Letter from Jes H. Davis.    Seattle, Wash, May 8

Dear Appeal: Thinking your many readers would like to hear what had become of the party that left Paris on the 19th of April for Alaska, will say that we are in Seattle yet, but leave on schooner Bella on May 9, for the Yukon river, where we get possession of our river boat, "City of Paris." On it we will proceed up the Yukon as an independent company, doing as we please and going where we think it will be to our best interest. We have booked quite a number of passengers who will go up with us. We find a great many here who are going who seem to have no definite idea where they will land, so we make rates according to the distance traveled. There are very few who think of going to Dawson City. The impression prevailing here is that all going in by the river route will stop on the American side. As the companies are all well provided with one and a half to two years provisions, they will look after all the tributaries of the Yukon. You may expect to hear of some rich strikes being made as the men going in this year are much better equipped than any who have preceded them in the points of provisions and boats

A more determined lot of men I never met than some I have made the acquaintance of here, who are outfitting as we are. There is a kind of sympathetic respect that is very noticeable between us fellows. We work together in buying our goods and in every way possible.

We have bought all our outfit and it is being loaded. so we will be ready at any time. Did you know the outfitting of our company was a great big job? I think we went at it in a systematic way. We appointed committees to buy such articles as their business qualities and occupations would indicate. We had one to buy all the groceries; one clothing, boots and shoes and blankets; one hardware; one supplies for boats; one medicine. So you see each committee would have nothing to look after except the line of goods he was selected to buy and we could all be at work at the same time. If you good people could see what we have laid in to keep us from getting hungry, I think you would not lay awake at night thinking we were starving or freezing to death. If we get through with our cargo (and I see no reason why we will not) we will have plenty of everything but gold. Then if you could see the determination of our boys and their desire to have an opportunity to test their muscle you would think the gold question would be a secondary matter. In talking with several men who have just returned, they give very encouraging reports as to the richness of that cold country.

To those who would like correspond with any one of our party, will say, we have arranged with Mr. C. C. Bevins of Seattle to forward all our mail that comes here after we leave. So after this date you can address our party at Rampart City, Alaska, and we will be too glad to hear from all our good friends who may think of us. This leaves us all well and anxious to be on our way to the sunny north.

"The indians are very friendly here and seem glad to see the white men come into the country."

"Some of the boys went out a few days ago and brought in a large bear and two big salmon. One of the salmon weighed about 30 pounds and the bear about 500. I have eaten bear till I want to climb every tree I see and I have eaten fish until--well, I will tell no fish stories here.

The first news from the Missouri-Alaska Gold Co. since leaving Seattle, May 19, was received Sunday. The letters were written aboard ship and mailed on a passing vessel the 1st of June. The men were then 1050 Miles from Seattle. They expected to reach St. Michaels about June 20.

We publish below a diary sent by James B. Davis.

May 19 -- We left Seattle on the G. W. Waton, a 3 mast sailing schooner, with Capt. Paterson in charge. His wife and two baby girls -- one 2 1/2 years old and the other only 6 months old -- are aboard. We have 115 passengers and 600 tons of freight. R.O.Osbern and I are nicely quartered in the Captain's cabin. We have two nice bunks furnished with our own bed clothing.

May 20 -- We passed Victoria at 9:30 this morning. The sky is bright. The sea is calm. We are all on deck enjoying the sight of the snow-capped mountains on both sides of the straight. All sails are hoisted.

May 21 -- a storm has struck us. The sea is very rough. Nearly everybody is sea sick, and oh what a sickness it is. I feel like death would be a relief. Henry Wright and Tan Hassett are the only passengers able to be up. The sea lashed to fury by the high winds, presents a grand sight, but we are all too sick to appreciate it. The ship is making 15 miles an hour.

May 22 -- Storm still raging, but winds are in our favor. Sea still rough. We are still sick -- unable to be out and unable to eat.

May 23 -- Storm still on. Winds are high, rain is cold. Boys still sick. Passed the schooner Herd, this morning.

May 24 -- Cloudy and cold. Winds are contrary. Ship making poor time. Osborn and Beagles still sick. Balance of us able to be out and unable to get enough to satisfy our ravenous appetites. Feel like we could eat a grindstone.

May 25 -- Cold and raining. Osborn and Beagles still sick Winds favorable.

May 26 -- Favorable winds; ship is making fast time. Boys all on dock having a jolly time. The sea gulls are the only thing that help to break the monotony. They follow the ship in great numbers and feast on the refuse. Berke, Redes, Parks and Piaf visited our cabin and we spent an hour singing the good old songs we used to sing at home.

May 27 -- there is a dead calm on the ocean. Boys all on deck, fishing, reading and playing cards. Osborn and Beagles not much better. Pfaff broke the monotony by catching a sea gull on a fish hook. It measured 7 foot from tip to tip of wings, Its color of dark brown.

May 28 -- quite cold, with stiff breeze. Ship making good time. Nothing to break the monotony, except good news from Dan. The cook, who tells us we are to have cake for dinner. I can hear the boys passing the word around. We can hardly wait. 3 p.m. -- the cake was fine -- 1 piece to the man and a small piece at that -- but it was cake all the same.

May 29 -- This is Sunday, but it is so cold and rainy nobody can go on deck. Some of the boys are reading their Bibles, others playing cards, others sleeping. I have been reading the Bible to Osborn, as he is in bed yet. Beagles was at breakfast for first time, but is not well yet. The sighting of a school of whales caused great excitement on board. They came close to the ship and as they rise to the surface the boys shoot at them. We are 1050 Miles from Seattle.

May 30 -- this is the Decoration day, the flags were hoisted to the breeze and we all joined in singing "The Star Spangled Banner."

May 31 -- It is raining. Ship making slow time. Beagles and Dr. Allen on the sick list.

June 1 -- Bright morning. All on deck but Dr. Allen, who has the measles, but is much better. The rest of us are well and hearty. For lunch to-day we had dried salt beef, raw onions, cold biscuit and coffee, but, my, how we relished it. At 3 p.m. a vessel, bound for Seattle was sighted 11 miles away. Our captain signaled her to lay to until we could send mail. Everybody is writing home. This is the 13th day out. We have a jolly crowd and are getting along nicely. Think Dr. Allen will soon be up.

Dear Dixie: -- Thinking you would like to have my diary, as I have made it each day since leaving Seattle, here it is:

We left Seattle may 19, on the G. W. Watson, a 3 mast schooner, Captain Peterson in charge. He has his wife and two baby girls, one two years old the other 6 months. Was pulled out of the dock at 11 p.m., the tug boat Robarie pulling us to sea. We have 115 passengers and 600 tons of freight. R. O. Osborn and I have nice quarters in the cabin's cabin, two nice bunks which we furnish with our own bedding, which is very comfortable. We passed Port Townson at 5 a.m., passed Port Angelus on the left and Victoria on the right at 9:30. The morning is bright and calm, all on deck enjoying the scenery; the snow capped mountains on both sides of the strait ore grand; at 5 p.m. we are passing through the strait. Cape Flattery at 8 p.m. the tug left us. We have our sales hoisted and are sailing by wind.

21st struck by a storm high and sea very rough, making good time, 15 miles an hour, causing all on board to be sea sick, and oh, how sick we are and I feel like death would be a relief to me. ??? and Henry Wright are the only ones of our company who are able to be up. The sea presents the grandest Sight as it is lashed into fury by ????on winds that is possible to imagine but I am to sick to appreciate it as I would like to; 2 p.m. raining with high winds and rough seas; all still sick.

22nd, storm continues with hight wind and rain, rough sea, winds in our favor, making good time, boys still sick, not able to be out much or to eat;

23rd, storm still raging with high winds and rain, quite cold, boys still sick, passed the schooner Herd at 8:30a.m.

24th, morning cloudy and cold, contrary winds making slow time, raining; 1 p.m., bright, sun shining, boys on deck singing and playing on various instruments, Osborn and Beagles still sick, the balance of us can not get enough to eat;

25th, morning cloudy and quite cold, favorable winds, making good time; 4 p.m., deck deserted, Osborn and Beagles still sick;

26th, still raining and quite cold with favorable winds, making splendid time; 4 p.m., quit raining, boys all on deck having a jolly time, the sea gulls are the only thing that helps us to forget the monotony as they come in great numbers about the ship to feed on the refuse. They are very industrious in their work of getting everything that goes overboard. We had a pleasant visit by Parks, Buerks, Rodes and Paff in which we spent an hour singing the good old songs we used to sing at home. What a pleasure it is to let our thoughts go back to other days in song and the sweet memory of those happy and joyous days of the past. Three of our lady passengers are still quite sick. They have not seen a well moment.

