Dawson City, Ala., March 2., 1898
Dearest and most beloved Folks:-
The time seems so heavy on my hands. I was just beginning to write the above when a gentleman comes in to tell me that at last, thank Heaven, the mail arrived, but we are not able to get it for a few days, and I have to hurry up with this as the couriers are going out to-morrow before we have a chance to answer any letters, which we may get of know what to write, but we must make the best of it.
Sol. is again up on the creek to make some arrangements with some people about selling a half interest in his claim as it does not seem to be an over good one. Somehow I think we don't seem to have much luck, but yet I ought not complain as not anybody of all those people who came in at the time we did, are any better off, nor in fact have they got such easy times as we have, for as far as hardships are concerned, we know nothing about, as I have so often let you know, but still we do not give up hope of making some money when the great influx of people is coming in the spring. Just at present we are making enough for wood and water, which articles by the way are quite expensive; if you can't fetch them yourself, it costs us $65.00 a month for these. I am making a few neckties and if we could sell only enough or even a dozen a day we would make enough in one month to keep us well supplied with wood and water for almost a whole year, but the trouble, is that there are very few people in town to buy anything.
I really don't-know what to write about especially as I have not seen your letters yet and that makes me so agitated, that I am almost losing control over my pen; my hand trembles so; just imagine six long months and not a word from our dear ones and when at last the joyful news is here that you might see their dear handwriting, you must curb your impatience yet awhile another few days before they distribute the mail. Oh! the fearful longing and anxiety to get those letters is what makes to us life in this country one of hardship. I do hope though that you received at least some of our letters even if not all, as otherwise I should not want to imagine your feelings and anxiety about us, so I don't want to borrow unnecessary trouble and I shall take the brightest side of it. I expect Sol. back today, but yet I must close up the letter before he comes as they would not receive it after 4 P.M. I wonder if he even knows that the mail did come at last, as he has been gone three days now. Please let the folks in N.Y. know all about us because I am too excited to write any more, so I am in hopes of seeing you next summer with God's Will.
Yours ever tenderly devoted,
Mother & Sister
This letter arrived in Coudersport April 29, 1898
Dawson City, April 12, 1898
Dearest and most beloved Folks:-
Your letters of Feb. 5th, we received, and rejoiced over them as they showed us that Klondike or no Klondike gold or no gold, your hearts and your love for us is, and I hope will continue to be, the same. I presume you have received more encouraging letters from us already by this time, but yet, I do not want to awaken any hope as to our prospects here, as for my own part, have not any, my only desire and aim to get home to see my beloved darlings. If I could see that there is any prospect for us to stay longer I should not hesitate, on account of any personal suffering (I mean the being away from all of you mostly, as there is not any other hardships to speak of). It is true there are not many nor in fact any comforts, but then there is a vast difference between hardships and no comforts. But in the main I do not see how we can make any money here; we have not been very fortunate since the last two months, and we have lost a nice few hundred dollars on provisions of which we laid in too large a stock, as everybody seemed to be scared out of their wits about starvation and now it seems that there is more provisions in town than people to consume them, in so much that there have sprung up in the last two months more than a dozen restaurants in the space of about two blocks.
Sol. is again up the creek today on that Victoria claim I wrote to you about, but somehow the prospects are not over good there, in fact, it is not such an easy proposition to find the gold although the newspapers write that it is all over the Klondike; but it is not, and even where in some places you do find it it costs almost more to work the ground than you can get out of it. Yet Sol. don't think he shall go home this summer, but I intend to with God's will.
