The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-03-07
WORSE THAN DRINK HABIT
KLONDIKE SNOW EATERS ARE
BECOMING VICTIMS.
A Mania That Ends in Death-Under-
mines the Constitution and Produces
a Condition Worse Than Opium.

Every great discovery in the worlds
history has brought with it an ac-
companying afiliction, and it has re-
NAMED for the Klondike to develop a
peculiar mania that threatens to out
riva, opium eating. Among the resi-
dens of the far north it is known as
the SNOW habit" and it is said to be
incurable. Henry Barnum, a success
full proSpector, has returned from the
Klondike and tells the strange story:
There are many strange things in
the Klondike," said Mr.. Barnum, but
perhaps the strangest, and that about
which nothing has been written so far
is the dissipation caused by eating the
snow. In the north, where the Their
mometer reaches 30 to 40 degrees be-
low zero, a mouthful of snow is like
molten metal. 1t brings an infamma-
ton to the palate and tongue, and it is
impossible to quench the thirst. The
first advice an old timer offers a new
conner in the region is Don't eat snow
There are men in that country, once
hearty, robust miners, now weak eff
Terminate creatures, whose fall can be
traced directly to the time they be-
gan munching snow.
THE matter has been but little in
vestigated, but the scientists who have
examined the subject say that the wa
tiers of the north are rich in mineral
deposits which are constantly being
washed down from the mountains. A
certain per cent of this mineral is TAX
en- into the air when vapor rises, and
the snow becomes impregnated with it
There have been several falls of red
snow near Point Barrow, the deposit
being of a reddish brown color due en-
tirely to minerals. Thus it can be seen
that person eating large quantities Of
| snow takes into his system a cores
ponding amount of minerals"
While coming down the Copper river
last spring Mr.. Barnum came upon a
| party of miners where one was dying
from the effects of eating snow. He
| had been a hard drinker but had run
short of whiskey. His thirst became
uncomfortable, and as water was scarce
! in mdwinter, he had taken to eating
! the snow. Soon he claimed it relieved
his appetite for the liquor, and his COM
panions noticed that his appetite for
| the snow increased, until he was con
suming enormous quantities. Gradual
| ly his skin, which was a dark bronze
grew light, his rugged stature became
bent, and even his harsh voice chang
ed to the effeminate squeak of an old
woman. His strength gave way, AMI
his companions tried to break him OF
the habit. He would lie on his pallet
| and moan pitifully for a mouthful of
| snow, and when opportunity offered ne
would steal unobserved to the door
| way and gulp down huge handfuls. Al
last, seeing death was inevitable, his
companions allowed him the snow, hop
ing to prolong his life. 1t proved I'M
availing, however, and one morning
just previous to Mr.. Barnum's depart
ure the man was found dead.
There are some spots on the Copper
river where the snow, when melted auC
estrained through a cloth shows per
ceptible signs of minerals, and Otter
gold Is found plentifully intermixed
but, of course, not in paying quaint
ties. Where this comes from is mys
terry, but it may be brought from the
far north by the heavy winter gales
that sweep over this part of the coun.
try. 1t has been said that if the snow
could be melted away it would leave
deposits of millions of dollars in gold
dust on the ground.-Washingt Star