The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-11-16
DISAPPOINTED in KLONKIKE
>. 6. Duncan Of Peck says Gold Is
Hard 10 Set

HZFo 10 WeLs
]. G. Duncan Of Peck, Kan, Is one of
the few returned Klondikers who are
willing to admit that they have not re-
turned from that country with more
wealth than Is actually there.
''The gold is there" he said, but it Is
a question of getting it and this is a hard
proposition. People have been fooled into
that region by the boom press Of the
coast towns, thinking that they could
have gold in any quantity by merely go
ing after 1t. f. e. Engalls, c, r. Booth
and myself all Of us residents of Peck,
set out in The spring OF 1893 for the Klon-
dixie gold fields. When we started, We
like many more, thought that we would
be rich in very short time after we
would get there but once in the heart
Of the Klondike we were soon undeceived.
Do not understand by what I have been
saying that the country is without re-
sources. Gold and other minerals abound
there. But the real difficulty lies IN dig
ging for it. During the hottest weather
We have had there, and I tell you it was
equal TO the warm weather IN Kansas, the
ground at two feet was frozen hard. so
that in order TO dig it would be necessary
to build fires SO as to thaw the soil be-
fore the pick would enter Then the win
ters are something terrible. During last
winter, which, by the way. was about the
most severe we have had for years in
that region, the thermometer on one oc-
sasion registered at 80 degrees below ezro.
In such weather we simply did not ven
ture out of our cabins, since te have
done 50 would have meant death
NO Ibid not dig for gold and neither
did my companions. We engaged In the
lumber business and have returned
with enough money made in that way to
satisfy me I shall not return to the
Khondike. Within the last two years the
government has made some coed and
many improvements, but the country is
still Tar from presenting an inviting as
pect. The establishment Of the forts at
Eagle. St Bfichaels and Tananna has
been Of great benefit. During my sojourn
in the Klondike was in Dawson, Circle
and Fort HucoD, and I find about the
same conditions to exist everywhere
People with money are in good spirits,
while those without any are starving,
and even those who have plenty are fire.
quently unable to procure something to
eat i it would not have been Tor the
ratiOns that could be procured at the
forts there would be greater distress in
that country than there is. Just before
took passage for my home trip the
transport Lawton, which IS in the gov
eminent service, left the port with TOO IN
digent gold hunters aboard, all Of wbom
were toop oor TO even leave the country
with aid. some Of the men know
had mortgaged their property before 60
Ing to the Klondike IL tina hopes that
they would return shortly laden with
wealth. but they now must return with
out as much as a dollar. Yet for all ~
this and Notwithstanding the many hard
ships and dangers I have encountered, I
would return to that country were ii not
for my family, who desire ne 10 remain
With them upon my Kansas farm
THE place g exceedingly healthy ]
now weigh 80 pounds, which IS exactly
twenty-five pounds more than I weighed
when went 20 the Kloadlke.
The cost Of living there is something I
enormous. Flour IS selling a. IS per ncty
peund sack: salt = cents per pound.
dried fruits A. cents per pound; sugar and
rice 3. and . cents per pound Ter canned Z
meats. These prices. however. are cheap
compared with what they have 80
when first went there. At that tiue
tasy were Just albert another tme as
much"