27th, Dead calm; no winds to speak of. Making very slow time. Bright sunshine; boys all on deck; some fishing, others playing cards, others reading and singing. So the days pass by. Beagles and Osborn not much better; all wishing for a good wind. 4 p.m. Jeff has broken the monotony by catching a sea gull with a fish hook; we all rush round him to inspect the gull; it measured seven feet from tip to tip of wings, a dark brown color, a fine looking bird; after inspection we let it go again. ???;good wind: moving at a ??gait; all glad.

28th. Quite cold, with a stiff breeze; mooving[sic] at a good speed; nothing to break the monotony except the though that Dan, the cook, tells me we will have cake for dinner; it makes us feel as if we could not wait; I can hear the boys passing the word around, "Cake for dinner!" 3 p.m. Cake was fine, one piece to the man, not a very big one at that, but it was cake all the same; raining as usual; it rains every day, and it is well it does as we always get a breeze.

29th. This is sunday, but it is cold and rainy, so that no one can be on deck; good winds; making a good time; some of the boys are reading their Bibles, while others are playing cards, and others are sleeping; some are blaspheming the name of God in the most vulgar way possible; I have read the Bible alout to Osborn, as he is in bed yet; I have enjoyed the Christian, of April 15th, presented to me by Brother Smith of Seattle, I have read it through twice; Beagles was as the breakfast table for the first time but is not well yet. 7 p.m. We sighted a school of whales; we see them spouting; all are on deck; the whales come close to the ship: excitement is high; they come to the surface; the boys are shouting at them; it is a grand sight to see those great monsters plunging about in ther native element. What a relief to have the monotony broken by the sight of the wales; we are 1050 miles from seattle with favorable winds; we will reach Dutch Harbor in a few days, and how glad we will be.

30th. This is Decoration Day, but we have no flags up on the ship; we have two small boats on board; we hoist the flags to the breeze and sing the Star Spangled banner; sun shining bright; making slow time; boys all on deck, killing time as usual.

31st, Raining; making slow time; Dr. Allen and Beagles on the sick list; all the excitement today is the sight of some whales and Dan McDonald raffling off his watch; Tom Lun got the prize on No. 16.

June 1st. Nice, Bright morning; not much wind; slow time; all on deck except Dr. Allen, who has the measles, but is much better; Beagles is getting all right again; the rest of us all well and eating all we can get; we had for lunch today, salt beef, raw onions, cold biscuits and coffee, but how we did relish it. 3 p.m. We sighted a vessel returning to Seattle: the captain hails her and tells us he will send our mail by her if he can get close to her; she is 11 miles away, but we have signaled her to meet us; everyone is writing home as this is the first chance we have had to send a letter back since we left Seattle; this is the thirteenth day out from Seattle; we have a jolly crowd, and are getting along nicely; I think Dr. Allen will be up shortly, as he is much better today: I trust this will find you all well: how I would like to see the papers and know what was going on in the world, and how I would appreciate a letter from you; keep on writing -- direct to Rampart City, Alaska, after this; we hope to reach St. Michaels in about eighteen days; I have nice quarters on the ship; Captain Peterson and wife are very nice and kind to me. With best love to all my good friends and George and Lizzie and the children. Tell everyone to write.

I will have to close in order to mail this. I never felt better in health and trust this will find you the save. From your loving husband.

J. B. Davis

Dear Dixie -- I mailed you a letter yesterday. This has been a beautiful, bright and warm day. Henry Wright and I have been busy all day getting ready such things as we will need when we get on the river. Tom Murphy, Chris and Marcus have been washing. I think they had a big washing as it took them all day to get through. Several of the boys got letters today but I was not one of the fortunate ones. I took a little walk this morning west of the camp to get a view of the surrounding country. It was a grand sight. You can see but little snow now, the hills and valleys are green, cover with moss and some grass and as many beautiful flowers as I every saw in my life. I found a beautiful geranium and some of the finest varieties of ferns and I though how you would appreciate them.

July 6. the boys are all well today is the opposite of yesterday as it is quite cool and raining so much that we are all in our tents this evening. The postmaster here has been requested by our boys to give us our mail that we directed to Rampart City. He said he would charge us $5 to go through it as it was a large one. Ten of us put in 50 cents each and had him go through the mail. Some of the boys received letters.

There is a most gigantic combination here between the two transportation companies. The "N.A.T." and the "A.O." seem to have a monopoly of everything. As soon as we get away from here we will be out of their clutches. We have not yet paid them anything, nor do I think we will not buy anything from them. Tau and Osborn had the pleasure of an introduction and social chat with Joaquin Dewdon..... home he and .... pore be ?? I given olid???try were from the purest motives as he had but one object in view to give the unbiased truth and was not in the employ of an company . He gave as his opinion that Alaska was the greatest and richest mining country in the world today. I will go and see him before he leaves. Tan and Osborn report him as delicate looking with white beard and head but he says he is strong and vigorous.

July 7. We are all well. Another gloomy morning. While our boat has cost us more money than we expected she is worth all she has cost me and I think we will have no trouble in selling her for more than she cost us when we want to well, but that will not be this year.

Notwithstanding all our drawbacks, thus far we are determined to make a success of this enterprise as we were the day we left home, land I believe it will work out all right. I will never be satisfied until I see the end of it and if the good Lord will bless me with with health and strength, and the other boys feel the same way.

We are all as well and hearty as can be and peace and harmony prevail among us and so we feel that we are ready for any emergency that may arise.

We have a chance to get some letters out thorough a Mr. Coleman who is on his way to Seattle from Dawson and says he will gladly take letters and mail them at Seattle. I have mailed you three letters since I came here. The three contain my diary since June 1, but the boat has not got up yet from Dutch Harbor and the postmaster tells me he will not send out any mail until she returns, so it may be several weeks before you receive those three letters as the boat has to com and return. I will not tell you much in this only as things have transpired since the 4th, as that was the date of the last. We are expecting our boat every day as we have had letters from Brooks and he said she had started. We will go by the river as soon as she gets here. I have not had a letter from you yet. When you write direct to Rampart City, and keep on writing, I will get them some time. Tell everyone to write. I have not had a letter since I left Seattle. My love to everyone.

J. B. Davis

???Y, Alaska,...

April:-- I have been deprived of one great privilege of civilization for eight months -- the privilege of communication with the outside world -- but the mighty Yukon will soon be clear of ice and I will write you a letter to let our friends and your many readers know that we are still in existence. Our mail service has been very irregular and unsatisfactory. In fact we have had practically no service, and I think the Government ought to investigate the matter for it paid $62,000 to the mail contractors.

Rampart city is now a town of 2000 inhabitants. It has 16 stores, 18 saloons, 5 barber shops, shoemakers and blacksmiths, three sawmills, a planing mill and eating houses galore. In a word you can find anything you want here except the truth. We are in ignorance of what is transpiring in the outside world and people tell lies simply to have something to talk about. There are some of the most unscrupulous liars in Alaska the world ever saw, and still there are many good people here.

Quite a lot of improvement is going on in Rampart in the way of new cabins, side-walks, etc. The Big trading companies are making heavy investments, which shows that they have faith in the future of the place.

We have had a mild winter, so old timers tell me, but with all that the thermometer registered as low as 67 degrees below zero several times and was often down to 50 and 55 below. The cold, however is not piercing like Missouri and we though no more of 50 below than we would of zero weather at home. In spite of the cold, I lost only half a day from January 5 to March 20, and wore a coat only a few times. All that I wore outside my vest was a cotton jumper. The spring months have been delightful.

Osborn, Power and I spent the winter on Quail Creek. We sank 23 holes on four of our claims, making a total of 325 feet, and every inch of the ground had to be thawed. So you see gold does not grow on trees in Alaska, nor do you find it in every hole you put down. We met with some encouragement, but did not find gold in sufficient quantities to pay. The time one has to develop a claim makes it impossible to always locate the pay streak in one winter and because a claim will not pay the first winter is not always proof that it is worthless.

We have had our company divided all winter, working on different creeks and gulches. Thus far we have failed to locate the pay streak on any of them. We have claims on all the popular creeks in the district and I still have faith that we will yet make a strike.

