Read Ebook: All about the Klondyke gold mines by Knox J Armoy John Armoy Pratt J G

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Robert Kooks: "I've been four years in Alaska. I had a half interest in a claim on Eldorado Creek, and sold out to my partner for ,000. I bought a half interest in a claim on the Bonanza, below the Discovery claim, and my share is worth easily ,000. I brought ,000 in gold dust, and shall return in the Spring, after rest and recreation."

J. B. Hollinshead: "I was in the diggings about two years, and brought out about 1,500 ounces, which I suppose will bring an ounce. I'm not sure about going back, though I have a claim on Gold Bottom Creek, fifteen miles from Bonanza. It is less than a year since I located my claim. My dust will bring over ,000."

M. S. Norcross: "I was sick and couldn't work, so I cooked for Mr. McNamee. Still I had a claim on the Bonanza, but didn't know what was in it, because I couldn't work it. I sold out last spring for ,000 and was satisfied to get a chance to return to my home in Los Angeles."

Thomas Flack: "My dust will bring more than ,000. I have an interest in two claims on the Eldorado. One partner sold out for ,000 and another for ,000. I had an offer of ,000, but refused it just before I came out."

Thomas Cook: "It is a good country, but if there is a rush there's going to be a great deal of suffering. Over 2,000 men are there at present, and 2,000 more will be in before snow falls. I've been at placer mining for years in California and British Columbia, and the mines at Dawson are more extensive and beyond anything I ever saw. Last year I did very well at Dawson. I have a claim worth about the average, they say from ,000 to ,000, on Bear Creek, across the divide from the Bonanza."

Con Stamatin: "I was mining on shares with a partner. He's still there. We worked on Alexander McDonald's ground in Eldorado for forty-five days and took out ,000. We got 50 per cent. and the other half went to McDonald. Then we divided our share, and I came away."

All miners unite in saying that the only fear for the coming winter is the lack of supplies. The Alaska Commercial Company promises, however, to send in all that is needed. Living is high now, as may be seen from these quotations of prices when the miners started for home: Flour, per hundredweight; moose ham, ; caribou meat, 65 cents; beans, 10; rice, 25; sugar, 25; bacon, 40; potatoes, 25; turnips, 15; coffee, 50; dried fruits, 35; tea, ; tobacco, .50; butter, a roll, .50; eggs, a dozen, .50; salmon, each, to .50; canned fruits, 50 cents; canned meats, 75; liquors, per drink, 50; shovels, .50; picks, ; coal oil, per gallon, ; overalls, .50; underwear, per suit, to .50; shoes, ; rubber boots, to .

Miners who have reached San Francisco do not act like people who have suddenly jumped from poverty to comparative wealth. They are level headed. They went to the best hotels, and they are living on the fat of the land, but they do not throw money away, and not one started in to paint the town red. They have worked so hard that they appreciate the value of money. What they delight in most are theatres and other amusements. They say no one knows how to enjoy these if he has not spent a year in Alaska. Three-quarters of the miners will return in the Spring when they are well rested."

ARRIVAL OF THE SECOND TREASURE SHIP FROM THE FROZEN KLONDYKE.

When the first stories of the fruitfulness of the "Far Off Land" came to the ears of the children of Israel there were many doubters, but when those who had been sent to spy out the land came back later bearing great bunches of grapes there were none that doubted. So when the Excelsior arrived in San Francisco, on the 14th of July, many may have doubted the truth of the stories told of the richness of the new gold fields, but when, three days later, the Portland steamed into Seattle with gold to the value of over ,000,000, brought from the region of the Upper Yukon, no one who saw with their own eyes the gold, and who heard with their own ears the tales of mineral riches unsurpassed, could doubt that on the banks of the Klondyke had been discovered the world's greatest gold fields. An eye witness of the scenes of the Portland's arrival thus tells the story in the New York Journal:

Gold in boxes, gold in bags, gold in blankets, fine gold and coarse gold, gold nuggets and gold dust, the yellow treasure of the Klondyke diggings, came from the far North.

A ton and a half of gold was a part of the load of the steamer Portland from St. Michael's, Alaska, and with the 3,000 pounds of gold were the several owners, sixty-eight miners, some with ,000, some with ,000, some with ,000, a few with 0,000 and over, but all with gold.

