Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-06-06

DEAsE CREEK. April % II

DEAsE CREEK, April 80, 1874.
BY the time this reaches you, you will
undoubtedly have heard some bad news
from this section of country. 1 had
very pleasant trip up to the time 1 ar
rived at the mouth of the Stickeen river.
We made the trip from Victoria by
steamer in four days, with about three
months provisions and sleds, which made
800 pounds to the man. Parish and
Phillips stood the sleighing for about
eight miles, and then backed out. They
went back to Fort Wrangle, about four
teen miles, and said they would wait
until the river broke up and come up as
far as Bucks Bar by steamer. l have
not heard from them, and don't think
steamer will start up before the 10th or
10Th OF May, for the ice is not all out of
the river yet The distance from the
mouth of the Stickeen to the above place
is about 270 miles. / made it in % DAYS,
and arrived here on the 18th of the pres
ent month. The last so miles of river
We travelled there was about foot of
water on top of the ice. We had
only two portages to make on the trip,
one seven and the other three miles.
The waters of Dease and Tibbetts creeks
empty into Dease lake, which is about
80 miles in length and not to exceed one
mile in width. 1t is about three miles
from the head of the lake to the head
waters of the North Fork of the Stickeen,
which emptys into the Pacific. This
camp is in about latitude 60 north. l
can tell You about what have seen of
of this camp, and you can be your own
judge. At the present those that own
claims are cutting ice, which is about
two feet thick, and building fires on the
high points where there is no water to
thaw out the ground SO they can run
rockers. Some are making little money.
There was never hole sunk in the cham
mel of the creek that l know of. They
will not get to work before the first of
August, and don't think they can work
more than two and q half months. The
creek is shallow and can be worked by
wing draining at presnt, which is low
water. There are five thousand inches OF
water. and the amount of ice l can not
estimate. There are no bars on the
creek, it looks more like canyon than
anything else. There are about two
miles that look we'll, and l think there
is some places that will pay. There are
not to exceed 100 hundred men in the
camp, and everything is staked
and smuggled, so it is impossible
to lind out anything concerning it.
The Gold Commissioner sent Recorder
up here, and he will record piece of
ground for as many different men as will
pay for it. The Commissioner will be
up about the LIST of June, things may be
| different then. l have got no ground as
| yet. have done some prospecting, but
found nothing that will pay. At pres
ent am building boat, intending to go
down the Delhure river and prospect for
q while There are good many going.
The river heads in Dease's Lake and
empties in the Mckenzie. Two things a
man must have here, snow-shoes and a
boat. will not return here before the
working season, and may get hold of
something before Fall. There are men
leaving here every day, and you bet
nearly all OF the Piochers have got the
belly-ache. A great many of them are
going back. Things are looking blue,
but will try and stick her out till Fall
and see how things will end. l don't
| cousiueE men going pdck now KNOW any
thing about it. There may be something
struck this Summer. There is very lit
tie said about Tibbetts' Creek. have
not been there. Claims there are not
selling for anything; they are deep. The
truth is it is impossible to prospect in
this country at this season of the year.
What little provisions there are for sale
here, and it is mighty little, is a dollar a
pound; sugar is worth two dollars.
There will be no provisions in here be.
fore the LIST of June, and think some Of
that will be packed by Indians. You car
show this to any OF the boys, and if they
have the fever, let them come, the trip
will give them good appetite.
JOHN +. GRAY