The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-05
anNIsTER.s COLD QUEST.
Successful in the E-Iondike-
and Good Fortune in North.


Lay not up for yourselves treasures
upon EARTH" says the Scriptures. but
the Rev. Hiram Vrooman. lately pas
tor of the Roxbury New Jerusalem
church, preacher, author, philosopher,
moralist. president Of the Federation
of Religions, has been needless Of the
priestly VOW of poverty seem like a
| jeu d esprit or the baseless fabric OF q
theological dream.
But the Rev. Mr.. Vrooman, though
he be just back fro the Klondike,
where within few months he has adj
ded to his worldly possessions in gold
dust and staked claims about 500, 600,
is not after riches as an end solely; he
would, he says, make it a means large
| ly to further the work of the Fedora
ton of Religions, about which he has
thought and written much.
Herald reporter called upon him IN
er day. YES said Mr.. Vrooman, II
have recently returned from the KlOE-
dixie, whittier I went last spring after
resigning my pastorate in Roxbury.
That I have done well I cannot deny,
and certainly expect to do vastly bet
ter next season. My properties are on
the Hootahnqua river, Yukon Terri
tory, which is part of the gold bearing
district commonly called the Klondlke
country. I get to the place by going
from Seattle on q steamer 1000 miles
north to SkagWay, and thence by rail-
road across White Pass ITO miles to
White Horse, which is on the headwa-
ters Of the Yukon river. Steamers leave
there for Dawson and other points. My
rich find is about $50 miles from White
Horse"
Mr. Vrooman talked Interestingly Of
his travels and adventures, in which
there was considerable of suffering. If
the "tenderfoot'' from this time hence
doesn't rank higher in the estimation
If no 81 will Of
be this minister's fault.
1--WE consumed" said he, zone
month at White Horse in making
preparations and getting my equip
ment together. I arrived there on
June 10 and left on July {. pur-
chased from the railroad and steam
ship company the front or bow end
OF the river steamer Sibyl, which had
been cut in two for purposes of their
own. This made a satisfactory scow
for floating my mining machinery. 1t
was sixty feet long, and at the stern
twenty-seven feet wide. coming to
point at the bow.
From White Horse to the mouth
of the Hootalinoua river I had dis
lance of ninety miles to go down
stream With equipment and provis-
ions and six men aboard the scOw We
were taken this distance by the cur
rent and the wind"
Mr. Vrooman here described the
trip in detail, telling about the pass
age of Lake La Barge in high wind.
and said:
.'The anxiety of the three days con-
sumed in going down these ninety
miles caused utter exhaustion. shall
never forget the sense of thankfulness
and relief experienced when we were
safely tied to in an eddy at the mouth
of the Hootalinqua river.
while the work Of lining the
scow up the river was in progress Two %o
old time prospectors appeared on the
scene. They were profoundly I'M
pressed at the sight of my machinery,
and said they had made discoveries
where gold was sufficiently rich TO
yield great returns. One point In par
ticular was a little river about one
hundred and seventy-f1ve miles up
from where We were. l decloed TO
accompany these men. Upon reach-
ing the little river they mentioned
found that the gold was there as they
had described it. but I also found that
the powders were so large as to pre-
vent any dredging machinery doing
successful work.
I'm going with the two prospectors
up the river I carried nothing but
roll of blankets, supply of food ana a
few cooking utensils to use on my re-
turn trip. It was understood that they
would build me a raft upon which to
come back. Fortunately, however, for re-
turning / secured from them row
boat. In the arduous work of taking
the canoe up I started the hrSt DAY 20
do my share. My part was to use the
oars whenever it was necessary to cross
the river, and to pull the canoe, with
rope over my shoulder wherever the
conditions permitted walking along the
shore. Many miles I did this pulling,
while wading knee deep in the swift
water over slippery gravel with gum
boots.
make alone. there was a distance of 40
miles on Lake Teslin that was oblig-
ed to row. About noon of the first day
reached an Indian camp. These IN
dams Immediately began begging for
some of the moose meat I had in my
boat, which 1 was taking back to my
crew of men. I felt obliged to accept
the urgent invitation of one of their
number to accompany him into his
wigwann. He introduced me to his two
squaws, and with much pride handed
me some documents. They were what
we call letters of recommendation.
written by Canadian officers who had