, 1890-10-30
Miners Returning From tho
Yukon Gold Fields.
REPORTS FROM THAT REGION
Arrival In the Sound of Salmon
Which Run but Once in
Ten Years.

Mile creek on July 80, having con-
sumed sixty-five days In making
the trip. Mr.. h. +. Butler, one Of
the party, reports that In the neigh
borhood of 200 miners wintered
along the Yukon last winter, most
of whom he thinks will come out
this fall. A large number of them
have been there from two to three
years. He anticipates that there
will not be scarcity Of provisions
there this winter for those that re-
main in, as was reported here, as
the company's boat was expected
to arrive from st. Mlchaels at any
time when he left. Reports on what
the miners have done the past
season are not the most encourag-
ing, although the men on Forty
Mile creek have taken out various
sums, from winters grub stake up
to fair wages.
The low diggings paid the best,
and the high or bank diggings have
yielded but small returns Work
was closed down on Forty Mile on
August 10. Last winter, owing to
the wreck Of the company's y steamer,
about $50 miners found 1t necessary
to go down the river to winter,
starting on their return trip again
the 2Sth of May, the leo having
broken on that date. During this
season the miners were we'll scat
tered, prospecting up and down the
river, and on many of Its tributaries,
but 10 reports of any strikes had
been heard Of. Pelly river was also
well prOspected during the pas
two seasons but nothing big found,
although there are u number Of bars
there that would pay IL they were
worked properly. Two men worked
on Lewis river this season, and took
out from S4 to Sl2 per day. Most of
the parties coming out this fall Will
come out this way, and miners may
be looked for from now on until
snow closes up the pass on the
range.
Carl Boentjen brought a marine
curiosity to this Office Monday even
of an ordinary seaweed some twenty
feet in length, and at the lower end
the cluster of roots have firm hold
of an aggregation of marine shells
several pounds In weight. These
shells are occupied by II curious in
habitant that has a beak that resem-
bles chickens, only 1t Is divided
perpendicularly insead, of hori-
zontally. Several persons inspected
the curious formation, but had never
seen anything like II. Mr.. Boent-
jen will pickle the whole outfit and
place 1t on exhibition.
George Seymour, n jolly hunter
and trapper, who has spent several
winters on the st, Mary's, following
his chosen vocation, passed through
Pennington the other day bound
for his field of operations, where he
will spend the coming winter He
stopped long enough to call on the
Newspaper and tell all about his
work and camp In the mountain
businesses. His happy hunting
ground is on the st. Mary's, about
fifty miles from Pennington. He
sets his traps and then spends the
day In the woods with his gun,
where deer, bear, cougar and elk fall
before the unerring aim, besides
much small game. In his traps he
snares the beaver with his shining
fur, marten and fishers, principally.
Their skins bring II good price.
With his gun and traps better
living Is made than could be secured
in the valley by his labor. The
snow was six or seven feet deep
around him last winter, but the
stiffness of the air prevented the
weather from becoming cold. He
AYERS that he wears u coat during
the winter only after reaching his
cabin, while in the process of cooling
o IL after his daily hunt.
Some days ago the Seattle Press
received u communication from w.
j. White, an old mountain from tiers
man, saying he understood mem bers
of the Seattle Alpine Club intended
attempting the ascent of Mount
Baker for the purpose of planting
the American flag on the summit.
He earnestly protested against the
attempt, saying that from his
knowledge of tho mountain he
could say it would be sure death.
Professor l.. IL. Ingraham, of the
Seattle Alpine Club, was shown the
letter and asked If there was any
truth in the report. Said he:
"As president of the Alpine club l
can state that we know nothing of
such q project. We do not intend
to make the ascent of Mount Baker
or any other mountain this winter.
To attempt the ascent ofany mount
ain IN winter time Is most fool
hardy undertaking, and as for my
self am not anxious to make any
such ascent, nor would / counte-
nance any member of the club doing
so.
"In August our party attempted
to climb that mountain, and got
within 500 feet of the top. We were
there detained for four days by
storms, and finally had to go back,
as our provisions were running
short. We were In a cloud ali the
time, and the weather was
frlghtful.
"In regard to the statement that
no one has ever reached the top, /
do not think that Is 80. under
stand that in 1866 parties of English
men and Americans attem pied to
reach the summit. The Americans
E..I