Now Dear Schamshu, as to your sending in any goods; in fact, anything you might send you can at least treble the money outside of all expenses; but you would not need to go out of your line to send merchandise; you could send in a whole lot of gent's furnishings; by a whole lot I mean at least two or three thousand dollars worth; send a good average of negligee shirts, summer and fall goods, sizes to run on the average as all men's sizes go but 16 and 16˝ mostly; send a nice medium and also a good class of goods, nothing too cheap, lots of cheviot shirts. All these things are easily packed and not over heavy therefore they do not cost too much, and on three thousand worth of gent's furnishings you can make a profit of $10,000.00 in a very short time, say three months of Dawson staying. If we could have a show of getting any merchandise in, we would not despair of not making money; if it were possible for you to send us bed springs or rather just the springs, we will make the slats here; we should like to get about ten thousand of the; they are those curled springs that are used for furniture. But if you should not be able to send those please do not tell anybody of it as I intend to attend to that myself when I come home. If you send any goods do not send any articles in the line that are not absolutely necessary, pajamas or bathrobes you may leave at home, also stiff bosom shirts you need not bother with too many, yet you must have a few. Send mainly lots of negligees, all kind of underwear, some soft hats and caps, handkerchiefs, neckwear, and suspenders; of provisions, whoever comes in, we hear, must have one thousand pounds; of course it is foolishness but yet one can make the bills read for a thousand pounds, and a good deal of it might be merchandise to wear, but it would have to be packed like provisions. Upon what trail to come, a person outside is at present better qualified to know, still we think the Dyea trail the best, but certainly we do not know what improvements there are on any of the trails. The latest newspaper we have in here is of Feb. 3rd., which we paid $l.50 for; this very man who brought these papers in is going out tomorrow and he will take this letter, which I think will be about the last you may expect until next July or so, as no more mail will go out of here except by the way of St. Michael., as pretty soon the ice breaks and they cannot go out up stream; but lots of mail ought to come in and we certainly do not want you to be tardy about your letters, as they are the only enjoyment and sunshine we have just now, for you must know that both of us are very much discouraged and almost hopeless, and if it were not for your sweet, kind and loving letters, which give us a little new life, we, that is rather I, was getting to be almost despondent but after reading your letters I thought that do I need to pine away even though we shall not make money in the Klondike, when we have such treasures at home, who certainly will not love us any less for the want of gold, and who cannot love us any more even if we had all Klondike, than they do now when we have not even a tiny, good slice of it.
I think we have some letters, which came in about a week ago and are being distributed today, but I will have to wait until tomorrow till Sol. comes home before I can get them. I am happy in the knowledge that the children give you pleasure and though I am sure that they are all very good, loving and obedient, yet I do not want you to be too indulgent with them and when they deserve it, which I really doubt they ever do, you must give them a good sound thrashing; it is good for their health and will be still better for me, for when I come home and should have occasion to do it, I don't want them to think they get the whipping from mamma for their health only, and that they felt just as healthy with Tante Gussie without the whipping. I know, of course, Bertie is getting too sensible to begin to deserve it now, but the rascally torment and the sly little pussie will get the best of you every time you let them.
Sol. just came all played out; he says, send also sweaters, fine cigars, (do not bill them as fine ones), fine, the very best candies, big sizes and a big lot of moccasins; they are a sort of shoe made of animal hide; have a few hundred pair of them made, they should cost from one dollar upwards. If you send in all these goods, we can both make a nice little money, as we will stand half of all the expenses and will share half of the profits. We could send you $1,000.00. if we were sure it would reach you, but we don't know if that man who takes the letter is good enough for money. Whoever goes with the goods must have plenty of cash also to pay for duty and expenses, as you must not take chances for them to be stuck on the way. Send no clothing. This being all I can think of I shall finish with love to you my dearly beloved ones; and in hopes of soon embracing you.
Yours,
Becci and Sol.
This letter arrived in Coudersport May 23, 1898
Dawson City, Ala., Sept. 6, 1898
Dear Schamshu and Gussie:-
It will probably surprise you to hear that Becci left here on Sept. 1, for St. Michaels on the boat Hannah, and from there she will take the steamer for San Francisco, where I expect she will land about Sept. 20. I presume that she will telegraph to you when she, will get there. I am sorry that I am doomed to stay here alone another winter, away from my wife and kidlets and you, dear Schamshu and Gussie. I long very much to see you and tease you as of olden days, but I have to stay and postpone that pleasure for another year probably. My prospects are all right; my claim will be worked this winter, and I hope to realize a nice share for my trouble; I am also building a hotel which will bring me a little money if everything goes well. This is about all I have to tell you, Becci will do the rest. With love and kisses to you and the children, I remain
Yours forever,
Sol.
This letter arrived in Coudersport October 8, 1898
Dawson City, Ala., Sept 6, 1898
Dear Becci:
There is nothing new to write yet; everything is as ever; I gave out the two lays on No.2, and two lays on No. 9 at forty per sent. The last I gave to my carpenters who are working on the house; it is getting near completion, and looks very fine; it will be O.K. if my money don't give out.
I eat with the Japs, dinner and supper and for breakfast I my own cook. I am getting along nicely, have nothing to do; my store business does not disturb me in the least; am playing pinochle with Pippeck every night, and am happy as can be. I hope this letter will reach you in good health and spirits. I remain with kisses to you and the children,
Forever yours,
Sol.
