Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-01-06
FROM THE KLOND|KE.
Mrs. G. E. Merryman Writes In.
terestingIy of the Land of
Golden Nuggets.
CLAIMS PRODUCING FINE RETURNS

Professional way-A Three-Room
Cabin That Cost se,3OO-Typhoid
Fever Breaking Out-Peopie Freezing
to Death.
A letter has been received in Port
Byron from Mrs George F. Merry
man, who recently joined her hus-
band in the Alaskan gold fields. The
missive is dated at Dawson City Oct.
8. and in postscript written Nov. &c
Mrs. Merryman states she had just
heard of nine men who were going TO
venture trip out over the ice, and
she would entrust her letter to them.
1t reached Seattle Dec. 80.
Mrs. Merryman' letter relates that
navigation has closed on the Yukon,
and there is some snow on the ground,
She saws the mail service is bad, and
all the letters she has written so far
were given to some one going out to
mail. The doctor has had built new
cabin with three rooms, down town,
which cost 81, 800, on leased ground.
He thinks it is a palace considering
the way he has been living for the past
year. Mrs. Merryman says she will
always be glad that she went to Daw-
son, as the life there today no one
could ever picture, and in another
year it will all be changed. The doc
tor has men working two of his claims.
They are what are known as winter
diggings and have to be worked when
the ground is frozen.
Mrs. Merryman in her postscript
states that they had just received a
few returns from their Eldorado claim
with small sack of nuggets. The
doctor, in professional way, has
more than he can do and turns people
away every day. Cases of typhoid
are breaking out every day and scurvy
has just made its appearance.
Butter has been cornered and taken
a jump from 81 to So pound.
Under date of Nov. 10 Mrs. Merry
man says that the sun disappears at
3 O'Clock. The moon shines very
brightly all the time, like the sun does
in summer, so if it is not stormy it is
never dark. The shortest days are in
Decemb Der, and in February the days
are 10 hours long. On Nov. Is it was
so below. However, it usually mod
crates after three days and goes to IS
or 20. Noses and feet have been
frozen already and two people were
froZs II TO death. Mrs. Merryman says
their cabin is very warm and comfor-
table.
Good Klondike Story.
Mrs. Merryman continues: This
is good KlOndike story, but never
theless true. 1t is amusing to see
the people this cold weather. with
caps covering their head and face,
just leaving an opening for the eyes
and mouth, and when it is only 20 be-
low they do not wear caps that cover
the face.
The northern lights at night are
beautiful and the effect of the sunset
on the snow-covered mountains is
simply gorgeous.
The dog teams are flying around
everywhere. 1t is lots of fun to ride
after them. Thanksgiving we will
entertain Col. McCook, the American
consul, and Judge Morfat. The fire
at Dawson was terrible. 1t was got
ten under control one block from our
house. There are hundreds of people
living in tents; they are sure TO freeze
To death. Wood is so a cord. We
have 100 pounds of potatoes that cost
us S125, and we watch over them like
they were diamonds for fear they will
freeze. We are taking fresh milk,
which costs 81 quart. We will be
out on the first boat in the spring"