The most prominent strike yet made was on the K????? River, on April 15, but it was too late to develop it this season. On one claim a pay streak 90 feet wide was located. Gold in paying quantities was found at a depth of 10 feet. We won claims 9 and 10 on this creek, besides a number of others on other creeks in the same district. Some miners claim that this district is the richest in Alaska. Property sells at good prices and is in demand.

Considerable gold has already been taken out, and the clean up on Hunter, Little Nimook and Hoosier will begin in a few days and rich returns are expected. Many others, like ourselves, have worked hard all winter and have no visible returns for their labor except experience, but I still belive [sic] this district will prove very rich.

S????? ??t ??? bu??? will start back to Far??? as work on the ice gives out Hour?, Rodes; Osborn, Murphy, Al???, Barrett, ????? and Fields have declared their intention to go home. Some of them say they are thoroughly disgusted with Alaska and can see nothing good in it. Old timers say this class of prospectors have cold feet. Some of us, however still have faith in Alaska and will give it further trial. We have had good health, good appetites, plenty to eat and comfortable quarters, and to me the time has passed very rapidly. As to our boat, will say we have selected a committee to meet Brocke and Gordon as On Missouri and they will do with the relief to their judgment as for the best interest of the entire party. We???? they will operate in on meth will be determined whn?? they get together and ?:??? the situation and conditions they will have to ????

The river cleared of ice at this point on May 17 last hear and the ice began to break up to-day, May 25, this year. Everything indicates that the season will be much later this year than last year, as the weather is still quite cool. The banks of the river are lined with ice 10 to 20 feet thick and no less we have a greater rise in the river than indications now point to it will be some time before boats could land, even if they could come to this point.

Flour is selling at $5 per cwt, lard 30c per lb, canned goods 50c to 75c per lb etc; eating houses all charge $1 per meal; all drinks except water, 50c each; lumber dressed on one side $160 per 1000 feet; undressed lumber $150 and second grade $125; tobacco $2.50 per lb. Laborers in town get $2.50 to $5 a day and board. At the summer diggings they get $10 a day and board themselves. Provisions are plentiful in town, and will be abundant in the fall, when prices will be lower.

A great many prospectors will leave here this season, but many new ones are expected.

Murphy, Hill, Dry, Rodes and Brook came over the trail from the Keystok in March and are still with us. Their reports from that district is very discouraging and they have no desire to return.

On McGraw's claim on Little Minook yesterday three men took out 141 ounces of gold in 8 hours. That dump, it is estimated, will yield from $250,000 to $500,000. Other claims in that district are cleaning up well.

This leaves me all well. I will close with best wishes to the good people of old Monroe and hope that we will soon receive a copy of the Appeal.

Jas. B. Davis.

Rampart City, Alaska, November 6 -- It is now 1 p.m. and it is 30 degrees below zero; this morning it was 40 degrees below. Inside we are comfortable, but we must be careful on going out, even for a short time. I wish you could have seen Dr. Allen and myself yesterday hauling wood on the sled with the dogs. They are well trained and love to work, setting up a howl as soon as they see the harness. The dog, or "karmoochy," as the indians call hem, is a "howling" success. We pull the wood from off the mountainside, and it requires some dexterous movements to keep the man at the "gee-stick" from being smashed to pieces under the load and it takes a world of wood to keep us going. No estimate can be placed on the value of the claims at this season. The next three months will determine the fact. I know conditions here are much better than they were a year ago. There are so many more people and comfortable homes. If a few good finds are made in the gulches around here this winter this will be the finest places in all the country to make money next season, but it all depends on that one thing. Hundreds of men are at work here and is seems as if some of them ought to strike the "pay streak." We are fortunate in having two cooks. Mr. Thompson of Santa Fe is as good a cook as Eddie. What do you think of a saw mill running when the thermometer is 40 degrees below? It is running now and I can hear it buzzing. The river is very low and frozen over tight. They say the ice is 20 feet thick. One evening this week we invited Obe and Galen Frye of Plattsburg, Mo, over and we had pop-corn nice with salt and butter on it. We ate a dish pan full. Who says Alaska is not civilized?

Sunday, Nov 13 -- Since last Sunday our experiences have been varied. Thursday morning bright and early Dr. Allen, Jones, Eddie and myself started down the river with the dogs and a load of provisions for Garnett creek, 30 miles distant. After a very cold and tiresome journey, we reached a road side cabin about dark, had our supper, consisting of tea, bacon and light bread, frozen hard as a brick, which we had to thaw out before we could eat. We retired for the night by sleeping flat on the ground, but we slept the sleep of the just. Eddie and I returned that day, leaving Dr. Allen and Jones to work the claims until Christmas. We walked along all day, reaching home long after dark, very tired and sore. Six of us go this week to Quail Creek to work our two claims there. We hope very much to hit the pay streak there. Our claims now number 23. We ought to get something out of that number. We are all well and eat like bears. We had a sumptuous dinner to-day, consisting of soup, bacon, beans, cabbage, biscuit, toast, currant pie, chocolate cake and coffee. I can now drink tea and coffee without sugar. We have considerable to encourage us but it may all fail. The men here in this country who dissipate and drink whiskey can't go out on the trail much, besides few can drink as it costs 50 cents a drink or $8 per quart bottle. I so often wonder where Brooks and Gordon are. We; infer that the boat is tied up at St. Michael for the winter but can not think they would stay there.

Nov 15 -- Time gets along rapidly because we are always at work. We have bought very little, make everything we use, for instance, all our stoves to use on the trail, in the cabins and on the claims, all our sleds, good ones, too. We were offered $35 for one of our sleds, but it takes so much time and labor, which we can not spare from our claims, as outside work on them would cost us $10 a day. Our mines will have to be worked. As soon as we reach them, we will have to sleep out doors until we can put up cabins. Think of sleeping out doors with the thermometer 35 degrees below. I don't see how men stand what they do but they stand it and get along well. I weigh only 106 pounds now. All of us are in good spirits. You may not believe it, but one lady here brought her piano. Violins, guitars and mandolins are plentiful.

Sunday, Nov 20--It has turned suddenly cold 86 degrees below. It is too cold for the trail. Messrs. Beagle and Wright are busy in the shop and we got up and kept the room nice and warm. Our heater takes a 36 inch stick of wood. It is shaped like a barrel. stands on end and heats quickly. I am sitting in my shirtsleeves now. Mr. Davis and I are putting in our spare moments making mukluks for all out of sail clothe. Three are quite a good thing to wear over all the other footwear, turning water and wind. Las night after dark our next door neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Chanbers, happened in on us and stayed about an hour. We had not eaten until late and did not have any supper in sight, but had pumpin and peach pies and some cookies and I made tea in a few moments and we made them feel very much at home. I am so glad we can all keep in such good spirits. I know you will all think of us when you eat your Christmas dinner. We hope to eat our next one with you, though some of the men are talking of staying much longer.

Rampart City, Dec. 4.--We arrived home from Quail Creek yesterday, having heard that the mail from St. Michael had come. I got in all 40 letters for all the boys. I mean Koykuk crowd and all. Mr. Wright had one posted as late as Sept. 18th. Mail leaves for St. M. today so you see our mail facilities are quite good. We don't have to pay anything for letters now. Mark Rodes and Tom Murphy each have a stack of letters two feet high. I will now tell you something of our experiences on this last trip out. I had thought enough, but they all pale as compared to these. We started out expecting to make the trip in 2 days, but we did not reach it until Friday night after dark, having started on Monday. Had we not had our little stove made by Wright and Beagles, we surely would have suffered. The first two nights we had cabins all to ourselves, but on reaching the Cod cabin at the foot of the summit there were fourteen of us stayed there. A number of men were there and had been there for several days because the weather was too bad to attempt to cross. That evening we put two of our sleds about half way up. The next morning, we had our breakfast and started before it was light. All we had for our supper the night before was tea and bread. This was Thanksgiving day. Though advised not to try it, we worked, tugged and bulled, without any dinner, and got across, reaching a cabin at nightfall. The wind blew the most terrific gale I ever experienced and cold enough to freeze one in a moment. Some of the men froze their cheeks and noses but I did not get cold at all. The cabin we reached was small and open, a raging storm was on and stowing hard. I walked to another cabin and slept on the floor. On Friday night, our last night out, we had no cabin to go to. We put up our tent and the stove in it. The snow was knee deep and only four of us could sleep in the tent. Two had to sleep outside, with the sky for a roof and the thermometer at 30 below, the wind blowing a gale. We got to work on our cabin Saturday noon and moved in Tuesday. It was then 56 degrees below. I do not see how we stood it, but we did.