Dawson City, Alaska, Sept. 19, 1898
Dear Becci: You few lines from Circle City I received but did not hear from you since. I expect that you will get to San Francisco by September 21 and if you have written to me by that time I may get your letter before the river closes, otherwise I'll have to be many months without any tidings from you; anyhow I pray to God that you reached the children in health and good spirits, and that I will hear from you in the near future. Here, everything is the same; the house will be finished in about three days and is a good job. The Jap paid the rent all right. I get along all right; am not short of money, though to finish the building costs me a good bit. Will write to you once more before the ice closes. The weather is very bad here; it is raining every day. As the boat is leaving I must close this letter with love to you and regards to Schamshu and Gussie; remember me to Tallys; kiss the children and I remain,
Yours forever,
Sol.
This letter arrived in Coudersport October 2, 1898
Dawson City, Ala., Sept. 28, 1898
Dear Becci:-
As it may be a long time until the river will freeze up so as to take out mail again, so I want to write this last letter which will go up with the "Willie Irving". Since I had the few lines from you from Circle City, I did not hear from you, still I expect that you have written to me from St. Michaels and will get the letter yet. My new house is finished but no applicants for the rooms as yet. I have my own comfortable room, very warm and nicely fixed up, and am very much pleased; I am sorry that you are not here to enjoy the same. The weather is very fine, like the Indian summer at home.
There is very little going on now, and I have not much to write; the men are all up on the creek working; I am sending you the enclosed paper to show you where Victoria Gulch comes in on 42 Bonanza and marked the places of my claims See whether there is a possibility of starting a company and sell shares, for if I had money I could buy very good mines cheap, and investors could make a fortune with little investment, and there is no risk for them as I would only buy developed ground and no wild cats. If Schamshu wants to invest some money I would advise him to do so, as there is big money to be made at present. I may let the store today at $125.00, and will have nothing to do but attend to the hotel. I'll spend most part of the winter on the creek, and hope it will prove as expected; with regards to Schamshu and Gus, and kisses to the kids, I remain
Yours Forever,
Sol.
This letter arrived in Coudersport November 16, 1898
Dawson City, Ala., Nov. 18, 1898
Dear Becci:-
AS the mail is unexpectedly going out I am in a hurry to send you a few lines. Until now I did not hear from you except from the river boat; don't know even whether you arrived safely which of course puts me in an uneasy mind. My lodging house is so far no success; the town is very dull, and all merchants are losing money; I gave up the store long ago, as I needed the money to finish the building, so in fact I am left without any money. The store is not to be let as nobody wants may store; people who invested money in merchandise or property are losing a good deal of it. I cannot sell the house at any price, as the rumor is that the waterfront will have to be cleared, and I think it may be the case. Ben Levy & Co. will never see the money they have invested, but I can give good hope from Victoria; it turns out to be better than we ever expected; on No.9 - 11, they find $40. to the pan, and the same on No. 8; my men did not go down to bedrock yet, but within two weeks I'll know more about my claim, and will write. I have the greatest hopes in it; they say that Victoria is next to Eldorado the best creek in the country; Sulphur turns out N.G. is worthless, and Dominion is not much better and I think that I struck it right. Now I hope that you will enjoy life while you are out there, and make up for the deprivations you had until now. Ill suffer this winter yet a little, as the house is very cold, and the weather is not mild, but I hope that next spring I'll take out enough to enjoy life a few months in the outside.
Hoping that I'll get your letter soon, and giving my best regards to Schamshu and Gussie and the children, I remain with love
as ever Yours,
Sol.
Write to Tolly and remember me to them. I hope to see them next summer.
This letter arrived in Coudersport Jan. 10, 1899
Dawson City, Ala., Dec. 6, 1898
Dear Jack:
Although things are with me the same as the while. I have been on the creek last week, and found everything all right; on No. 2 they struck very good pay running about $.50. to the pan, in every pan; if the whole claim runs like that, we will be O.K. and will have enough for "Beans & Bacon” the balance of our life; on No.9 they could not do much as the water comes in on them and will have to wait until it freezes up harder.
The weather is very mild; it was raining to-day, something never heard of before, but the indications are good, and should be better than No.2, as they got next to it as high as $40. to the pan. In about four weeks, if it will get colder, I'll know more about it, and will telegraph it to you. Dominion and Sulphur are failures; I would not exchange the whole creek for my little claim. On No.7 above Sulphur, that Merman bought for Alex. McDonald for $30,000. as you will remember, they did not find a color even, and so is the whole creek. Of all of Ripstein’s claims he has not an inch of ground that is worth a dollar, and the same is to be said of all the people that thought themselves millionaires last year. It will be a terrible calamity next spring; people will not have enough money to go home, as business is very dull on account of it. They have no money to buy anything, and there are too much goods in the market.
