Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-03-20
Rich Diaaings Reported In the Far
North,

"
from the Phoebe Record Of March lith.l
Peter Cargotich, a native of siavo-
mia, but an old Pacific coast miner
having arrived in California III 1851
Il now in Phoebe to organize an expe-
dition to mine for gold aud silver on
the Stekeen or Simpson river, which
forms the northern boundary Of Brit
ish Columbia, and empties into the
Pacific ocean In lower Alaska waters.
The reported mines are go miles from
the coast, and something over 1000
miles north of San Francisco. The
following Is Nj. Cargotich's history of
the discovery Of the mines and what
he knows about their character and
richness:
In 1851, himself and forty.five 9TH
ers went up the coast on the schooner
North Star, having a complete mining
outfit for nine months exploration.
At the mouth Of the Stekeen they
bought canoes Of the Indians and pad
died up the river, prospecting as they
proceeded-tinding colors, by the way,
eyerywhere-until they reached q
place which they named Bucks Bar,
after a French Canadian. There
ounce diggings were found, were shall
low and easily worked. But Mr.. Car
Qotlch, not satisfied with this, pro-
ceeded further up the river, alone.
Having gone about % miles above
Bucks Bar, where the North Fork oil
the Stekeen empties into the main ri,-
er. he prospected some Of the surface
dirt, and got, on high bed rock, 81 50
to the pan In coarse gold, mixed with
some silver. This was about the first
OF June, the water being very high.
He worked at that place about three
weeks. taking out near $1,000 In hea'
Wy gold, and then returned to the
party below. and reported to the party
below, and reported his good luck.
All then moved to the rich deposits,
and twenty-one sluice boxes were
made but the water was too high
when they were finished to set them.
At last they were got In place, and
the first days work, OIL high bed
rock, yielded twenty-seven ounces
Then 1t was that the bedrock
pitched down perpendicularly into
the river, and 1t was utterly i'm,
possible, on account Of water. &c
follow It but big pay was realized
wherever high bedrock could be found,
They then, 1t now being about the first
Of October, went to work making Win
ter quarters; having completed theil
cabins, they continued exploring. and
found $40 and $40 dlggings in variou;
places. About the holidays scurvy
broke out among the party. from which
II died. The antidote was wild cherry
bark, q free use of which saved the ma
jority from death.
In the Spring, as soon rs the ict
broke, Indians were employed to &C
down to the mouth OF the river witt
the sick men, to a Russian man .of-wari
on which they were taken down t
Victoria. And then Mr.. Cargotich ant
his partner again started out prospect
Ing. ascending the North Fork with {
handsled to Its headwaters. There they
found immense quantities Of native sill
YER, platina and gold. These metals
were found In tho gravel deposits
along the river, in irregular masses
varying in weight from an ounce t
over q pound. The Indians said tina,
seven days travel further north woult
take them where the precious metals
existed in still larger quantities. Blu
both being again attacked with scurvy
they returned to Victoria, carrying
with them about $1,000 In gold dust
They coasted down the entire distances
In q canoe.
"Then," says Mr.. Cargotich, g.
went into business in Victoria, ant
have ever since been trying to organ
izo an expedition to return. | have
many friends and acquaintances ii
Victoria and San Francisco, as well a:
Phoebe, men of standing aud RELIABLE
ity, who will vouch for my statements
| am now here in Phoebe to get to
gethcr a company Of good, practlcaI
miners to return with me-. AL wish
ing further information can get IL BY
calling on me-"
Mr.. Cargotich showed us lump o
silver of about two ounces weight,
which he says he found in the digsings
up on the North Fork OF the Stekeen
Now, having given Mr.. Cargotich's
story as 1t came from his W lips, we
leave the public to come to th0lr owr
conclusions. He tells q frank, straight
forward story. and seems to be a mar
Of good practical judgment. gs.
ci - N.-