We covered the roof with moss and dirt, which we had to thaw out by placing on a rack built of logs with a fire under it. Friday Messrs. Wright, Beagles, and myself start back. Thompson and I go back to-morrow with a load of provisions and Wright and Beagles go to Mynook. The winter trail is always on the ice and snow. On .....ant and dangerous. The geysers overflow the ice and one is so liable to get his feet wet. In that case lhe must stop, build a fire wipe his feet dry and put on dry socks, otherwise he may freeze and be entirely disabled. We have not heard from the Keyokuk boys yet, though Indians come over every few days. We don't want you all to get worked up. It will be time enough to write you about it when we get it. It is now 3:30 and we have had the lamp lighted for nearly an hour. It is 7:30 before it is good daylight. We get up at 5 o'clock and go to work at 6:30. In ??? we have made a reputation ????? the business then to the "klondying crowd from Missouri".

Albert Holmes, who came from Hannibal a year ago, is here. He has made nothing. Ollie Osborn is here, too. They are going out this fall. They have located some claims, but that don't amount to anything here as there are so many blanks. A man from up the river tells us that good strikes have been made on Quail creek, a tributary of Little Minook. It was yielding 2 to 3 ounces to the pan. We don't know how true this is, for people up here such blankety-dashed liars and rascals you can't believe half you hear.

Old man Ware, head man of one of the transportation companies, was coming down the Yukon the other day and met the river boat Nearly loaded with whisky and hardware. They were 300 miles up stream but he told them the Klondike people needed grub, instead of whiskey, and made them come back and load here with grub.

Tom Murphy has lost 33 pounds and I weight only 170, but never felt better.

It is getting late and we are wasting time here, and the river will freeze up soon. I am going up the river, though, boat or beast, and try my luck. Send mail to Rampart City or Minook River

---Chris. Buerk

Moberly: Mo, Aug-21, '05, The Paris boys that ????? over the Chit??? wake last spring ? Rampart City, Alaska, located at the mouth of Mission Creek. They are perfectly well except Mr. Fields and he was a great deal better when I left him the 8th of July. he was up and had a good appetite and was feeling quite well.

Mr. Fields was keeping camp while the others were up on A??? Creek representing claims on the halvet and prospecting them at the same time. None of them had anything that looked like there was anything in their ?pan? while I was there except Jim Johes whose claim had colors and some coatee gold on bed rock but not in paying quantities. While that is a good indication that there was paying dirt near and a good claim on this creek is forth from twenty to fifty thousand dollars. They have as good a chance as any who go there. But I don't think there will be more than one in five hundred, if that, who will make la success at prospecting or day labor. For every crack man son stayed over the entire to three month, where there has been any sign of pay dirt or good ??? found, There are not over 50 claims ???? and N.W.T. that pay to hire men to work them, and they only employ from six to twelve men to each claim, but there are several hundred that will pay wages to work them. If a man owns them himself. The first claims given me that paid to hire help was thirty-five in the Klondike near Dawon, 6 on Forty Mile creek, 8 on American Creek, 7 at Circle City, and a few at Minook. My opinion is that if a man cares anything for his health and money he had better remain at home. It is the grandest fake ever perpetuated on the people.

Repentently, W. D. Fasslan

D.C. Besey, master of the Standard Oil company's steamer Oil City, has compiled a code of signals for St. Michaels and Yukon river boats. Considering the fact that the Yukon is very wide and boats may naturally be some distance apart, the necessity of a code of signals will be apparent and undoubtedly masters and pilots will gladly adopt the code herewith presented:

"Have mail," 4 short blasts, Answer, 3 short blasts and stop.
"All well on bard, " 1 long, 2 short; if same for answer give same signals 1 long, 2 short.
"If sick on board"; 1 long, 1 short, 1 long.
" Want assistance,"; 3 short blasts.
"Want pilot or guide," 1 short, two long"
"want engineer," 3 long, 1 short"
"want fuel, " 1 short, 3 long, 1 short.
"will come to rescue" 5 short blasts.
"impossible to assist," 1 short 1 one 1 short.
" is river falling ?????" 1 long, 1 short, 3 long
"yes." 2 short
"no" 3 short.
"how much is water on Yukon flats?" 3 long 3 shorts.
Answer: 3 feet, 3 short, 2 feet, 1 short 1 long, ???? 1 short; 5 feet 5 short.
"repeat signal" 1 long, 2 short, 1 long, 2 short

We are now camped on Lake Linderman whipsawing lumber for our boat. Good boat lumber is very scarce and hard to find. Lumber companies have preceded the Klondikers and laid violent hands on all good timer of this region. Our goods are cached on Lake Bennett, 6 miles from Lake Linderman. These are beautiful little lakes. The ice is 4 feet thick on these lakes. The weather continues very warm and stormy, although for three days in succession we have had bright and beautiful days, not a cloud to be seen flating over these lonely mountains. We will remain in camp here until our lumber is ready for the boat, then we will send it in flats to Bennet, and if all goes well we will be ready to set sail when the ice goes out, which will be about the first of June. The trail is in a bad and dangerous condition. Men are forced to carry their goods over rough and dangerous passes. The ice and snow in all the canyons have gone out and left where there was a few days ago fine sleighing for the boys a beautiful mountain stream rusing on to the lakes.

I suppose there are ten thousand men building boats on Lake Linderman and Lake Bennet. I see some strong and fine little boats all ready for the voyage down the lake and river. Some of the weaker crafts will be forced upon the treacherous rocks and dashed to pieces.

Sickness still prevails to an alarming extent. Scarecely a day passes but what I hear them say, "he is dead." It is a sad and trying moment, sometimes when we stand at the tent door of a Missouri boy and hear them say "my comrad is dead." Since the foundation of the world there has been no suche scenes witnessed among the civilized nations of the earth, as this mad and foolish rush to the gold fields of the frozen north. Back in the states men thought all they had to do was to get into the rush and be among the first on the field and hunt something to put the stuff in and return home rich. Here you find them fighting and scrambling for a footing on the trail, nothing in sight but storms, sickness and death. Fifty per cent of those who arrived at Dyea when we did have sold out and gone home, and half of those who are now on the trail will be at home by August 1. It is impossible for those at home in the States to understand the magnitude of this foolish rush. While I am still firm in the faith that those who can reach the interior with health, provisions and will stand faithfully to the work in hand will win at last, yet I am forced to say in all candor and honesty that there is not one in a hundred who will succeed, from the simple fact that there is not one in then thousand who understood the real condition of affairs along the trail and in Alaska, nor had more than a birds-eye view of our presant surroundings nor could look into the dim distance and see an avalance of snow engulf sleeping men and women in their tents; and then by the dim light of a tallow candle look over the long row of the peace-ful sleepers for a dead comrad[sic]. In some cases you would see a father hunting for a son, and then you would hear one ask for a brother. When scenes of this character confonts men they become faint hearted and are ready to sacrifice all interest in gold fields undeveloped, for the old love nest at home.

Yesterday morning from my tent I could hear a young man bidding his comrads good bye. The crowd cheered and wished him god-speed as he faced about to go back to a widowed mother. Here is once place at least where one may learn the hearts of men. If a fellow is of an immoral character, or has a wicked and vicious nature it will soon assert itself. Many have no shame, and care nothing for the presence of ladies; some neither regard God or man. However, there are some fine, intelligent, christian men traveling this rough and rocky way. The days are now very long’ twilight lasts for two hours. What a beautiful and glorious scene as I stand and see the fading sunlight deepen in darkness of night on the icy mountains.

There is a great many women going over the trail, many of them wandering around at their own sweet will, all dressed in male attire. The news reached us yesterday that Dawon City had been vacated on account of a new discovery near by. We intend to prospect some in the neighboring hills and gulches before we leave this vicinity. The reports still continue good from the interior of Alaska. D. M. Fields.