Harry Spencer died here last week of typhoid pneumonia. About six weeks ago part of Dawson burned down, where the post-office was, but it is all built up again. I cannot do anything with my building, It is not let yet, and I have to live the best way I can. I don't pay any ground rent at present, and the rumor is that we will have to clear the ground by next Spring; I don't care one way nor another, as long as the claim turns out to be rich. I did not hear from you as yet, as no mail came in, but I have no doubt that it will be here before the winter is over. Krusner is dead broke, you'll like to hear that. I have nothing more to write; I hope that you will enjoy yourself while you are out there, and don't deny yourself anything, so to make up for me; give my best regards to Schamshu and Gussie, your brothers and my family; remember me to Tolly; kiss the children which I'll return to you with interest when I'll see you next summer.
Yours forever,
Sol.
This letter arrived in Coudersport Feb. 16, 1899
Dawson City, Ala. , Jan. 1,1899
Dear Becci:
Not having a chance to send the letter any sooner, but now I met a man who will take this out. Things are the same as they had been; business is very dull in Dawson; don't advise anybody to bring in any goods; it don't pay to bring in any kind of goods. Levy & Merman are dissolving partnership. My man from Victoria. Gulch was here this week, and reports very good; better yet than No. 2; my claim will be the best on the gulch; you need not worry, everything turns out all right. I am enjoying myself nicely, have nothing to do nor to eat. Today I let the store and got a little money, and am happy. I hope I'll see you in the Spring; I hope to come home by that time. I did not hear from you since you left. With love.
Sol.
This letter arrived in Coudersport Feb. 16, 1899
Dawson City, N.W.T., January 17, 1899
Dear Becci: Having an opportunity to let you hear from me, I am writing this letter though I have nothing new to let you know. We have no mail as yet and I did not hear from you since you left; you may imagine my anxiety about you. I mm afraid that you will not enjoy yourself as well as anticipated, there will be a hundred and one things that will trouble you, but I hope that I am mistaken in this imagination. About me, you need not worry, as I am right every which way.
I heard from the claim today, and have very good news; the pay dirt runs from $.25 to $1.75 per pan and I don't think that the claim will be worked out this winter. I expect to go home in the spring and stay over Summer and then return with you for another winter in the Yukon. See that you don't deny yourself anything; you may spend for your pleasure as much as need be; you may borrow if necessary, as we can pay everybody all our debts, and I will be happy when this will be accomplished.
Merman & Levy dissolved partnership; they lost together about $50,000.00; Levy retains the store, and Merman got $10,000.00 in cash for his $23,000.00 which he had invested. Business is very dull in town; goods have no value, my prediction came true.
I wish I had letters from you as I am getting very nervous about you, and I don't see how I can stand it to be away from you so many months; yet I hope your letters will reach me this month. I remain with Kisses to the children(Bertie to be a fine young man already and the Dummer Yung is playing with snow-balls, I imagine, and the High-Kicker is bossing, and I here all alone. My love to Schamshu and Gussie, remember me to all our friends.
Yours forever,
Sol.
Dawson City, Ala., Feb. 13, 1899.
Dear Jac:
[ed. Note: Jac is Becci]
Your letter of Jan. 8, I received to-day, and this is the only letter I got since you left here; I have no doubt but that there are a great many on the road, which we my not get for some time yet; this was the only mail this winter from the outside, after all the talk of getting mail in regularly this winter: the conditions are worse than ever; it seems that there are no mail-carriers at all. The old mail may come in with the first boat.
You did write nothing in your letter of your journey nor of any greetings at home, what you did all winter; still I was happy to see you safe at home; I am surprised to hear you worry so much about me you have been here before, and ought to know how unreliable it is to send out letters: I have written six letters and you received only one; this is surely not my fault, just as little as it is yours that I did not get any tidings from you: you mentioned a draft of $100. which I did not get. I am all right every which way, I have all I want, and you need not worry.
In April I will go up the creek and stay till the wash-up, and if the results are satisfactory, I'll come home and will return here in the fall and take the Tallys along with us. I have been up at the gulch this week and got a little damper on my great expectations, as No.2 don't turn out as rich as I expected; No.9 is all right, and the production is about the same as in the start, I don't think that I'll have more this year than about $l5000. but it will not be worked out yet, and will have something for next year. I have sent two men to work on my bench claim on Bonanza this week, and if fortune will be favorable to me I may get out something from there. All bench claims on Bonanza turn out good; Dominion is getting better every day, but Sulphur is an entire failure.
