The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-06
FROM EMMA KELLY.
Topeka Girl Writes About Trials o.
Klondike.

&AACL04ACs
The fto9llowing to the Globe-Dss1H 1Isr
was written by Emma Kelly, OF Topeka.
Mastodon Greek, Alaska, December d..
Since my arrival last June on my SECOND
V1Sll 10 the northern gold neloS nave
visited the several mining camps IN the
klondike district in Canadian territory
and number of the best camps on the
American side, in Alaskan territory or
these, the Mastodon mines In the Bircn
Circle City. are the most productive, pos
sibiy because the most extensively oper-
pioneers in the Yukon district on the
American side. and hence are vel es-
to their owners, who employ great
The rich finds in the Klondike, that is,
the Eldorado, Bonanza and bunker creek
districts, in the yield of last year. have
amount of gold taken out during the year
1889 exceeds the yields of any previous previous
ing has gone. the limit of the Canadian
gold nelds seems to have been reached,
have been made on the British side OF
the line. The new discoveries during the
Raye bee a conaeP9 yery hng len to the
American side This may be the result
touching prospecting and the location and
development of claims on the American
side than exist on the Canadian side of
the line.
OF course, the world knows of the great
discoveries are being made in the inte-
rior equally as rich as the Cape Nome
to The pnbie n0[ YET bese mas Of VerV
recent date are those of Slate and Myrtle
creeks, tributaries of the of the Koyukuks
Fort Yukon. The find on Myrtle creek
was made by Jack McPike, and opened
up late in the fall of 1898. The washup of
last June established the richness of the
find. as the .'shoveling in" averaged SIS
find gives promise of permanency in prof
liable, yield. wild excitement has
and many are focl1ing to the new dig
gings. Every available dog team, loaded
ana shovels, are pushing into the new
d1gg1ngS, and, OF course, as these dig
the prospector will not be hampered as
he would be on the Canadian side. The
these. new fields are situated; forms, a
junction with the Yukon about 300 miles
Koyukuk is .navigable for steamers of
200 tons draft to the district of these
finds, so that, with the opening of navi-
diggings, supplies will be easily trans
ported to that section.
The Tanana district, near the head
waters of the Tanana river, another trib-
utary of the Yukon. emptying into that
stream about 100 miles east of Circle City
is developing rich diggings, though not
Myrtle creeks. Much gold however is
being taken out of these mines This dis
trict is also reached by navigation, steam
Tanana river with supplies for the miners
who go in there. An old miner from Mon
tana. prospecting in this neighborhood in
s ptember, on one of the small tributaries
called Faith" found bedrock groupings
in number of places along the creek,
These mines will be prospected and
opened during the. ensuing summer. Most
Koyukuk district, its discovery having
just been made known, is not yet staked
hence the great rush for that district
The news of this discovery has checked
in part the stampede from the interior to
the Cape Nome beach. but many have
gone from the interior to be at Nome in
time for the opportunity for spring dig
gings. The ensuing summer will witness
because of its easy access, it will possibly
surpass Dawson in the days of the great
camp.
have spent with my female companion
where We have a claim and a cabin.
curing our supplies from Circle city. the
since we took our dog team of five dogs
and sled and went into Circle City for
in day and a half. Our team loaded,
we started on the return, but so heavy
walk all the way, our dogs having all
they could draw on the sled without the
houses between the camp and Circle City
at which we stopped for meals and for
nSn1t lodglng When oXertaken by night.
SO that travelling now between camps in
interior Alaska is not attended with the
hardships and privations it was two years
ago, on my first visit In returning with
our load, and when within about 20 miles
of our camp, while holding back the sled
going down a steep, rocky precipice, which
caused it to swing and slide from the rock
one of the runners caught my foot and
knowing yet had 20 miles st to walk Walk did did
not take off my moccasins, but lmped
along with the dogs until We reached our
camp When 1 pulled off my moccasin
and stocking I found the nail of the
great toe mashed out by the roots. An
Nl miner hrOB-ssnf ma 1iT1frx 1a,,f
wrappings and a pair of crutches that I
have been hobbling about with for sew
much. and we shall soon be able to go.
which we intend doing to the new fields
on on the k3yyukuk, where we each expect
The winter thus far has been a mild
one, very little severe cold for this Iati-
tude, 50 that there has been but little
suffering. Much OF our travelling and the
Hghf as we are annSoac JT cone me pg WI
nights and shortest days of the year.
From the Edmonton route. the trail OF
starvation and DEATH" extensively ad-
verused by various promoters and trans
portatfon companies, comes the last and
latest fearful report of suffering. starva-
ton and death. The mounted police. sent
out by the Canadian government a year
ago to investigate this trail and bring out
those who might be in need of help, have
just returned to this camp after a ioIr-
snow fields. with dog teams and tobog-
gans. They report the trail cleared.
either by death or departure of those who
attempted that route locally known as
the death trap" During the summer
the steamer Riddle. loaded with provi-
sions made its way up the Mackenzie
which river empties into the Arctic ocean
on the northern coast of Alaska. the boat
proceeding as far as the rapids in the
river. these being somewhat like the
white Horse where it un1oaded its
supplies, which were carried out to the
Edmonton trail victims who were still
surviving. The Hudson Bay trading
posts likewise increased their supplies of
provisions and with the caribou making
their annual migration across that sec
ton, supplies of meat and other provi-
sions are plentiful.
Among those who attempted going over
that trail late in the fall of 1897 were
| Sandy Holmes, of Fresno. Cal; J. Mofat
and Phil Beleview, of Ontario Canada
and Jack Richie and Hector McPhee.
| The first three. after pursuing this trail
some distance, turned back and started
| to Fort Mcpherson, for the purpose of
Riehe a9d M efb u rPapya1ed IN cap