Dear Appeal: Thinking perhaps a few lines would be of interest to those who read the Appeal, we will try and write a short letter to the old home paper. Fisher, Jones, Thompson and myself left Eagle City for Nualto Island on the 2d of this month, after representing our claims of American Creek during the month of July, having received a letter from T. B. Bassett to meet our party at that point. Our trip down the river was indeed a pleasant journey, nothing to mar or disturb the peace of our little party. We made the 1,200 miles in 11 days. On our way down we met 40 steamers, all bound for Dawson City. There we hoped to meet Bassett with our boat, imagine our surprise when we failed even to receive a letter telling us of their whereabouts. We looked over the long list of names posted on the outside of the office, hoping to find one name telling us that there was a letter in the office from some dear ones at home. With bowed heads we retraced our steps back to our little Yukon boat, and seen, again we were riding upon the swift current of this grand old river, determined to make our way to St. Michaels, where we know we would meet the boyes. On the morning of the 15^th we sighted a boat far down the river taking on wood. We were not long in finding out that it was not the City of Paris, Instead, it was the Minneapolis, having on bard a dredging party on their way to the Klondike river. As was our custom on meeting boats we pulled in to make some inquiry of our party, but before we had time to ask any questions we had the pleasure of looking into the face of our old friend, Tandy Bassett, who had in company with him Buerk, Murphy, Rodes, Pfaff, Hill, Dry, Holbrook, and Crigler, all on their way to the Klondike river. Bassett soon told us their trouble with Capt. Tolbert and his crowd, stating that they had left the remainder of our party at St. Michaels in waiting for our boat, and as soon as hse arrives they will proceed on their way to the Minook river, where they expect to prospect this winter, our boys thinking the best to divide our party for productive work during the coming winter. Fisher and I have joined the Koyukuk party, we expect to go up the river 600 miles near Arctic City. J.A. Jones, our old friend, who has been the life of our little party since we left Tacoma, chose to return home, saying "boys, I must see my little girl before Christmas," having promised to return in the early spring. We bid him farewell, and as we retraced our steps he, in the company with Thompson, are on their homeward journey.

On our way down we stopped at many of the Indian villages, all of whom where engaged in fishing, laying in store a supply of fish for the long winter night wihich is now near at hand. These people are a sicly puny race, there seems to be some sort of a distemper among them which is carrying them off at a rapid rate. They have great reverence for their dead, all newly made graves are covered with canvass cloth. These people have known no religion save that which has been taught them by the Catholic priest. At the head of each grave there is a cross, telling the same story of the world over that the Catholic is faithful to his church. Good or bad, the seed that these people have sown in the hearts of these lonely dwellers of this night land will live till time is nore more with them. Many of our people will remember the priest who left the states in 1860 bto live and dwell with this strange race of people. Success has crowned his labors in a great measure. He has left with them his religion and a higer state of civilization, and , withall , he has infused in the very life of the people a system of industry and economy which they would never have knwn save only through the efforts of the priest and his faithful followers.

At present we are making very slow progress up the river, having to stop and cut all of our wood to make steam, howeever, the boys are in high sprits, all well and hearty. We hope to make port before the long winter sets in, for we must yet build cabins to live in during the winter and during our stay in the Koyukuk country. We have very encouraging news from that district, and hope at last, with all of our ill luck to make a little fortune and be able to return to our homes in the fall of ’99 wiser and better boys.

In all probability this will be our last letter to the Appeal during the coming winter. Just tell our wives and sweethearts that we will just hang up our old socks on Christmas eve, as we did in other days, and if on the morning of Christmas we find no dainties, nor tokens of love therein, we will know they remember us all the same.

I was ready to cry when we met Tan. He had left the grip that my wife had sent me, in his care, at S. Michaels, thinking that he would not meet me on his way up the river. I know that there was letters in it from my wife and children, and possibly one from you. They only had one Appeal with them, and I read every word, advertisement and all. Have all my mail directed to Minook during the winter. I have only received one letter from home since I left. My health is excellent at present. I have no fears but what I can pass through the winter all right now.

D. M. Fields.

After spending five days in Dawson City, we started for this poing on June 18, arrived here on the 18^th. Eagle City is only five weeks old, but prospectore are flocking to it in great numbers every day. There is much gold around this region, but this section is still an unknown quantity. It ??????kon near the mouth of Mission Creek. American creek empties into the mission a mile and a half above here.

Many think claims around here will yield plentiful gold. Jones and two more of our party came in last night after a prospecting trip, but-found nothing. I think I will stake a claim in a few days if I am able to travel..

The country around here is very mountainous and rough and mining is very difficult. The ground is frozen too solid for digging and it is necessary to thaw it by making a great fire over the place you wish to work.

I have been panning some. Found some "color," but nothing that would pay.

Have heard nothing from Bassett and the boys. Am looking for them every day, though they may not get here for a lmonth. The Yukon has fallen 20 feet in the last three weeks, but still is very swift. Four boats from Circle City have reached Dawon so far, and one of them has gone back. I tell you it would have done this crowd good to have gone aboard, enroute to Paris. How we sigh for a good home-made dinner. Bacon and beans get mighty tiresome.

The sun shines all the time now. There is no night at all now, but after a while it will be night and no day. Forest fires have3 been raging all around here. The flames seemed to reach the sky. The smoke is so dense we can hardly see 100 feet.

Jones and I are going down the river in the morning to cut some cord wood for our boat, and will be gone several days. I have not been able to do much more some time on account of getting my back hurt in the White Horse rapids while trying to save our boat when it was about to sink. We saved here but another one struck a rock and three men were drowned before we could assist them.

Had I known when I left home what I now know, I could have made $10,000 and been on the way home right now. I would have brought a lot of supplies with me and sold them before the prices went down. Everything is low now. When the boys come in if we find that there is no money in the boat business, I will come back by Christmas, but if they are making money I will stay with them if my health will permit. The cold I took while in the icy waters of the White Horse rapids settled in my neck and back and keeps me weak. It is not dangeous, however, and I think I will be able to help Jones cut the wood. Dr. Allen will fix me up when he gets here. A doctor here won’t look at you for less than $50.

When I come back I am coming by way of St. Michaels. I could never walk back to Dyea. I have enough cash to bring me back in case the boys fail to come, but I’m sure they will get here by and by, and make good money, too.

Many are turning their faces homeward in disgust without making an effort to do anything, but we are going to make it pay if it is possible. Here is the bill of fare we want for dinner when we get back: Fried chicken, milk, biscuit, preserves, apples, tomatoes, ham, light bread, tea, cake and ice cream, strawberries and a good cigar.

I have some medicine that I bought at Tacoma, but I don’t know what it is, and am afraid to use it.

July 09, am feeling ever so much better today. We had moose meat for dinner. I bought three pounds from an Indian at $1 a pound and we ate it all at one meal. Mountain goat, sheep and bear are said to be plentiful up here.

I leave for American creek in the morning to stake a claim. – I will be gone a month, and will work the claim for all there is in it. We hear good reports form there.

D.M.Fields.

A Mr. Sinclair is starting back to Moberly and I will send this letter by him. I have been very poorly for some time. Dr. Fansler, of Moberly, has been with me and under his treatment I am improving. Have lost 25 pounds since leaving Sheep Camp.

Jones, Fisher, Hucker, and Thomson are out on claims they have located. Jones found good gold and will work it for all it is worth. Fisher and Jones have staked a claim for me and think it is a good one. As soon as I am able to make the trip I will have it recorded. The boys all came in on the 4^th of July and spent two nights with me. I still think we will make good money here. Gold seems plentiful.

Provisions are low now, but it will be as high as ever this winter. I am sure our boat will make us good money when she comes up.

Fish and game are plentiful around here, but very hard to get. I paid $1 a pound for fish and moose meat. If I had a net I could catch all the fish we could use.

So far nine steamers have come up the river. People are leaving this section by the thousand, most of them going down the river in little boats, expecting to take passage at St. Michaels for home. Jones and Fisher offered to bring me home, but I did not think I could stand the trip, and besides I wanted them to hunt gold.

I am cooking supper as I write this letter – stewing apples and making some surgar molasses. I have dried beef and make very good biscuit by mixing flour, baking powder, salt and water in the dishpan. We also have coffee and condensed milk.

Although the ground up here is frozen as far down as man has ever gone, we find many evidences that it was once a tropical country. The bones of a Mastodon were found near my claim. One of its tusks weighs nearly 100 pounds, and is 10 feet long. One tooth weighs 20 pounds.

Some men who died 11 years ago were taken up below here the other day. The bodies were frozen as hard as rock and perfectly preserved. When exposed, however, they turned black and shrunk up.

Will write you again soon. Regards to everybody.

D. M. Fields.

The Kyokuk crowd of the Paris Klondike party has at last been heard from. The following letter from Tan Bassett to J. B. Davis at Rampart Cisty was forwarded by Mr. Davis to Mr. Bassett’s wife in this city. A long letter, dated Dec. 25, was also received from Mr. Davis. It contains in substance the same as the Osborn letter of three weeks ago, and besides reporting the Rampart party all in good health and spirits, mentions the fact that on Christmas day the thermometer registered only 8 degrees below.