The weather is grand here; it is not any too cold; always clear sky; we could see the sun nearly all winter, only for about two weeks was it hidden from view. I am sorry that you did not remain here as you would have enjoyed life better than ever before; I have nothing to do but to eat and sleep, but feel very lonesome; I have nobody to communicate with, no friend to take any interest in my affairs. I hope to see the day to fly to you and the children, and greet my friends, especially am I eager to see Schamshu and Gussie. The children's letters gladden my heart but was surprised to see Lulu's handwriting, and was surprised at you that you let him send such a letter. Are they going to school? Are they advancing? You never mentioned a word about anything; tell Tolly to be patient a little longer until I come home: I have no doubt that we can make arrangements to take them along; have you not seen them? have you not been in N.Y.? I am anxious to know a great many things, but I may find out if some more will come in. With love and regards to all, I am
Yours forever,
Sol.
Is it not possible for you to send to Scholar Reiner $100.? It would be a great load off my mind; it would have been much better had you sent it to him than to me. Dear Jac:- I wish I could see you already, as I feel very lonesome and as the days pass by, each month seems a year to me now. With kisses I remain, yours, Sol.
Dawson City, Ala. March 1, 1899
My dear Jac:-
Since I received your only letter from January 8, I have heard nothing from you, the old mail did not arrive yet and may not get here until spring, so I know absolutely nothing about you or of everything you passed through since you left here, and I am so anxious to know. In your last letter you did not mention a word about yourself. I have answered your letter and hope that you receive it as well as all my others to you. I have no news to write the town is as dull as ever, no business and no discoveries, except Some bench claims which turn out to be good. I have sent a man to 42 to represent my bench claim there, but don't know yet whether it is of any account; my men are working on No.9, and it keeps up to be all right.
My plan for the future is to go home after the wash-up, which will be about June 15, and stay a few weeks and then return with you here. The house is vacated as ever, but I don't pay rent as nobody pays any rent on the water-front; it is in court and is not decided yet I hope to hear from the old mail soon as I could make use of the $100 draft. With love to you and the children, Gussie and Schamshu, I remain
Yours forever,
Sol.
This letter arrived in Coudersport April 3, 1899
Dawson City, Ala., March 11, l899
This was a gala week for me; I received three of your letters including that lovely one of Jan.2; this last one I enjoyed very much; it seems that you are still in love with your own husband, and occupy your thoughts with him and his welfare only; this was compensation for all hardships, and was repaid for all the missing pleasure of having you with me. I also received your draft of $100. yesterday, which came very handy to me; this shows your thoughtfulness and smartness, as I told you not to send me any money when you left, and now how different I think. I would have been hard up if this would not have reached me just now. I may be only able to send out one more letter before summer comes: my last letter will be about April 1, and then the travel will stop, until the water opens, so I must tell you now what my intentions are in regard to coming home, and in fact, I don't know myself as it all depends on how much money I'll take out from the claim. No.2 did not prove good and can expect very little from that, but No. 9 is O.K. but still I could not tell how much I'll have, and in this depend all my plans. Anyhow my intentions are to come home after the wash-up, though it is very expensive, and then make our plans for the future. I may leave here about June 1, and you'll not know until you'll get a telegram from Seattle where to meet me.
By-the-by I forgot to tell you that we had a fire in Dawson on March 9, said Rosenthal’s laundry, Mr. Adcock, and I were the victims; everything went up in smoke; Mr. Adcock lost about $12000., but I only lost all I had, which is not much, and I was glad that the fire occurred so that I could get rid of all my bed-bugs, which I could not do other- wise, and I had my Nekuma on them. The fire broke out about 7 a.m., when I was in bed yet, and it took only about five minutes to reach my house, but I had enough time to dress and rum out; the loss in fact is not so great when you come to consider that we would have to remove the building anyhow by May 1, and would have been a great expense to me. I had no benefit from the house all winter anyhow and was only a trouble to me, I live in Ben. Levy’s house at present; he don't do any business; the house is empty, and in the store and saloon he don't take In $10. a day. The whole town is on the buy, and all my acquaintances are not any better off than I. This is the only consolation we have.
My only wish is that you enjoy yourself and make the best of the time you are home. and I will postpone mine until I reach home and see you. I am sorry that in that fire your letter of Jan. 23, was burned, as I intended to keep it for some future day, so if a storm and tempest should break over my head, to have this letter as a shield and shelter, to show you how different you spoke to me once upon a time, like the married couple proved by the phonograph of the sweet sayings they used while wooing. I don't know what else to write;, the time is not far when I'll see you and children, you that is my vision day and night.
Yours, with love,
Sol.
My regards to Deiches and all the family. My thanks for Gussie's letter, which gave me great pleasure.
This letter arrived in Coudersport April 18, 1899
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