The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-18
He HAS ENOUGH.
Louis Witt Who Made Fortune
in Klondike Here.
Ready to Quit Frozen North for
Civilization.
TALKS OF COUNTRY.
How 1t Is Being Modern zefi by
American Enterprise.
Journey to Dawson No Longer
Fraught With Dangers.

go 10 MS nome IN Dawson LOO miles
north of Seattle. Louis Witt is one of
the few men who staked their lives
against a fortune in. the frozen north
and won.
He owns one of the. most valuable
properties on Hunker creek and does
not know how rich he is or what his
property is worth. This claim alone
has yielded over a million of dollars in
goid dust and nuggets since 1t has been
worked and every week Of the working
season continues the stream at from
three to four thousand dollars.
The elder of the two Witt brothers
on whom fortune has smiled is about
the last man a stranger would select
from group of men as one of the gold
kings of the frozen north. He was
born in the little town of Columbia.
Iowa. about IS years ago and in early
childhood was left an orphan in q fam
lily of five boys. Until seven years ago
he followed the humdrum life of
farmer content to sow and reap and
add to his wealth a penny at time.
Then came the news of the finding
Of gold in the Klondike and following
closely in the wake of the horde who
started Immediately Witt found himself
in Seattle, several thousand miles from
home and almost as far from the gold
fields. Reports came thick and fast Of
the great fortunes made in a day but
with them came reports of the suffering
and death which fell to many who froze
with visions Of gold before them and
the promised land almost in sight.
There is nothing about Louis Witt
to attract ones attention or suggest
that he is the owner of one of the best
paying mines in the great gold fields.
He is quiet and unassuming. and Meth
er drinks or boasts of his holdings and
save for a modest diamond weighing
less than two carats there Is nothing to
suggest an idea Of wealth.
He refuses to talk of his wealth or
discuss his personal affairs and this
portion of the story was told by MS
brother. For four years after MI Witt
went into the Klondike region his Tor
tune was much the same as that OF
thousands Of others who made rush
for the land of gold. During this time
he worked at anything he could ma
to do half freezing and half starving,
waiting and longing with thousands o.
others for the knock OF fortune at ms
door, It came three years ago wnen iio
miles above Dawson, one OF the tr1bu-
taries to the Yukon river, and the TIDE
turned. in his favor.
This claim Is worked for all that IL Is
worth during the summer season. Wmcn
is s,x months in length and during this
+inoa A. nores a steady stream of gold
into the rockets of its owner at the rate
~ S5no zach day Modern machinery
which is being brought into the country
by rich mining syndicates threatens ~
modernize the fight for golo ana
claim and rework properties abandoned
On bunker Creek where the claim
owned by Mr.. Witt is located there are
about 100 other claims all ahke, strlpS
of land 1900 feet in length by ooo anu
underlaid with rich gold bearing sano.
~ this creek alone four dredges
owned by the Guggenheimer company
Of New York and of which the senator
from Colorado is MEMBER nave oeeis
Installed at an approximate cost ol
500 900 each. This wealthy COZ poi -;
creek with the single exception OF the
rich property owned by Mr.. witt anu
II viii pass into their hands when they
make an offer which Mr.. Witt conSld-
ers somewhere WITHIN reason. ne is
bonanza as the Witt property Is
known is worked under the old plan.
MI Witt expects to leave Seattle
about the first of March for Dawson
and this will necessitate trip over
land as at this season OF the year me
waterways are frozen sollu anu
boats do not attempt the passage, the
first trip in being made about the l5tn
of June. All of the more prosperous
mine owners in the territory leave LOT
the states in the fall and return IN the
spring and the trip that Mr.. Witt VIII
undertake the IlTSl VI NAoAA III W.
his seventh across the frozen Wnlte
mountains in the dead of winter.
From Seattle the trip leads 1000
miles inland to Skagway and then III
miles over the White mountain pass
| to White Horse. this portion OF the
| trip being made by rail, ana is USED
summer and winter and in the sum-
mer the trip to Dawson is made by
steamers and is pleasure jaunt. In
| the winter it is made over the trail.
and it is at this time that
the miners must return so that they
may be able to get at their work as
| early as the streams begin to flow and
| can be used for sluicing.
Trir, No Longer Dangerous.
| 1t is this trail which was the scene
/ of SO much suffering and death When
the first rush to the IKlondike country
the discovery of gold was made in
| 1S97. The trip is yet made by dogs
ard sleds by owners of conveyances
| of this kind but most of the passen-
gers who come and go by this route
use the stage line operated by the
| White Mountain Pass Railroad COM
pany.
| sleds seating from 15 to 20 passen-
gers are used and road houses every
| 90 miles afford opportunities for
change of horses and accommo cations
| for passengers Three hundred and
fifty miles Of country is crossed in this
manner with the mercury varying
from 40 to 10 degrees below zero.
| The fare for the trip by stage varies
| from $50 to 500 and from five to
| six days are required to cover the dis
lance. the time varying according to
| the weather conditions. A bed for the
night at one CT these read houses
| cost each occupant from two to three
| dollars and the meals vary in price
| for two or three dollars
The stages run at irregular inter-
walls according to the number of pas
sengers that. have been booked for
passage and the mails run in the
same Indifferent manner though the
government pays the company which
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