Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-22
WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
Advices from Alaska-PeriiOus Trip-The
Skagit Mines.

PORT TOWNSEND, April 2lst.-The steamer
California arrived this afternoon from Sitka.
The winter in Alaska is about over. The
snow and ice are rapidly disappearing.
E. A. March, a California pioneer, died at
Sitka on the 10th, of heart disease. He was
we'll known in San Francisco.
The Alaska Gold and Silver Mining Com
pany are building a furnace for roasting sui
phurets. All the levels of the Stewart look
well. Arastras will be erected on the Witch
as soon as the snow disappears.
The sanitary condition of the Jamestown is
very good. Ensign E. M. Katz is aboard the
California, homeward bound on leave of abb
sence; also G.. A. Alisky and number of
other passengers.
The California brought down $4,000 in
treasure.
Stickeen river is still closed.
w. G. Garfield and another miner have
just arrived here from Ruby creek, having
made the trip down in three days While
trying to reach Dungeness light on Monday,
they were overtaken by an easterly wind,
which changed to southeasterly, and then to
the southwest, which latter drove them fifteen
miles outside of the light Here the tide and
wind being in opposite directions caused the
sea to run high, and they only escaped drown
ing by rigging drag and constantly baling
the water out of the canoe. By daylight
yesterday morning they had nearly persisted,
having been without food and water and sub
ject to constant labor for thirty-six hours
They then espied two vessels coming up the
Straits, which proved to be the ship Shirley
and the barkentine Kate Flickinger. The
Shirley being first to arrive within sight and
hearing of the parties in the canoe, she was
repeatedly signaled by hosting flag of dis
tress and waving of hats, but failed to take
any notice of the signs, passing within a short
distance of them. 1t seems that Captain
Raven, of the barkentine Flickinger, noticed
the signs made, and seeing the Shirley pass
without rendering assistance, he made signs
to those in the canoe that he would come to
their rescue, and Immediately came into
stays, stood far enough to the windward so
as to reach them on the next tack, and with
every stitch of canvas set reached the men
and took them on board, where they were
kindly treated in every way: The men had
given up all hopes Of reaching land alive.
Garfield reports the trip to Ruby creek by
Skagit river as attended with many difficult
ties and actual dangers to life and property.
On The way down the river, at the second
rapid below Goodals landing, their shovel
nosed canoe, with seven occupants, was
swamped, and about seven-eighths of
all their property, money, ETC., was lost,
one of the party nearly losing his life. The
same day another party of seven. in the same
kind of canoe. handled by Indians, was
capsized at the Portage, and all their prop
erty lost. He reports from three to ten feet
of snow through the country, and the rivers
constantly rising. He brought back good
specimens of gold-dust, taken from placer
claim just below the mouth of Ruby creek
He states it positively to be his opinion that
no work can be done before August Many
miners who arrived by the Skagit route in
formed him that they would certainly return
by Fort Hope. The diggings in his opinion,
are not nearly as extensive as reported.