The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-09-30

Search Of Prospectors for Quarts in the
Yukon Basin.


search OF Prospeetors for Quarts in the
Yukon Basin.
Astoria Pioneer.
Last Saturday evening the Pacific whal-
ing steamer Jeanne, which arrived here
from Alaska, brought two Alaska miners
that had been picked Up at the mouth OF
Copper river, near Prince Williams sound.
They were around the city Sunday after
noon. one of them being robed in fancy
buekskin attire. trimmed in beads and
fringe. such As is worn by the aborigines of
Alaska. They have been in that wild and
desolate country for some three years.
prospecting for ores, and in all that time
were only hack in civilization but once,
about eighteen months ago They exhib-
tied some fine gold nuggets, some quartz
they represented ID contain IS per cent.
COPPER, and about a couple OF ounces OF
gold dust that was exceedingly line, and
was equally as coarse as Judson powder.
The names OF the miners are J. q. Davies
and John Maloney.
In fss5 Lieutenant Allen and 3 party ex-
rlored the Copper river from its mouth 10
its extreme headwsters in search OF a cop
per quartz ledge that had been discovered
by tribe OF Indians, known as the Manis-
kies, but failed 70 locate the desired place
IL was not on the Copper river as II
transpires. bat lies between point 80 miles
southwest from place commonly known
as Forty mile creek, situated at or near the
mouth OF Ste wart river, a tributary TO the
Yukon, and the extreme headwaters OF the
Tananah river. also tributary 10 the Yukon.
which finds its outlet in the latter river at
Tnkiukyet Mr.. Davies and his partner
started from juneau about six months ago
with an assaying outfit and provisions that
were valued at 81 20. and endeavored TO
find their way TO Forty-mile creek. where
about i60 miners are located. The distance
is about $50 miles, and before they reached
their destination sixty -one days had passed
away The route selected was over the
mountain from juneau 10 Chilkoot pass,
and thence by rowbost down lakes Lin
derman. Tohka and Marsh.
Just before reaching Lake Lebarge, and
at point about twenty eight miles south
east OF Lake Lebarge. in what is called
Miles canyon. the boat upset, from the
swiftness of the water, and the entire plant
and provisions and men were thrown into
the seething mass of water and floating
ice, where gigantic walls stood up majes-
tlcally on either side and uttered defiance
from the extreme cold of the water, they
battled in the tor'uous current until the
cargo had sunk from the boat and it had
come TO the surface, when fortune allowed
them 10 grapple the boat. In this condition
they drifted on down through the canyon for
nearly half an hour. and then managed 10
reach shore, almost helpless from their ex-
perence. Without food, dry clothing or IA
= l. H. Il
being rescued was abandoned, but TO their
great surprise and good fortune. other
members of the party who were travelling
Ia Fortymile ctees, via the mountain
range, overheard their cries of misery and
saved their lives. They reached Forty
mile creek In about fourteen days. and
made their headquarters there for about
two months.
still determined 10 prospect for the fam
Gus quartz ledge that Lieutenant Alien had
failed to find, and that tive men who had
left forty-mile creek to prospect for two
years ago, and never have been heard of
since, they started with provisions on their
backs, such as il was, and crossed the ice
covered Alaska mountains and struck the
head waters of the Tananah river. They
We're forty days making the trip of $50 miles
suffering untold agony from cold and hun
ger, having been seven DAYS without food.
Game was pretty plentiful. the only source
for getting meat. but lost as they were, with
death staring them in the face, they became
so bewildered that ambition to hunt had
deviated from their thoughts. After
wandering around for day or so, they met
an Indian, named Nicolai, member of
the Maniskie tribe. who furnished them
with some fish and meat and they recuper-
ated sufficiently to resume their search for
the famous ledge. They found it, and the
ore exhibited to a Pioneer reporter was the
outcome Of their untiring efforts Here they
started, together with the Indian and his
squaw, TO Tokai river, toward the summit
Of the mountains, crossed the divide and
struck the source of the Copper river. and
continued down that stream for many
days until Chittysione was reached. They
then resumed prospect for gold Quartz
with but little satisfaction Taking the
Copper river again, they travelled on down
aud over portion OF this river (which they
termed bad water, for reason Of its swift
ness and dangerous meanderings) where no
white man has ever traversed, and landed
at the mouth.