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Subject: Klondike Letter -- Vic McCRAY -- Aug 1898
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 14:46:19 -0800
Free Lance
Hollister, CA
5 Aug 1898
**************
Letter from Vic McCRAY --
Through the courtesy of Mr. Wm. PALMTAG we are enabled to print the
following letter:
Circle City, June 20, 1898
We arrived here day before yesterday, all the party being well and
hearty. I will write no extended description of our trip as THEXTON has
covered the ground pretty thoroughly. So far, my impression is that this
country is all right for making money in, but 4/5 of the people that are
here will be sadly disappointed, owing to the fact that they find
themselves here totally unprepared for prospecting. A person unfamiliar
with this country can form no idea of the difficulties in traveling. It
is impossible to get any distance from the river, carry a pack and
prospect. There is country, only 20 miles from Dawson, that is, as yet,
unexplored territory. With horses conditions are reversed. Our party has
one horse to every 2 men, and they are in splendid condition for
traveling, with abundance of feed on all sides. We have the reputation of
being the best-equipped party that ever landed at Circle City. Am also
informed that the country were heading for is as yet virgin ground, and
easy to travel over with horses. The universal impression here, among all
old-timers, is that our objective point is very rich. There has been a
few men in there who found rich prospects but were unable to get
provisions in there it being 150 miles from this place.
The more we hear the more confident we feel that we are on the right
track. The leader of our party is a man by the name of WADDELL. His
partner is the one who made the original discovery, and told him how the
reach the place. He is now, presumably, there. I have made inquiries here
and find that this partner is no myth, and that he traveled through the
country with 2 mules as WADDELL says, going towards the Tanana River. It
will be the forepart of August before I get back here. As whiskey is $75
a gallons, and drinks 50 cents each, it is needless to say that a big
drunk is rather expensive. Tell Rans LATHROP to come up here and start a
hay depot. Hay is worth $100 a ton. SMITH (mentioned in THEXTONs letter)
and HERRINGTON sends regards to all friends. Well, Im in a big hurry;
lots to do. Will notify you when to charter the steamer to come after the
gold. Best regards to all.
Signed: V.T. McCRAY
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