Top Ten Things Not to Do at the Yukon Gold Strike in 1896

~ John W. Howell

 

Top Ten things not to do
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This week marks the anniversary of the discovery of gold in the Yukon territory in Canada in 1896. This was the last big gold strike in North America. We don’t want to miss out on the opportunity. As always, we need to take the list to ensure we don’t make any errors that could cause a time continuum tear. Grab the list and a canteen, and we’ll be off.

Top Ten Things Not to Do at the Yukon Gold Stike in 1896 by John W. Howell © 2020.

10 If you go, do not buy one of those mining kits called “Yukon Outfits” that are being sold everywhere. If you do, at best, maybe something will come in handy. At worst, you will have spent a pretty penny on useless equipment. (Oh look, Malachi. You have a can of beans in that kit. It might be nice to have a can opener.)

9 If you go, do not cross that line in the sand drawn by Tiny, the WWF champ. If you do, at best, you’ll have a gift for Tiny. At worst, Tiny will assume you are trying to jump his claim. (The big problem with Tiny, Mika is his inability to restrain himself once he gets agitated. Sure, you can try to talk him out of tossing you into the bottomless ravine, but history says you won’t be successful. Oh look, I think you made Tiny smile. Nope, just gas.)

8 If you go, do not think you are the only one going. If you do, at best, you may find an unclaimed spot. At worst, you’ll get there and have nowhere to mine for gold. (You see, Milan. Once the word got out, over 50,000 miners converged on the scene in the first two years. There was minimal unclaimed land)

7 If you go, do not ask the young miner Jack London how his mining is going. If you do, at best, he will think you are talking to someone else. At worst, he’ll try to sell you his claim. (Jack London was 21 and not very successful as a miner, Monte. He did write his first book in 1900. It was a collection of short stories about his mining experiences titled  The Son of Wolf. You should have gotten his autograph.)

6 If you go, do not ask George Carmack how his claim is doing. If you do, at best he won’t answer. At worst, he will pull out his .44 and ask you why you want to know. (You should know Merrick that George Carmack, along with his brother in law Skookum Jim and nephew Tagish Charlie was the guy who went salmon fishing in the Yukon and first discovered nuggets of gold. He eventually pulled out over a million dollars worth. Which today would be worth $30,000,000.)

5 If you go, don’t tell anyone that you think the gold may run out. If you do, at best they won’t believe you. At worst, you might cause a panic among the miners. (In fact, Mac. several miners sold their claims to mining companies who continued to mine for gold as late as 1966. Today there are still 200 small mines operating in the area.)

4 If you go, do not forget your warm clothes. If you do, at best you can borrow some. At worst, no one will loan you anything, and it is 60 degrees below zero. (I would say you need to pull that lever marked “home,” MacGillivray. If not you are going to freeze to death.)

3 If you go by boat like most and land at Skagway Alaska, do not think you can ride to the goldfields. If you do, At best someone will set you straight. At worst, you won’t realize that it is a 550-mile walk. (Also, the Canadian government won’t let you cross the border without at least 2000 pounds of supplies. So here you are Machau. You need to figure out how to lug 2000 pounds and walk 550 miles before you can even look for gold. I think it is time to head home since the store seems to be out of mules right now.)

2 If you go, do not believe Nikola Tesla that his x-ray machine will find gold without digging. If you do, at best you still won’t buy it. At worst, you will purchase the device. (As could be expected Mackinley, the machine proved worthless unless the gold was sitting on top of the ground. Obviously, if it was on top of the ground, you wouldn’t need the machine. Now go ask Nick for your money back.)

1 If you go, do not think you are going to get rich. If you do, at best you won’t lose all the money you have. At worst, you’ll be one of those who sold everything they had to go gold mining and lost it all. (It may surprise you to know, MacLaren that of the 100,000 men who headed for the Yukon, only 50,000 made it to the goldfields. Out of that number, only 4000 actually found gold. Even so, the amount of gold discovered was over a billion dollars worth in today’s value.)

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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

102 thoughts on “Top Ten Things Not to Do at the Yukon Gold Strike in 1896”

  2. Oh, the lure of gold! Some women went as well and some even prospered. One woman was pregnant and dragged her 2000 lbs of supplies over the pass. Some got rich by opening brothels. A girl has to do whatever she needs to make ends meet! I will be sure not to cross over Tiny´s claim.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Interesting remark from Charles Yallowitz – I’m sure he’s right and the only people to make money were the suppliers of equipment. It seems like the whole world is trying to get rich through all the centuries.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Most of these are for information sake, since I’m in the abyss. Tiny has a lot of upper body strength. I thought we could be partners. Can you imagine risking everything for the chance of striking it rich? Good list, John. At least this thing is bottomless.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. First off, I’d have vodka in my canteen and would have gone to Brooks Brothers for my gold digging outfit. I know, some girls would have worn tight pants and a push up bra, but it was not that kind of gold digging, now was it.

