KLONDYKE.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 292, 24 May 1898, Page 3

KLONDYKE.

A W A R N I N G . The following letter has been placed at our disposal by Mr Attwood, of Cambridge. As coming to a resident in the district, the information contained may safely be relied upon. The letter contains a war nil g that should not be lightly passed over by any contemplating trying their fortunes at Klondyke :- Hunker Creek, Klondykc. February 6th 1898. Dear Mother, —Just after my last letter to you I left San Francisco fur this place I suppose you have heard of it. by this time ; it is the I'test gold excitement. I have quit the sea, and am now mining gold on Hunker Creek, and if I make a strike here I am coming home. This is the greatest gold find that lias ever been made. On some of the claims they have washed out as high as seventeen hundred dollars to the pan of dirt. That is, in English money, three hundred and forty pounds, but I am sorry to say such cases are very rare and there are more poor claims than rich ones. I am working on what is called a "lay," that is, I find all expenses and work the claim for fifty per cent, of the profits taken therefrom, and in writing this I am nearly confident I shall make better than wages, which are six shillings per hour. I may remark here this is a curious country. The sun does not shine for five months in the year, and we have to do most of our work in the dark ; also, it " let's d->wn" to 75 below zero, and stops there for an indefinite period. I would not advise anyone to try to come here, because, in the first place, it costs a little fortune to get here and a little fortune to live when here, as grub is everything, from one dollar per pound upwards, i had to pay twenty pounds (£2O) for 501 b. of flour last week, and tobacco is 14s per pound, and bad at that. The second reason for not coming is that wages will go down next winter, and the country for 50 miles round Dawson City is staked. I have got three claims which I will work next winter if they prospect good. This is all T have to say. I expect a lot of letters from New Zealand at my last address, San Fransisco, and I will have them sent on to me. When you answer this you cin use the old address, Sao Francisco. This letter cost me 9s to send, so you must pass it round. Henry W. Atiwood.