Bergman, Alaska, Dec 8. ’98.

Missouri Boys.
We are all together again, that is, we who ocame up the Koyukuk river. Murphy and his crowd came in a few days ago and report a fine country up on the Allenkackat. They have located about 32 claims in that country and think they have some good ones. They will go back up in that country before long.

We are all well and hearty. None of us have had a sick day since we left you. Murphy now weighs 188 pounds. He started out from home at 353 but he is better for it. Mark weighs 178 when he left home 147. Chris is a great deal smaller. I weight 170, 15 lbs. Short, but all o.k. We are working our mines every day in fine gravel but not to bed rock yet. We are down 30 odd feet and still going. Soon as we strike bed rock, if we find nothing, we have here at this camp will move 60 to 80 miles above Tramway Bar on North and Middle Fork.

You never saw a crowd of boys as glad to get back to us in your life as they were. They said that if they had been going into Paris they would not have felt any better. There has not been a thing truck in this part of the country neither up or down, yet every now and then they will start a report of finds, etc., but there is nothing it it as yet.

Water has kept most of them from getting down to bed rock but we have not been bothered much we can colors whenever we pan but are quite light.

We are hoping to strike it rich when we reach bottom. If we make a hit will notify you at once by sending a man over.

Hoping you are all well and that we may all strike it rich, with regards to all, I remain yours truly,

T. G. Bassett.

Brooks, the member of the Missouri –Alaska Gold Co. who started from Seattle with the company’s boat in August, was in Paris Saturday consulting with E. G. Grimes and others interested in the company. Brooks contracted with the owner of a steamer tug to tow the boat to St. Michaels for $8000. They encountered a terrible storm and for 52 hours the City of Paris was in great danger of being swamped. They put in to Dutch Harbor, about 600 miles this side of St. Michaels, and for some reason the owners of the tug refused to proceed to the Yukon. So the City of Paris is still a long way from is destination and will not be able to get into the Yukon until after the middle of June. Brooks has returned to Seattle and will leave for Dutch Harbor by the first steamer that sails for Alaska in the spring. In spite of all the reverses our gold seekers have met with, Brooks is still confident that things will yet come their way.

Col. O. H. Snell got in from Seattle, Wednesday, where he had been looking after the interests of the Missouri-Alaska Gold Co. He also saiys that their boat will be in shape to be towed to St. Michaels in a week. It will be finished up there, and is expected to start up the Yukon before Sept. 2.

The troubles of the company were caused by contracting with an irresponsible boat builder. The Paris people a week or so ago had to raise $3500 to finish paying for machinery he had put in the boat, and which had been garnisheed by Seattle merchants.

The builder also contracted to transport the company to St. Michaels. The boat he chartered was garnisheed after the boys had gone aboard. They had to unload all their freight and take passage on a sailing schooner chartered by R. O. Osborn. They lost the $2600 they had paid for transportation.

Col. Snell says the company will probably make one trip up the Yukon that will probably net them $25,000.

It will cost the company $1500 to have the boat towed to St. Michaels.

Elliott Grimes received a letter from Brooks and Gordon, who left Seattle about Aug. 15 with the city of Paris, informing him that they were at Umslaka, 600 miles from St. Michaels and would have to remain there until next season. They stated that they had been in a terrible storm that raged for 52 hours, during such time they thought the City of Paris was lost several times. They finally reache Umalaska in good shape. It will now be impossible for the City of Paris to reach the Yukon until the ice goes out about the 1^st of next July.

The Perils end and the Kondikers company is rejoicing. The prospects are that $5,000 of the money expended on their boat, now at Dutch Harbor, will be reclaimed. Capt. Tolbert, who took the contract for towing the boat to St. Michales, failed to fulfill his contract, and has never claimed the $5,000 deposited in a Seattle bank to guarantee his pay. Suit has been instituted as a necessary formality and the company will beyond doubt get its money. The parties who toed the boat to Dutch Harbor also forfeited their money, as theyd failed in the contract to take it to St. Michaels. Mr. Brooks was here Saturday seeing about the matter. Capt. Gordon is with the boat.

Below will be found extracts from letters written by Henry Write to his wife:

On Claim No. 11, America Creek, 18 miles from Eagle City, Sunday evening, July 2, 1899 –

Again I will write you a few lines. I came out here Thursday night and Friday, The hardest trip I have ever made. It rained on us most of the way and the grass, weeds and brush all being wet we were wet through and through all the way. The trail was the worst I ever saw. The American trail is bad most all the way and the top of the bank is the summit of a mountain range, so you can imagine how the walking is. In many places we have to hang on as it were to get along at all, but we got along alright and in fairly good shape. We found considerable work being done on American and there is no doubt in my mind but what there is gold here. The gulch we are on is very narrow and steep but if we find pay it is apt to be rich and confined to a very narrow channel. We began sawing lumber yesterday for sluce boxes. It will take us 3 or 4 days to saw enough, then we will begin work on the gulch in earnest and if I find we can get pay we will continue till the water gets too low. That will probably be the middle of the last of September.

We are to have greens for dinner. We had two messes while in Eagle. We use Sourdock principally and it is very fine. We have lots of very fine ice cold water and ice, too, if we want it. I hope and trust that ??? will ????? way this year.

Friday Night, July 9. – I got two long letters from you on the 4^th. There were both written in March – one the 8^th and the other 29^th. Was rejoiced to get them.

Well at least I can say we are finding some gold. We made our boxes and began to shovel and this evening we cleaned up and probably have $75 and are just now beginning to get things in shape to work. We found one piece worth about $16, and the rest smaller from 50c to $1, so if it gets better as we go, as we expect, we may be able to get a grub stake any way; yet one never knows anything about gold until they get it in their pan. If this proves to be worth our time I expect to stay with it till September. Haven’t heard anything from the boys at Rampart yet.

In Camp on America Creek, July 9, Three of us took out $75 or $80 in gold yesterday. I picked up two pieces that were very fine – one worth $16 to $18, the other $3 to $3.50, so it is evident there is a little gold here will …..or whether"

The day. That would … for Rampart or Dawon but is considered very warm for this place. I hear the Yukon is about 10 feet higher now than it was this time last year. There have been few boats up from St. Michaels but I hear they brought up second class matter so I fear they will not do me any good. We have not been able to find out whether or not the Cape Nome report is authentic but I am most certain the report is a steamboat boom. Havent heard from any of the boys since we came here and I am anxious to hear from them all and to know what they have done and intend to do. Well the boys came back and had a bear with them. They killed him with a pick handle, skinned him, and brought him in and we ate bear meat for the first time. He was a young one and some how his mother was not with him and wen he saw the boys he climed up a snag and they punched him off and killed him. He maid no noise so they were not bothered with the old one; he would have weighed when alive probably 50 lbs. We ate the meat at two meals – 5 of us at one meal and 6 at the other. There is lots of game close here and if I had the time and a gun I would try my.....????

Jim Jones, who left Paris on March 1 with Dennis Fields, Jim Fisher, Gus Hacker and John Thompson, on a prospecting tour of the Alaskan gold fields in the interest of Missouri-Alaska Gold Co. of Paris, has returned to his family near Monroe City. He spent Saturday in Paris and brought letters from nearly all the Paris boys in Alaska.

Jones shows no effects of the hardships he has undergon. He went in over the Chilcoot pass and came out by boat, and says that the overland route is the quickest and safest way to get to Dawson City.

Speaking of his trip he said to an Appeal man:

"The party I went with fared better than any party I saw on this trip. We had an abundance of supplies and always had a good variety of good substantial grub. Our stay at Dawson City was very brief. We were looking for claims and none were to be had in that vicinity. Provisions were at fabulous prices while we were there. The commonest kind of a meal cost $2.50. Had our boat been amoung the first to get up the river, as we expected, our company would have made an immense lot of money.

"From Dawson City we went to Eagle City where we "jumped" five claims—that is, we took up five claims that had been staked by other parties who failed to work them after one year, causing them to be subject to entry again.

"We worked on our claims until July 28, but made very little headway because water seaped in almost as fast as we could take the dirt out. We found a little gold in one of the claims. The biggest nuggots we took out were worth about $1.25. Where our claims are located bed-rock is only from three to eight feet below the surface.

"Unless we return to our claims by next July our title to them will lapse and the first man that comes along can stake them.

