Alaska Reports New Placer Beds of Fabulous Richness.
Millions Lying Free and Excitement Intense -- Rigorous Trials However to Reach the Place.
Fort Wayne Weekly Gazette / July 22, 1897
SAN FRANCISCO, July 16. -- A story rivaling in the intensity of interest that told of the fabulous wealth of Monte Cristo was related by the passengers of the little steamer Excelsior, which has just arrived from St. Michael’s, Alaska. Millions upon millions of virgin gold, according to the story, awaits the fortunate miner who has the hardihood and courage to penetrate into the unknown depths of the Yukon district. There was tangible evidence on the little steamer of the truth of the story told by the travelers, for in the cabin were scores of sacks filled to the very mouth with dust taken from the placers of the far frozen north. The amount brought in is variously estimated at from $500,000 to $750,000. There came in on the Excelsior some forty people, among them some women, from what is known as the Clondyke district, though only fifteen of these had actually engaged in mining. There were among them men who had been for more than ten years facing the dangers and hardships of the frozen north in the hope of making a rich find, but who signally failed. But now they come back with fortunes stowed in their grip sacks and untold millions to be picked up in the country of which so little is known.
The new Eldorado lies just across the Alaskan border, in British territory. It is of recent discovery, but already there are at least 3,000 people on the ground and more are flocking in that direction. The discovery of the Clondyke regions presents a story that is uniquely interesting.
Around Forty Mile, on the Yukon, is a tribe of Indians known as the Slickers, and with them is a man who years ago was known as George Cormack, but who is now called “Slick George.” In September last, at the head of a party of Indians, he left his hut near Forty Mile camp and started in a southerly direction, saying he intended to find a new gold field before his return. He came back two weeks later and startled the miners with the announcement that forty miles away there was
gold to be found in plenty. The strata abounded with the yellow metal and all that was needed was for somebody to pick it up. Many persons flocked to the place, and in time the word reached Forty Mile camp that untold riches could be found along the bottom of Bonanza Creek and its tributaries. Men who had failed at the former camp immediately packed up their belongings and set out for the new fields. It was a hard and trying journey, but that was nothing with the promise of millions at the end of the route.
CONFIRMED BY LETTER.
SAN FRANCSICO, July 15. -- The following is an extract from a letter received by the steamer just arrived from Alaska. It was sent from the Clondyke region by a prominent and wealthy young business man of San Francisco to his brother in this city:
“The excitement on the river is indescribable, and the output of the new Clondyke district almost beyond belief. Men who had nothing last fall are now worth a fortune. One man has worked forty square feet of his claim and is going out with $40,000 in dust. One quarter of claims are now selling at from $15,000 to $50,000. The estimate of the district given is thirteen miles, with an average value of $300,000 to the claim, some running as high as $1,000,000 each. At Dawson sacks of dust are thrown down under the counters in the stores for safe-keeping. Some of the stories are so fabulous that I am afraid to repeat them, for fear of being suspected of the infection. Labor is $15 a day and board, with 100 days’ work guaranteed, so you can imagine how difficult it is to hold employes. If reports are true, it is the biggest placer discovery ever made in the world, for, though other diggings have been found quite as rich in spots, no such extensive discovery has been known which has been prospected and worked so high right through.”
RICH NUGGETS.
PORT TOWNSEND, Wash., July 17. -- At 3 o’clock this morning, the steamer from St. Michael’s for Seattle passed up the sound with more than a ton of solid gold on board and 68 passengers. In the captain’s cabin are three chests and a large safe filled with the precious nuggets. The metal is worth nearly $700,000, and the most of it was taken out of the ground in less than three months of last winter, and in size the nuggets range from the size of a pea to a guinea egg. Of the 68 miners aboard, hardly a man has less than $7,000, and one or two have more than $100,000 in yellow nuggets. One peculiar feature noticed is that the big strikes were made by “tenderfeet,” while the old and experienced miners of many years’ experience are suffering indescribable hardships and privations in Alaska and the northwest territory and have only a few thousand dollars to show for their labor. Fortune seemed to smile on the inexperienced man who went into the mining districts late last year, as nearly all of them were fortunate. The stories they tell seem to be incredible and far beyond belief. Instances are noted where single individuals have taken out in two and a half months gold to the value of over $150,000. Clarence Berry, of Fresno, Cal., went to the Yukon in 1890 and prospected several years with success. He returned home last autumn, was married and took his bride to the Klondyke last November. He is now in Portland with $135,000, the result of a winter’s work. Frank Phiscator, of Baetoda [Baroda], Mich., is another lucky miner. He went to the Klondyke last autumn and is now returning with $96,027, having worked two claims with nine men three months, and he still owns the claims. He was one of the original discoverers of the El Dorado district. Although most of the passengers are returning home with plenty of gold, they all advise and urge people who contemplate going to the Yukon not to think of taking less than one ton of grub and plenty of clothing. While it is a poor man’s country, yet the hardships and privations to be encountered by inexperienced persons unused to frontier life is certain to result in much suffering. They should go prepared with at least a year’s supplies.
