North To Alaska July 21 1898

 

William T. Hearn and William R. Bacon left the Salisbury - Delmar area January 31, 1898 for the Goldfields of the Klondike. They were two of about 100,000 people who went north in seach of gold, only about 4,000 would find gold. Moving from the Klondike they went to Alaska in search of gold and a paying job. They wrote a number of letters home to family and friends that were published in the Salisbury Advertiser. Over the next week or so I will post some of their letters home.


Letter to Harry Hearn from Wm T. Hearn

Dawson City, N. W. T.
July 21, 1898

Dear Brother,

We leave here today for Seventy Mile creek, it is in the United States territory, about 150 miles from here, think there is a better chance there, we have a job there for all winter if we like it. We will be at least 100 miles from postoffice, so you need not expect another letter before next summer and may be home before or by then, but will write if I see anyone going to the postoffice. Forgot to tell you the price of white potatoes, they sell for a $1 per pound or $60 per bushel, turnips 25 cents each, milk $1 a glass, coal oil $3 a gallon, etc. Those Wicomico farmers would go crazy if they could get that much for truck.

Why do they call this the frozen north? Thermometer registered 110 in the shade on July 18th.

W.T. H.