Douglas Island news., 1913-09-03
Stroller and the Stampede

the hope that he may recognize among the arrivals some friends of fifteen years ago whose acquaintance he first formed in Skaqway and which was con. tinued in Dawson Of late years, bow- ever, the old guard has dwindled down until now it is seldom one of its mem- bers is seen travelling to or from the inc terior. Of these the Dago Kid was among the last to disappear Begin hing with 1898 that biped made thir teen annual pilgrimages from the Pa cifc coast to Dawson and for the past eight years of his meanderings his itin- erary included FairbaEks and any other new camps that might have de- veloped during the winter season and when be was hibernating somewhere on the outside. During these earlier years there were four hundred or more other Kids, but their front names were not "Dago"
 Aside from the Kid element, there were others in the early days whose counterparts were never met any other place place on earth than in Skagway and Dawson in the years '97 and go in- elusive. There was the Englishman who would tell you in confidence q used to write for the Times" but who was then busy washing windows that he might keep himself supplied with "eats."
 There were at least a thousand rep- resentatives of various publications who would produce letters of recom- mendatiou signed by Lord Strathcona or the editor of lhe Prune Growers Journal, and who would look offended if you did not invite them over to the Dutchman's to have something at four bits per "something." Very few of them were connected with a publication or ever had been. They had their cards printed in the hope hat it would help them out. Rather, it was the means of their beiUg kicked out.
 Once iu Skagway young man called at the Stroler's office O have dodgers printed advertising the fact that Prof. Hollenzorn, the greatest hypnotist the world had ever known or ever would know. was in town on the way f, om Co., penhagen to Dawson and would have an exhibition of his talent at a hall The next night, the young man himself being none other than the great Hollen- zoru. The Stroller saw the great Hol- l Ienzorn again that same evening when the former took dinner at the Growing Hen cafe. The door leading from the dining room was open and Prof Hol- lenzorn was in the kitchen washing dishes. However, assisted by his con. federate, he pulled off his stunt the next night and gave general satisfac tian. He was a "hasher" who had quit his job ou a Seattle Skagway steamer to seek his fortule iu the then unchar- itable North Two years later he mar ried a widow at Dawson, and the last 1 time tine Stroller saw him he was drink ing cocktail with cherry in it. His wife appeared to be stuck on him. At least, she called him "Deary." CThe 1 Stroller once knew man who called his wife "Deary" away from home and "D- you" at home.)
 It is not at all likely chat such an- other aggregation as came North dur- ing The first two or three years of the Klondike excitement will ever again be seen. Of course, some of them are here yet, but the wire edges have been somewhat smoothed and they have lost the distinctive characteristics which featured them in the early days.
 Young men who were considered ter TOTS in the back townships where they came from originally, made good in the North and are now pillars of church and state. Older men who had grown to manhood without even a smattering of "bigh Ave-" had not been three months in the North before they were sleeping under crap tables, carrying notes for "dealers" and wondering what they could do to win smile from Sweet Marie or Gum Boot Kittie.
 Already the Stroller has seen men gird up their loins and strike out for the Sushanna who would not get a color if gold was as plentiful as pone crusts around a uigger school house. If golden gates were to be had for pass
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