[From the San Francisco Weekly Examiner, Thursday, August 12, 1897]

FREE EXCURSION FOR EXAMINER SUBSCRIBERS

To The Great

KONDYKE GOLD FIELDS


Three First-Class Tickets from San Francisco to Klondyke and Return
News of the great gold discoveries on the Klondyke river, a branch of the upper Yukon, in the northwestern Canadian Dominion was confirmed by the arrival of forty-four miners on the steamer Excelsior, July 14, at San Francisco, bringing three-quarters of a million dollars worth of gold  in dust and nuggets. Just as the world was becoming excited over the advent of this argosy, the steamer Portland arrived at Seattle, Washington, with sixty-eight miners on board with an additional million dollars worth of gold. Most of the miners who came back rich were wandering prospectors with no capital but their picks and scanty rations when they entered the northwestern territories. In creeks and ravines close to the Arctic circle they picked up gold as a farmer picks up potatos. No mining knowledge or machinery or capital was needed. Gold in stacks was to be had for the taking. All this has inflamed the desire and imagination of the world. Next spring, then the journey may be made without peril, tens of thousands will depart for the new Golconda. With this exodus the Weekly Examiner has decided to send three (only three) of its subscribers in June, 1898, giving each one a first-class ticket from San Francisco to Dawson and return.

On May 15, 1898, the Weekly Examiner will decide on the three subscribers to be presented with tickets as above, and the names and addresses of such will appear in the first issue of the Weekly Examiner immediately following May 15, 1898.

One of the conditions is that all subscribers who desire to compete must cut out and preserve the coupons which will appear regularly in each week’s issue of the Weekly Examiner commencing with this, until May 15, 1898. Other conditions and methods will be published subsequently.

If any coupons of the series are missing, the lack of such will bar the subscriber from the competition.

This proposition is open to all present subscribers of the Weekly Examiner, without exception. Everyone desiring to compete has the privilege of doing so provided he has all of the coupons for the series.

Those whose subscriptions to the Weekly Examiner expire between now and May 15, next year, and who desire to enter into this competition should be extremely careful to see that their renewals are sent to this office in time that they may not miss any of the coupons, all of which will be numbered in consecutive order.

Back numbers of the coupons will not be offered for sale.

Each of the three subscribers to whom the excursion tickets will be given has the privilege of selling his return ticket should he decide to remain in the gold fields, and he should be able to sell such return ticket at a price sufficient to enable him to lay in a year’s supply of provisions.

The last steamer during the recent season has departed for Klondyke, and from now until June of next year it would be neither wise nor safe for anyone to attempt this perilous journey. In June of next year there will be a tremendous rush for the Kondyke country, and it is to meet such contingencies that we have made our present arrangements.

At Juneau the freight has accumulated in such large quantities for transportation by the Chilkoot Pass, that it will be impossible under existing transportation facilities for the same to be handled within the next twelve months. The only sea route is by the Yukon river, and  that is now closed and will remain closed until June of next year.

Renewals can be sent to this office direct or through postmasters or local agents or authorized traveling solicitor.


(Image of: San Francisco Weekly Examiner's Klondyke Coupon)
View Coupon no. 34

Historical Note: It is interesting in that William Randolph Hearst, the inventor of "Yellow Journalism" (sensationalism at the expense of truth) owned the Examiner. He bought the New York Journal in 1895 and went head to head with Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World sensationalizing the conflict in Cuba and eventually the Spanish American War. The description of the gold fields seems equally sensationlized.
Contributed By: Patrick M. McSherry
Source: Cohen, Stan, Images of the Spanish American War, April - August, 1898.
(Missoula:Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., Inc., 1997) 11.
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