"On July 28 we had a letter from Tan Bassett telling us to join him at Rampart City. We started as soon as we could break camp. When we got to
Rampart Bassett and party were not there. We were discouraged at the way things had turned out, and all started home. When about 300 miles above St. Michaels we met Bassett and party on the Minneaspolis. Fields, Fisher and Thompson went aboard and decided to go on with the company. I determined to come on home, and made the rest of the trip to St. Michaels in our skiff alone.

"I was at St. Michaels until September 5. I enquired for our boat but could hear nothing of her, and saw nothing of her on the way to Seattle. I think, though, she will make the trip all right.

"Would it pay to take supplies into Alaska this winter? I think not. Scores of boat loads of supplies have been taken up the river this season, and provisions are so plentiful that they can now be bo’t up there cheaper than a man could afford to take them in.

"With all its drawbacks, Alaska is full of opportunities for men with good constitutions who have a little money to invest. When our party was at Dawon City a claim that was known to be rich was offered for sale at $60,000. It has yielded $3000 a day every day this season.

"There are various reports about eh Koyukuk country for which our company is now headed. Some sa some very rich strakes have been made; others report it no good.

"The upper Yukon begins to freeze in September. Arctic City, for which our boys were headed the last August is away up on the Arctic Circle and it looked to me like it would push them to get there before the river closed. The boys were in fine health and spirits when I saw them."

Mrs. Henry Wright of Santa Fe, came up to Paris, Saturday, for the purpose of having a talk with the returned Klondikers. She spent an hour in the Appeal office and informed us that she had received 65 letters from her husband since he left home to seek fortune in the frozen north. Mr. Wright writes to his wife and children every Sunday. And she has received every one of his letters, she thinks, except one. Many of the letters were written on birch bark which is as smooth and nice to write on as fine writing paper. Mrs Wright also has a small nugget of gold that Mr. Wright sent her. This tiny nugget and the birch bark letters she prizes very highly.

Ollie Osborn, fresh from a 14-month stay in Alaska, visited Mrs. R. O. Osborn in baris the first of the week. He and albert Holmes of Hannibal went into Alaska with the first rush and located 7 claims around Minook, where Jas. B. Davis and party are now located. Very little prospecting was done around Minook last season, he says, because most of the prostpectors were not prepared to do the work. Some good strikes were made, however. The biggest nugget found being worth $210. The permanence of Minook, he thinks, will depend on this season’s work. If rich strikes are made she will bloom; if not she will go down.

Bed rock is 25 to 30 feet below surface and can only be reached by thawing the ground about 18 inches being a big days work in a hole 5x8 feet. All the gold is found on bed rock.

We often encountered great rocks in digging. To remove them we med them as hot as possible with fire, then poured icy water upon them. It made them crumble like dry clay.

Those who went to Minook this fall to locate claims will find every gulch to 25 miles of the place staked.

The Keykuk country for which Tan Bassett and party are headed promises good claims, but as 30 boats have gone up that river this season it will be well filled with prosepectors.

Alaska’s future depends largely upon this winter. If rich strikes are made she will continue to boom; if not, she has seen her best days. My claims will be worked this winter and I belive some of them will pay. In addition to these, I grub-staked a man and sent him into the Koyukuk country.

I doubt if the boat owned by the Paris company will pay if she ever reaches the Yukon, because 60 steamers are on the river aleready and unless great strikes are made soon the business will be comparatively small next season. Steamers already on the river can make two trips to Dawson City before outside boats can enter the mouth of the Yukon, which cannont be entered until about July 1.

Last witner at Rampart we paid $150 for a little stove, $1 a pound for salt, $1 each for candies and $25 for a spade or pick. Supplies will be much cheaper this time I think.

I saw the Paris boys about August 15. They were in good spirits. Will I go back? Yes—If my claims yield well; no—if they prove worthless"

Mr. Osborn had a small sack of nuggets taken out near Minook. He says that only men with iron constitutions and stern determination will leave a warm cabin and go out prospecting when the thermometer is 40 below zero.

Two more Klondikers Return

Tan Bassett and Marcus Rodes reached Paris at noon Wednesday after 20 days on the way from Cape Nome, Alaska. Their coming was a complete surprise to their families. Both men look stouter and better than when they left Paris 17 months ago. To an Appeal man Mr. Bassett said:" Early in August Dr. Allen, Abe Bill, Lee Dry, Marcus Rodes, Rube Holbrook and I went to Cape Nome, 90 miles above St. Michaels, and found it to be the richest district in Alaska, The shore for 10 or 15 miles was lined with tents and men were busy washing fine gold from the sand taken from the beach. Three Swedes washed out $1600 in one day and everybody was making money. Five miles inland the gulches were yielding big nuggests and lots of them. Our party could get no claims but the beach was public property and we worked there for two weeks with good success. Our best day’s wages amounted to $439. As soon as the beach freezes, which will be very soon, work will cease until next summer. Living is very high and many miners are coming home because it is cheaper than staying up there. Meals cost $1 to $1.50; flour, $6 per owt; whisky, 50c a drink; cigars, 50c each. All our party intended to come in on the same boat, but its passenger list was full and Rodes and I were the only ones who could get aboard. The others expected to take the next ship for Seattle."

Back from the Klondyke.

George W. Ridgeway, of the west end of the county. Who has just returned from the Klondyke. Was in town Saturday shaking hands with old friends and he has lots of them. Mr. Ridgeway left for Alaks a few days before the departure of the Purcell party.

He tells a very interesting story of his experiences while absent. The Youkon country has been very prolific in the production of gold, and there may be some rich mies there yet, but in his opinion the output in the future will not be very great. The country is simply crowded to death with men and unless there is a general scattering great suffering is likely to ensue.

While at St. Michael en route home Mr. Ridgeway say W. H. White, who had been at that place for three weeks, being unable to procure transportation any farther. Mr. White expected to go up on the American side and prospect, and Mr. Ridgeway says that very flattering reports were being received from that territory.

Mr. Ridgeway looks the picture of health and says he enjoyed his trip, but he was always very partial to Abdrain and is of course glad to get back. He was accompanied home by Jack Daniel, of Thompson, and Walter Mabry, of Montgomery.

Gus Hecker Returns—Reports "City of Paris" Lost at Sea—He Tells of his trip

Friday 23-’89

Gus Hecker got back to Madison, Monday morning after an absence of nearly seven months. During that time he has traveled nearly 20,000 miles and accumulated enough experience to last him a million years. He has shoveled snow on the Chilcoot pass, built boats on Lake Linderman, run the gauntlet of the White Horse Rapids, saw whisky sell at $70 a gallon in Dawson City, feasted his eyes on tons of gold dust, located and prostpected a claim, drifted 2500 miles down the Yukon and returned to his family with three $4 nuggets in his pocket and 7 pounds more flesh on his bones than when he started for Alaska the first of March.

An Appeal man (Monroe Paris) went up to Madison Tueday and had a long interview with Gus. Speaking of the trip he said:

:On the 1^st day of March I left Paris in company with Dennis Fields, Thompson, Jones and Jim Fisher. After a terrible experience on Chilcoot pass we reached Lake Linderman, built two good boats, and stared for Dawson City. We were the first gold seekers to reach the White Hore Rapids. I was at the helm and succeded in taking our boat through without accident. Scores of others were wrecked while making that run. The next day Jones and I took three other boats through at $20 per boat. If I had stayed there and stuck to that business I would have brought a big stake back with me.

We reached Dawson City the 8^th day of June. Provisions were very scarce and selling at fabulous prices. Whiskey retailed at $70 a gallon. It had so much water in it that a teperance man couldn’t have got drunk on $100 worth.

"We were expecting the City of Paris, the boat build for our company, every day, and sold our surplus supplies for $600 in gold dust. We found that every foot of ground in 50 miles of Dawson City had been staked and went from there to Eagle City. There we located five claims on the American side. The claims were 1320x670 feet. A title is given after a month’s prospecting. We went down to bed rock but found nothing of any consequence.

Early in July Mr. Fields learned from a steamboat man that our boat was in the hands of a reciever at Seattle. We did not know what to do We had????long hard winter but had enough o bring us home, so we decided to strike out on August 1 if we heard nothing to change our plans.

"On July 28 we had a letter from Tan Bassett. He told us of their safe arrival at St. Michaels. The boat had not reached them but he said they expected her every day. They were in high spirits. He said they were going to the Koyuku country and thought we had better join them at Minook.

