The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-16
BOWL OF NUGGETS
Brought From KIondike by
Mr. and Mrs. Hayford.
MADE THE TRIP TOGETHER
And Brayed the HardShipS of
ChiIkoot Pass.
MADE THE TRIP TOGETHER

| In the klondike, nave returned TO Wicn~
tia Mr.. Hayford did not come back load
ed with gold, but he does not regret his
trip. for ne had a great experience and
is in possession of an inexhaustfble fund
OF interesting information about the great
est gold field in the world. Mr.. and Mrs.
Hayford have trunk full Of curios, con-
slsting of gold nuggets, and many other
articles which they Drought from the
treacherous trail of the Chilkoot pass ana
the lively little city of Dawson. They
were visited last night at the home Of
w. B. Jones. at 7Ss North Fourth avenue.
by a reporter for the Eagle. Both look
surprisingly healthy after such q rough
experience as they had, especially Mrs.
Hayford, who stuck steadily by the side
| Of her husband during the entire jour-
| ney.
Mr. and Mrs. Hayford left Wichita in
the summer of 1897. They outftted them
selves we'll for the trip, and landed at
Dyea, after nearly three weeks travel.
Here Mr.. Hayford paid $25 for a white
mule and he and his wife started for
Dawson City, going over the Chilkoot
pass. The mule pulled three sleds ana
carried their outfit, weighing 1850 pounds,
every step of the way over the rough
pass They camped during the winter of
1897 at Sheep Camp, near the bottom of
Chilkoot pass. The winter passed with
out any particular danger or hardship 10
~
soon as travel could be resumed in the
spring they and the trusty mule, which
other travellers denomInated an omen Of
i'll luck. owing to lie color. started over
the hills. They barely avoided the terri |
BILE snowslide which killed so many peo-
pie. Reaching the top of the pass, Mr.. |
Hayford built a scow, which he called |
Wichita" and Mrs. Hayford and the |
mule were taken aboard Of the scow and |
the rest Of the journey was comparatively |
easy. The only way they ever discov-
cred a Kansan on their trip was by the 1
name OF this scow. Three persons came |
to him. attracted by the Wichita" and |
said they were from Kansas.
Arriving at Dawson City. Mr.. Hayford |
disposed of most of his outfit. He sold |
the white mule to a butcher for $780,
Then ne struck out for the mining pre-
cincts anxious to get into the swim as
soon as possible. Mr.. Hayford did but |
little prospecting. He bought a claim. |
This claim began paying almost immedi-
ately and he worked It for several months |
Then he sold 1t and bought two more,
which have not been developed. Mr.. Hay
ford did not care to say what he sold |
his first claim for. In answer to a ques-
ton. Bowever. he said that he had not
made much more than his expenses to
the Klondke and back.
do you think of returning to work
your other claims?" asked the reporter.
"I hardly think I shall. They are I'M
developed claims and in that country one
never counts claim worth a cent until
It begins to pay. That Is the way I re-
gard mine"
would you advise one to go to the
Klondike now with a view Of prospect
ing?"
'.No. indeed. The prospectors are those
who make the least money in that coun-
try. The proper way to do Is to buy the
claims of the prospectors after they have
been worked a while. There are plenty of
such claims for sale and one can pick
up bargain any day IL he has the ready
cash to pay. II I had 5000 ready cash
1 would go back to the Klondike right
away before the rivers close. know
where there are some splendid prospects (
that can be bought cheap. Prospectors
are tired and sick OF the country and
many of them want TO come back home.
They are coming in droves this summer.
Their places are being taken by the men
who will reap the rewards and get rich.
That is the story OF every mining camp"
Mr. Hayford was not speaking disparag-
ingly of the country when he said this.
He says the Klondike country is full OF
gold, and while many are leaving, the
country is growing in population and
wealth every day. Coal has been discov-
cred near Dawson City and the fuel prob
lem has thus been solved. All facilities
for supplying the demands OF the people
have about been completed and it is easy
to live there. Mr.. Hayford thinks the
United States territory will some day be
developed as much as English territory
1t is much Better to work in Uncle Sans
territory. ne says, because one can OBJ
tain patent there. while in Canada
nothing but a yearly lease can be OBJ
tained, which is very discouraging In
some ways.
Mrs. Hayford stood the trip equally as
well as her husband. She proved her
self a companion worthy OF a Kiondike
king. In the hardships OF Chilkoot pass
she was ever at her husbands side. and
in the long dreary camp season at Sleeps
Camp where no one dared to go very
far either way from camp, she stayed
and comforted him. Not until two months
ago did she feel pang OF inconsistencies.
but when II came it could not be aL~
peased and Mrs. Hay1ord safd she could
hardly wait TO get started home.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hayford had very pleas
ant trip all the way back. They sailed
part of the way down from Dawson and
then struck the new railroad which had
been built during their stay IN the Klon-
dixie, and which. they say. is certainly
one OF the most marvellous pieces OF en-
cheering and skill in the world. They |
were Just thirty days on the trip home. |
leaving Dawson City on Decoration day.
They visited several places before com
ing direct to wichita
Mr.. Hayford showed the reporter q plate
full OF gold nuggets which were taken
from the gold mine he sold The nuggets
ranged In sire all the way from q minute |
piece TO large one weighing out nearly
SIS. These and gold dust. he said. are
the only money In circulation In Dawson
City.