The daily gazette., 1880-12-27
A SILVER MOUNTAIN.

AN ExTRAoRDINARY DISCOVERY IN
ALASKA.
This season when the whaling
fleet returned from a short trip In
the Arctic ocean it was stated that
the season had been unusually short,
and that the catch had been large,
but few people were aware of the
extraordinary discovery which had
been made by the crew of one Of the
vessels, which is to result in the en-
riching of score or more Of people.
The story, as told by the captain of
the whaler, is as follows: While the
vessel was lying in a small bay at
the mouth of one of the rivers which
empty into the ocean on the coast Of
Alaska, a great many of the natives
came aboard to trade for sea biscuit,
of which they are passionately fond,
and they were treated SO literally
by the white men that the chief in
vited the captain to accompany them
up the river a short distance on
fishing excursion. The captain con-
scented, especially as he was told the
river swarmed with salmon, and he
desired to lay in q supply. A whale
boat was manned and the captain,
one of the mates, and four men
started on the expedition. The en-
tire party went up the river about
Is miles, passing over rapid which
was difficult on account Of the swift
current and rocky distractions. Soon
after passing the rapids they came
in sight Of a hill, fringed with shrubs
and trees at its base, but barren and
rocky toward the summit, which
seemed to be not more than 400 or
500 feet high. Arriving at the top
they found what seemed to be The
crater of an extinct volcano, and
rocks resembled CONCEALED iron after
it had been melted, and the captain
undertook to knock off a piece.
Where the axe had cleaved its way
through the rock he saw it was as
soft nearly as lead, although it did
not shine. He thought then it was
a metal of some kind, and kept ii.
The mate meanwhile had picked up
some loose rocks and bowlders, and
they started away. Toward evening
native brought a piece of rock
| about twelve inches long by six
inches thick. which weighed forty
eight pounds and sparkled with gold,
stating that he had found it near an
other hill farther up the river and
that such rock was easily gathered
there. The party returned to the
vessel and in due time arrived in San
Francisco. Here the story was told
to a gentleman living in Oakland,
and the specimens handed over to
him for the purpose of having proper
assays made. This was done, and
the piece which the captain chopped
off the top Of the hill with the axe
went $4,000 per ton in silver and the
loose rocks picked up on the side OF
the hill went as high as $275 silver
per ton. 1t seems then that this hill
is a mountain of silver, and that it
is the beginning Of vast discoveries
which will soon be made in Alaska,
which may yet become the Ell
Dorado to which thousands will
rush. The Oakland gentleman
spoken OF Immediately formed a
party, or company, which has
chartered the whaler to take a trip
to the scene of the remarkable find,
as soon as the season opens. 1t will
be remembered that the Corwin, on
her trip to the Arctic this season,
discovered an unlimited supply OF
coal in North,rn Alaska, and also
brought back specimens of silver
bearing rock, which assays $l75 per
ton. So if the whaler is successful
10 1881 we may look for lively times
in Alaska in the near future.