chartered
Pullman cars occupied by New York
cooperative company that is bound for
the gold fields. The company includes
doctors, lawyers, mechanics and mining
-Apii - I1d1I HAS pdlu 3oUU Tor MS
snare of the stock and there is an
agreement in the articles of incorpora-
ton by which any one of them can re-
ceive $3.50 for his return fare as soon as
he is sick of his bargain. This was the
best equipped party that has passed
through this city this winter. There
are 90 men in the crowd and they all
seemed confident of success.
There was one party that passed
through here this week that had had
trouble enough before reaching here to
discourage almost anybody but Ger
man. They were all Teutons and they
had started from New York. 40 strong
Their departure had been the occasion
or hot time in the metropolis They
pafaded the streets, starting from a
beer hall and winding up at a brewery.
Iheir friends gave them a good sendoff
ana their equipment was as complete
as they could make 1t with their inn
perfect knowledge of the country to
which they were going. The first of
their troubles began on the road be-
tween New York and Chicago, when
the baggage car containing their sup
ples caught IRE and burned up all that
they had. Some of them stopped at
Chicago to push their claim against the
railroad company for the destruction of
their baggage and at ST. Paul others
stopped for various reasons. The deser-
tons continued till, when the party
tNdSAth 1SaliIts the roll call showed
that of the 40 who started only 81 re-
NAMED These q had still with them
the determination with which they had
left the Atlantic coast but that was
about all they had With that they were
determined To go as far ahead as they
could. and while their pluck Is TO be
ADMIRED. they will probably find that
determination does not go far when II
comes to grub and supplies in Alaska.
TO dogs this week were added burros.
ana TO burros to-day were added horses
as means OF transportation being
shipped TO the snowy trails of the
North The burros Were unloaded and
fed here at the stockyards and attract
cd considerable attention from those
VINO knew that they We're here They
We're the regulation little Mexican fell
lows, and looked better adapted to the
work ahead of them than ANYTHING on
TOUR feet that has gone through here
before. With them were several mules
that Will also be taken over the trail
ana used Tor packing on the last part
OF the journey. To-day there was .
Stree stable car in the yards for several
hours loaded with horses that are being
taken North. Why they were shippnd
from east of here when there are al
many horses on the coast is not known.
put the men in charge of them seemed
to think that they had a good thing
ana would not talk much about their
fiaha. ihss are paying Tor the trans /
portation OF the animals and il is their
business what they do with them.
the local railway people say that
they are Informed from the East that
The big rush has not yet begun. and in
Two months they are looking for more
business than they can easily handle.
me new train is not making quite as
good time as was expected. but the
weather conditions since II was nut on
nave been abominahle, and with better
WINDS ana skies II is hoped that No. |
viii pull in on time next week.