The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-21
In THE GOLD COUNTRY.
A Note OF Warning from a Man Who
Speaks from Experience.

Ex-Judge r. w. Mcbride, of this city, has
received from his son. III. w. Mcbride, the
appended letter, dated Bullion, British Co.
lumbia, Aug. 10:
For the last year or so; In fact, every
since i came to this country, / have been
back East. wanting to know all about the
country in general and advice as 10 whether
or not i think II a good place for a young
man to strike form search OF a fortune.
To all 1 have made the same reply-to stay
at home and not tempt fate and the devil
by following In the footsteps of myself .and
the thousands OF other fools who have been
rushing In here ever since the first strike
OF gold on the Klondike. Lately. however,
has come another deluge OF letters, written
IL the same strain, and indicating that the
writer's are seriously considering the ques-
ton OF going a hunting for gold, and IL is
for the benefit OF any such people that this
III not attempt any description of the
country itself. That has been done sufh-
but the one thing that has never been sufi-
GENTLY emphasized and never can be fully
appreciated by an Fastener is the contin-
uous, neVer-ending tale of hardship, trial
and privstion that Is the life story of the
gold-seeker. Whether in the frozen north
or under the fever-laden sky of the tropics,
II Is and Will ever be the samoa stern,
dogged 1ght against the almost insurmount-
able barriers placed by nature as guardians
OF her treasure chests; a struggle OF dwarfs
against giants. compared with which even
the war and battles of nations are insig-
nifcant- i venture TO say that more lives
have been lost. more fortunes sacrificed and
more strong men made physical wrecks by
the discovery OF gold in the Klondike than
IN the Spanish-American war, including the
brings news of one. two or half a dozen
unfortunates. miserable wrecks Of human
ity. who have finally managed to reach civ
ihzation after months of suffering and toll
on the Edmonton trail, the Ashcroft route,
Dease lake or Hazelton-all the same story,
starvation. death in the treacherous rivers.
forest fires the terrible ola CUES of mos
quitos and black ~fies-they lave encoun-
tered them all. and of the confident. light
third have survived TO get back home.
ruined. crippled and, disheartened remnants
OF the sturdy young men of a year ago.
from such a fate. I will feel amply repaid
for my trouble. but IL seems as though no
one will learn these things except by expe-
rience. and I suppose that. so long as there
Is gold in the earth. there will be no lack OF
volunteer recruits for the army of pros
the subject | will say. most emphatically
and positively. Don't. II you like hard work
you can get plenty of IL at home. IL IL is
Join the army and go TO Manila. There you
viii be reasonably sure of not starving to
death and Of being decently buried should
/ have seen the procession OF happy, well.
EQUIPPED adventurers pluDgfng gaily into
this wilderness and / have seen the sorry
pitiahle survivors struggling back again
heart-broken and Respondent, with but one
hope left-to live long enough TO again see
home and friends / have seen the time
when the dark horse OF death was ever near
day after day and night after night. wher
the forest around was lighted as with the
fires OF hell and when a pint of water was
worth more than all the gold in creation
j have seen my companions. crazed by the
terrible strain CT hanger and thirst. hghi
like beasts for the blood OF a dying pacl
horse. The miseries OF a few such day.
cannot be compensated for by a lifetime Of
luxury and prosperity.
No. boys, stay at home. or at least some
where where you will be among civilized
people. where. IL you get sick or die. yol
will. at least. have some one 10 take care
of YOU. and your bones will not be picked
by wolves and your friends kept IN anxiety
and doubt as 10 your fate. OF course. there
IS no denying the fact that some men hav'
made great fortunes IN this business-iI
Klondike and elsewhere. Those are the one
every one hears about. But for every on
who succeeds a thousand fail. and takeI
all in all I think the percentage OF success
ful ones Is less IN mining than In any othe
line of business. II any man can earn sufh
Gent none TO keep him In comfort at HON
] think he II worse than foolish TO leave I
10 chase the rainbow In the hope Of hndinl
the pot Of gold at Is end. Don't you?