    As for Tiny, he could go scratch, as my Aunt Tillie would say, and I’m wondering of Tom Selleck who once was the big cheese at the NRA, has a website to ask him, the best place to get that .44.

    And the price of gold even now, has gone down a few quarts, but I won’t MULE over it.

    🙂

    I so enjoy these.

    Liked by 1 person

        16. But ya learned. She certainly did, though rumor has it, even remarried to Gary Morton, she never stopped loving Desi, who when he was dying of lung cancer, would only speak to her on the phone…didn’t want her to see him looking that way. Heartbreaking, even in myth if that indeed is what the story is. One never knows, having not been there. sigh

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        18. I’m sure. They went though a lot together, plus had two children and more or less made cinematic history. Lucy as the madcap funny lady, and Desi inventing the 3 camera system that’s been used since the show aired 40 some odd years ago, though some say, it was used before. I don’t know. I like to think it was Ricky. 🙂

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        19. I agree that it was Ricky. He was a pioneer for sure. I remember during the McCarthy era Lucy was accused of being a communist. Ricky stood up and said “The only thing red about Lucy is her hair.” He took a chance on being blacklisted himself.

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        23. He actually was pretty amazing. Served in the army and played for the injured soldiers oncehe was didcharged. He and Lucy invented the sindicated system for TV shows which allowed Americans to enjoy shows long after production ended

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  15. I sure didn’t know #3 — that’s a LONG trek!! Thanks for the info, John. I guess I’ll stay put on this one — probably not much social distancing on those long, cold nights, and I’ll bet there wasn’t a mask in sight.

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  20. The Dream George had before two months before The Find:

    He could not see to the far side of the river. It appeared as wide as an ocean . . . a gray mist hung just above the water’s surface. Nevertheless, he gave it little consideration. Yes, it was strange; however, he had somewhere he had to be and could not delay.

    There was only one problem. He could not remember where he was going or whom he was to meet once he arrived. He slowed his walk to ponder those things. Again, his attention was drawn to the river when the water started to boil fiercely and great plumes of steam arose into the air. As he observed this strange phenomenon, two salmon leaped from the water.

    The salmon did not immediately fall back into the river as any self-respecting fish would do. Instead, they hung in mid-air, their tails swishing back and forth. There was something about them—something different besides the fact that they were hovering over the water; that, he took in stride. Don’t all fish, at one time or another, float about out of the water?

    At first he couldn’t fathom what was bothering him concerning the fish. Then he saw it! Their scales were made of gold and their eyes were of gold nuggets. “This is peculiar,” he said aloud.
    George Washington Carmack awoke with a start.

    That was one bizarre dream, he thought as he climbed out of his bed. George believed in visions. He believed dreams foretold the future. He would have to decipher the message behind the dream. Maybe his brother-in-law could discern its meaning. Indians knew more about that sort of thing than white men.

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      1. The morning after his strange dream, he washed up in the river, ate the large breakfast Kate had prepared for him, and then made his way to Skookum Jim’s house. It was high time they checked their trap line. George collected Jim and together they set off to the northwest. As they walked, George broached the subject of his dream.
        “I had the craziest dream last night. I’m sure it means something, I just don’t know what.”
        “We go many miles. As we walk, tell me.”
        George relayed the dream. He told of the two salmon covered in gold, having gold nuggets for eyes, and floating in mid-air. When he had finished his recitation, he asked, “So, what do you think, Jim?”
        “I know naught. I will ponder on it for a spell.”
        They sat cross-legged on the ground and stared at the slow-moving water of the creek. After the bottle had been twice passed between them, Jim spoke. “Long I thought on yer dream. But first tell what ye think it foretells.”
        George took a minute to respond, like he was marshaling his thoughts. At length, he said, “It can mean only one thing. I’m to become a full-time salmon fisherman. The rivers are full of the fish this time of year and, as you know, we can sell all that we catch to white men.”
        “Ay, those be my thoughts. Ye be mighty catcher of fish.”
        “And seeing as how we’re partners, it looks like you’re going into the fishing business with me, Jim.”
        “We start on the morrow. We need Charlie. He is young, he can empty the traps for us. After all, we are chiefs; he will do the hard work.”
        George laughed and said, “One more swig and then let’s go.”

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  22. Gold fever! Your history was terrific, John. #1 made those numbers very real. Still, the odds were better than a lottery ticket, albeit a killing effort for the hopeful miners.

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