Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-09-24
RICH MINES OF IVORY.
a DISCOVERY MADE IN FAR
OFF ALASKA.
How Poor Miner Tumbled Onto For
tune In Bones-H Hundreds of Ivory
Tusks Found In a Cave
A Fierce Battle.

A gentleman recently returned from
Alaska gives Tacoma reporter the
following account OF discovery made
by himself that is OF the most iabulou
richness. He Is a miner OF lifelong
experience and had gone to Alaska
for the purpose OF making a prospect
ing tour in the gold fields. After u
perilous trip down the Yukon river he
was taken i'll at a native village on
the right oank of the river.
The party with whom Mr. Ander-
son was travelling stayed with him
several days US his illness seemed TO
be incurable and the native villagers
seemed to treat him with the greatest
charity and consideration. he urged
his companions TO push on before the
season got too far advanced and
leave him behind II was while lying
thus rs an object OF charity among
them that he first observed the pro-
fusion Of ivory ornaments worn by the
people.
Ivory was used for the adornment Of
the totem poles The raven al the
top had an ivory beak. and the eyes
OF the historic figures beneath were
ivory. Ivory was inlaid in every
conceivable form upon the poles 1t
abounded everywhere. Rude spoons
and drinking cups fashioned of ivory
were in daily use in almost every
household.
His curiosity was aroused to know
the source OF this wonderful supply OF
ivory. and he questioned the people
and they told him that several days
dog shedding to the northward would
after passing through innumerable
dangers bring him to an immense
ivory mine. He proposed to the
leading men journey to the mines.
They were unwilling at first but well
knowing its value as an article o,
trade among the tribes and seeing the
eagcrness OF the white, they came to
realize the enormous value OF such d
find and at last were persuaded.
Many days were spent in preparing
for the journey After two weeks OF
the most per.lous journeying. during
which they had passed within the arc.
tic circle. at last they arrived at the
foot Of a mountain. as near rs Ander.
son can estimate. about twenty foe
miles from the Yukon river by the
most direct route Here the ancient
guide called halt and parties were
told to GO Oft and prospect about in
search Of the spot Anderson went
with the ancient and it was their good
fortune upon the second day TO come
upon the spot
They had just mounted a big hum.
mock TO take survey OF the sur.
roundings when directly in front Of
them large square depression caught
the old mans ga e, and he cried.
There it isp'
The descent was quickly made. and
Anderson was not long in discovering
that the depression was large
square hole that had been dug out
and was now partially filed with
snow. packed hard ana solid as ice.
L did not take long to have the ex-
ploring party upon the scene and hard
at work In the course OF several
days the depression had been cleaned
out and what a marvellous sight
opened before them.
Hundreds-yes, thousands-of tusks
lay. white and cleaning with FROST
before them. Numberless skeletons
OF gigantic beasts were scattered
about the place Bones were strewn
about as though some mighty vulture
or carrion beast had been feeding
there. Closer inspection revealed to
Anderson the real truth. Evidently
two mighty herds OF these giant ele-
plants had done battle here and these
were slain. The bones lay in pict-
uresque heaps. In many cases the
tusks of one were buried within the
skeleton OF another. telling plainly
how both died. 1t must have been
mighty battle.
There is enough there to load ship
he thinks, and how much more il
more digging is done no one can tell;
but how TO get the ivory to market is
the question. At best the present ex-
petition can carry away no more than
ton or two. while here are many
hundreds Of tons enough to load a
ship.