U. B. HARDUP'S EXPERIENCES AT KLONDYKE.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 25, 12 November 1898, Page 2

U. B. HARDUP'S EXPERIENCES AT KLONDYKE.

How was "I to get to Klondyke ? That was the initial difficulty. J. bad no money and less credit. On the other liand, I had plenty of cheek, so I -did Jiot despair. I inserted the following ad. in -the Weekly News : —

SCOTLAND TO THE FRONT AGAIN "1 Klondykers, please note that a Glasgow man. has just discovered a simple method of thawing frozen ground to an unknown depth. By this means placer-mining in the Polar regions becomes as simple as shelling peas. The inventor is Mr U. B. Hardup, Corporation ".Model," Gflasgowgate, Glasgow. Wonderful "isn't it" how 'quickly news circulates nowadays ? A few days after this par. appeared I received tins wire :—: — " U. B. Hardup, Glasgow. — Wire particulars of invention and charge up to ua. — Klondyke Mining Syndicate." They evidently had thought they 'had caught a flat. What I did reply was this !— "My invention anust be personally supervised by me. Sorry." Back came this ii-eply .within twentyfour hours : — " Come out at once. All extras prepaid. Outfit awaits you. Dawson City." They had risen to the bait as T had expected. I guessed I had struck a streak of luck at last. .Putting together a few iooth-picks, collar studs, paper collars, and other useful articles, I went down to Greenock and boarded the Atlantic liner per tender from Prince's Pier. That was a voyage ! Almost for the first time in my life I had four square meals a day, and as much champagne as I could absorb. I don't remember much till I got to Dawson City. I guess it turned me sort of sick when I saw that the Dawson folk had turned out with a brass band and a torchlight procession >to conduct me to my hotel. Next morning the newspaper the newspapers "had columns about me and -my wonderful discovery. vOne of the reporters offered to borrow five dollars oft me, which I was obliged 'to decline, and I jQiuat say his remarks An .his paper were jfchfi reverse .of

In spite of his malignant criticism I waa conveyed to IHondyke in a private steam yacht and a series of luxurious sledges. When I arrived the enthusiasm was immense. All the boys dropped work and carried me shoulder-high to a platform in front of the chief grog store, •where I was treated to drinks ad lib., .and invited me to communicate the particulars of my wonderful discovery. I thought it bes± to get over the worst •at once. "Well, boys," I started off glibly, " first you get together as many old barrels, e-iopty tea chests, and kindlin' logs, as this darned place can produce " " Yes, yes," shouted everybody, uGo on, Scotfcie. What next?" " Then you get a copy of the Dawson City Howler. Be sure it's the Howler." " Yes, .yes." '* Then you 'set a light to the scandalous rag, and start off the whole pile with it into a blaze." " Yes, yes. What next ?" "Nothing," said I quite cool, folding my arms. "If that doesn't thaw the ground to an unknown depth, I'm hanged if I know what will." There was some excitement on after that, you bet. Some of the bojs began to weep. The others felt for their revolvers. Then the Vigilance Committee came forward and asked me whether I preferred my tombstone upright or horizontal. "I'm not particular," says I, "as long as you don't put any obituary poetry on to it." That remark seemed to touch them somehow, and one big chap proposed they should give me a chance for my life. "Let him tell lies agin Alkali Ike," says he, " and if he beats, I move we let the darned sneak off and start him with a claim." This was agreed to, and as Alkali Ike was the biggest liar in British Columbia I guessed I had my work cut out for me. Alkali Ike sat down in front of me and opened out as follows : — "There once was a man in Kansas that shaved regular every rnornin' " They told him to let it go at that and asked me to weigh in.

((Conikrned from Second Page). " I asemember," says L, " the first time I tasted *wiiisky " ," I give in,", shouts Alkali Ike. *' Since he claims to remember as far back as that I give in. That lie 'licks Klondyke." My life was spared. Next morning I •was working -at my claim with a pick. An hour «f that work made -me aware I wasn't made for a miner. I resolved, therefore, to run -a "bank instead, and put up a sign as und'er —

KLONDYKE BANK. GOLD DUST TAKEN CARE OF BY U. B. HARDUE. (One man came along in the ecvening — '"I'hearn there's a bank here," he said. I explained that I was the bank agent, and could lake care of any quantity of •gold dust. " Oh, that 1 s all-xriglit," says .he. " "What puzzles me is who the dickens is goin' to take care of yew/ j£ gave up banking, sa,n3. went into partnership with Alkali Ike ©a the caterwaul■ing Our modus operandi was simple. "When anyone found a nugget or a pot of-gold-dust, at midnight we visited .the chanty ,-tandtied up a pair of cats at -the rear of i the .dwelling. All we had li© do was to standout of the shower of flying boots and crockery k until the nuggets or dust-cans came. 1 left yesterday with ■£80,000— Ike di'diu't. His tombstone's horizontal.