With the product of their work for a season in the new "diggings," the richest in surface gold ever discovered, these miners had made the long voyage from Dawson City, the new golden town, 1,895 miles down the Yukon to St. Michael's, and at St. Michael's had boarded the Portland with their treasure, bound for homeland and intent upon changing their dust and their nuggets into the minted, milled coin of their country.

On the voyage the gold was stored in the captain's state room. The little safe in the corner was packed full of bags of gold, and the remainder that the safe would not hold was placed in three boxes.

When the steamer came to the port the miners put their bags on their shoulders and walked down the gang plank in the presence of a vast throng of Seattle people assembled to see the great pile of treasure from the rich fields of the far North. A miner with only ,000 in his bag easily carried his fortune. Twenty thousand dollars in two bags is a good load for any stalwart man, no matter if he has worked where the mercury falls to sixty degrees below zero. Two men used all their strength in carrying a strapped blanket, in which was about ,000. The few with the big fortunes, 0,000 and over, had to hire help to get their precious possessions to a safe place of storage in Seattle.

The greater part of the ton and a half of gold was taken from the ground during three Winter months. Last Fall some green strangers, "tenderfeet," fresh from the comforts of civilization, were so absurd as to give no heed to the advice of the old miners. The pioneers of the Yukon mines, the men who know Circle City and Forty Mile Creek and all the surrounding country, said there was no use looking for gold "over yonder on the Klondyke." But the foolish strangers went "over yonder on the Klondyke." During the Fall the news reached the older diggings of the amazing discoveries of gold by these absurd tourists from the South, and from all the country round about came the rush to Klondyke.

When gold is waiting to be lifted out of the ground cold is not to be considered. During the dark Winter days the temperature, 30 or 40 degrees below zero, the quest for dust and nuggets was pursued continually. The product of the work of some of these Winter miners, defiant of the cold, is shown in the treasure brought to the United States by the Portland and the Excelsior.

The greatest fortune gained by any of the company of miners is the honeymoon treasure of Clarence Berry, of Fresno, Cal. He brought 5,000 in dust and nuggets. In 1890 young Berry went to the Yukon country, and for several years he prospected along Forty-Mile Creek and other placer fields without success. Last Summer he returned to California, married, and took his bride with him to the North. Instead of remaining in Alaska he went over the boundary line into British possessions, and on the Klondyke he struck the richest pocket that was discovered. He said that the principal part of his 5,000 came from three hundred "box lengths." A "box length" is fifteen feet long and twelve feet wide. In one length he found a pocket of ,000. In another length was a nugget weighing thirteen ounces, next to the largest found in the diggings. Mr. Berry deemed his fortune sufficient for the present, and is taking his bride to his home in Fresno, where, in the July temperature of 110 above, she may find compensation for the 58 below of January on the Yukon.

One of the foolish strangers who gave no consideration to the advice of the old miners is Frank Phiscater. Last Autumn he went from Borada, Mich., to Alaska and thence to Klondyke. He was one of the first to discover gold in the fabulously rich placers of the new El Dorado. He employed nine men and in three months' time took out from two claims ,027. He still owns the claims, but having nearly 0,000 made in less than twelve months he deems himself entitled to a trip to Michigan.

A FEW OF THE PRIZES WON.

THEY HAVE MADE THEIR PILE AND BROUGHT IT HOME.

Clarence J. Berry 5,000

W. Stanley 115,000

F. Phiscater 92,000

F. G. H. Bowker 90,000

T. S. Lippy 60,000

K. B. Hollingshead 25,500

R. McNulty 20,000

Wm. Kulju 17,000

Joe Mamue 10,000

James McMann 15,000

Albert Galbraith 15,000

Neil MacArthur 15,000

D. MacArthur 15,000

Ber. Anderson 14,000

Robert Krook 14,000

Fred Lendesser 13,000

Alexander Orr 11,500

John Marks 11,500

Thomas Cook 10,000

M. S. Norcross 10,000

J. Ernmerger 10,000

Con Stamatin 8,250

Albert Fox 5,100

Greg Stewart 5,000

J. O. Hestwood 5,000

Thomas Flack 5,000

Louis B. Rhoads 5,000

Fred Rice 5,000

SOME GRAPES OF ESCHOL STORIES.

RICHER THAN SINBAD'S VALLEY OF DIAMONDS.

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