"I was out on my claim when the letter came. When I got in the boys were preparing to go to Minook. I went back after my pack but was delayed in getting back by a heavy rain. When I finally reached camp the boys had been gone about ten hours.

??????
"I loaded my stuff in the boat of a man who was going to St. Michaels, and started down the river the 1^st of August. When we reached Minook we met a number of men who had met our company at St. . Michaels, and learned that part of our men had been there on their way to the Koyukuk country, I was also told that Fisher and Thompson had joined some of the boys who reached Minook first. Fields and Jones, I heard, went on down the river, intending to go home, but met Tan Bassett, had several others on a steamboat and went back to Minook with them.

"At the Russian mission,, 300 miles above St. Michals, I spent the night with a preacher who had been with the Paris boys at St. Michaels. Next day, August 25, a steamer came in. My preacher friend called to me and said he saw Jas. B. Davis on the upper deck, and then pointed out Osborne, Dr. Allen and (Henry Wright) I did not recognize them. Mr. Davis was without his long beard. Bassett and Wright had long whiskers. Allen had a short beard and Osborne was clean shaved. You Paris people would have lauged to have seen how queer they looked in their rough clothes. They came ashore and seemed mighty glad to see me.

"I had intended to join them at St. Michaels and stay with them if they had their boat, but when I learned the shape they were in I knew I would be a heavy expense to theim this winter and very little help, so I offered to come home if they would agree to give O. H. Snell, whom I represented his 12 ½ percent of any profit that might be made. They agreed to do it and I left for St. Michaels the next day, arriving there September 1. I paid $50 for steerage passage to Seattle and reached there in twelve days.

{Darling did you all from….}

"Where did I get money for the trip? Well, I sold my claim for $150, and my dog for $50. It took nearly all to make the trip too.

"At St. Michaels I heard that the City of Paris, while being towed to St. Michaels, had been in a storm that broke her in two and sunk her. {our Quisberry don’t believe this}

"I saw 150 tons of coal R. O. Osborne had taken to Alaska to speculate on, but the big trading companies control things so completely that nobody can sell coal but them.

"Our company would have made piles of money if the boat had reached it in time. Now there are fully 100 boats on the Yukon, provisions are plentiful and prices will never be high again like they were last winter. When I left, flour was selling at $7 a sack, sugar at 65c a pound, bacon at 25c and beans at 20c.

"Very few of the mines are paying, though few are the richest the world ever saw. The difficulties aof mining are so great that a mine must be fabulously rich to pay. Wages were $1.50 an hour when we reached Dawson City. Now they are down to 50c and there is very little work. Tens of thousands went into Alaska when we did, and now every man who can raise the price is coming out. Most of the stories of fabulous strikes are made up by the trading and transportation companies.

"It is impossible to clean up any gold in the long winter, because the dirt cannot be washed. Great fires are built upon the ground and when it is thawed down a few inches that dirt is taken out and piled up. In the summer it is washed out. Wood is worth $10 to $25 a cord and is getting very scared.

"Did I see much gold? Yes, tons of it, but most of it belonged to a few lucky miners, the saloon men, and the big trading companies. Where one man comes out with a stake a thousand left penniless.

"My crowd started in with $1250. When we got Bassett’s letter on July 28 we had about $600 in cash, realized from the sale-of surplus supplies, and added another $100 to it by the sale of one of our robes. So you see, when the boys Joined Bassett and the company they had very near as much as when they went in."

{that’s-good, He’s a dandy, am I right?}

Postmarked Rampart Alaska Jul 1, 1903.

Postmarked received Mexico Mo, Jul 20 7:30 AM 1???

Friday June 26th Between the Mouth of Doll River & Fort Hamlin 10 AM Dear Children One & All Agnes & Babies. This is the first time I have wrote you all since at White Horse. We came from there to Dawson on the Silkirk. got there 5 or 6 hrs to late for the steamer Lovell Young. Found out the chances for another was perhaps 30 days & everything being so high we decided to get a nice little boat & float to Rampart you don't know how anxious I am to get home & get to work. This kind of life I have had to live eating at hotels & restaurants would kill one. We got to Dawson st 4-20 Thursday Morn. got everything ready & left at 8 PM Friday had a trip of 1000 miles ahead of us. We had expected to be in Rampart by Sunday but now have only 76 miles more to go so you see with goad luck we will get in by 8 or 10 Sat. Morning. I am sitting in our boat with a big straw hat on with a yard of green mosquito net sewed around nicely to keep off the mosquitoes words cannot express what a nuisance they are you will have to be with them a few hours & then get rid of them to appreciate that there has come a cool breeze & blew them away without them we would have had a very nice trip. We saw Charles & Rob last at Skagway. We got to White Horse Sat, Evening they left on the Columbia on Fri. eve. We did not hear from them at Dawson.

Got to Eagle at 2AM Sunday Saw Parties there that saw the boys when they left for the Gulch. They said they took their packs & left in Good Spirits Rob left a note telling me the date June 18th & where their boat was. Mr. Wright went & saw the boat- said it was a very nice boat. He thought perhaps we would stop off there but Papa was not able to make the trip out to the gulch. he was sicker than I have. seen his for years-all day Saturday.

after we left Dawson we caught a little Bunnie at White Horse We started out with him The trip on the river made him sick & he died. Tell Charlie I got off & dug Bunnie a grave in the sand & burried him there was flowers growing close by I put some on his grave. Wed. June 30 Dear loved ones a Steamer has come in as it leaves soon I will finish this He got to Rampart Sat. Morn. all right. I am now anxious for the boys to come. Will expect them by July l0th anyway. We have not heard one word from anyone from Mo. for over a month. Oh you can't imagine how anxious I am to hear from you all this leaves us all well Papa has gone out to the claims about 8 miles with Mr. Gill today I don't know how -----------------------------

(a note at the top of the page)----Agnes have Alaskas book I bought for Xmas to bring weighed If it don't weigh over 4 Ibs. mail it to me will you please Register it.

In our old log cabin home, Alaska

Mrs, Sally M. Wright my dear wife & children. Again I will try & write a few lines for you. I received a letter and postal from you yesterday. The letter was written on train at Hanniball I believe on Sept. 21 mailed Sept. 22 & got to Rampart on the 9th of Nov, The postal as was its letter very short but was written & mailed at K.C. on Sept. 25. It is needless to say I was glad to hear all Here well & that you would be home that night. Have had no letter from the children at home for same time maybe the fault of the mails. Mail traffic here this time so very slow on account of warm weather. So far now have had only one day & night of reel winter weather & that is cold weather today, The mercury has been a little above freezing all day & has been most every day for some days in spite of 1 ft. of snow & ice on the ground. We have lots of glass ice here on the lower part of this claim this time getting larger every way each day is all around this old cache & the water(?) house & down in the back house a little and so far the ground has only frozen about 6 or 5 in. looks like it might not freeze solid this season (?) as you know where the moss is off it has thawed down 6 or 8 ft. Mr. Landrey has been doing a lot of work on the bar near seattle and found no frost anywhere save a few inches on top last Thursday & Tuesday night we had a very hard wind & now the snow is drifted awfully & no freighters have been over for about 10 days. I do hope they will bring me some mail when they do come. Clarence was over this evening said he got a letter from home & all were swell & thought you "hadn't got home on Sept. 9th" I guess not said he didn't know whether Beagles would come in this winter or not. I didn't ask him for the information either.

Sallie tell Babe Vick[dog] has 6 awful pretty little babes. Now she lost 3 the night of the heavy wind & I thought everything all right there & it was but the wind must have shifted & filled her house with snow & somewhere between midnight & morning she came to my door & barked & whined and as she didn't come in for supper I thought her hungry & told her to go to her Puppies & she left & the first thing when I got up she was at the door again. I let her in she ate a little & then I let her out, She was only gone a minute & came back with a pup in her mouth. I said Vick take your baby back & she let her fall & turned around & went back. As soon as I got my close on I stepped out 2 see how the weather was & happen to glance toward the dog house. I saw Vick laying out 6 or 8 feet in front. I wondered what it meant & went 2 see. She had 6 puppies covered with her head legs & body but 3 little fellows now laying just out of the nest dead. I grabbed up the pups & took them inside and Vick didn't want Pop or Catta to come near them. So I brought the cats over to them & after that she didn't mind so after I got a bite to eat I went to fix up her home. She went with me & while I was at work she took her 3 dead babies off some where & I think burried them. Poor dog I felt awfully sorry for her and she did her very best 2 tell me something was wrong but I did not understand her