The morning call., 1895-02-18
THE LOST ROCKER
REDISCOVERED.
STORY OF A RICH MINING CLAIM
IN THE WILDS OF
ALASKA,
HAZARDS OF PROSPECTING
A CLEw TO RICH PLACER
CLAIMS AFTER TWELVE
YEARS.

TACOMA, Feb. 17.-If all indications are
not at fault the famous Lost Rocker mine
of Alaska has been found.
Y. z. Carpenter, editor of the Juneau
News, who came down by the the last
steamer, tells a most interesting story of
the discovery, loss and rediscovery of the
wonderful mineral treasure. He says DIR.
William Mulcahy of juneau, who has been
one of the most persistant searchers for the
lost location, feels confident that he has at
last been successful in his search. In the
spring he will go into the country where
the mine is located, and is willing to stake
his life that he will return with horde of
yellow nuggets.
To mining men all along the coast the
story of the Lost Rocker mine is familiar.
About twelve years ago two prospectors, in
journeying. through the region back of
Wrangel, came upon beautiful little lake,
around which were all indications of gold.
They camped and proceeded to prospect
along the shores. On bar at the northern
end they at length found the shining
metal. and found it in such profusion as
was never before seen in Alaska. The
season was near its close, there were but
few hours of daylight during each twenty
four hours and the men were short of pro-
visions, hence they worked with feverish
haste to secure large stake. Within two
days they had taken out $4,000.
Then disaster fell upon them. While
bending over his rocker one day hostile
Indians crept up behind one of the pros
pectors and shot him. He fell forward
into the water, carrying the rocker with
him.
The other prospector, who had gone
hunting, was returning when the tragedy
occurred and witnessed it from the shelter
of clump of trees. AS the Indians began
to rife the tent in search of the miners
store of golden nuggets he attempted to
make his escape. He was discovered and
wounded in the fusillade that began as
soon as he was seen. Nevertheless he
escaped, and after weeks of hardships
and suffering managed to reach Wrangel.
In proof of his story he produced belt
full of nuggets that had been taken from
the mine. Hardly had he reached the
camp at Wrangel, however, when he be-
came delirious from the effects of his
wounds. The miners, among them DIR.
Mulcahy. tenderly cared for him. He was
never able to give an accurate description
of the lake where the great treasure was
located, but he raved about it constantly
during his delirium. At length he died,
carrying the secret of the mines location
with him.
DR.. Muicahy has just retured from
Wrangel, where he spent the summer
working on the great secret. He gained
much information from now aged Indian
chief, who claimed to know something of
the lake. He was willing to furnish the
information for certain number of
blankets, which were to be forfeited in case
the prospectors should fail to find the
mine.
The offer was accepted by DR.. Mulcahy
and a friend, and they started two pros
pectors on the quest. After diligent search
ing in almost every direction around
Wrangel for six weeks the party returned
without having made the discovery. The
Indian chief was then requested to deliver
up the blankets given him, which he
promptly did, but afterward insisted upon
another and more thorough search.
Dr. Mulcahy: still being confident.that
the lost lode could be found, once more
started the prospectors out. They were
gone about two months, during which time
they had to endure many hardships, but
when the grubstake had almost given out
and they were about to return home they
came upon beautiful sheet of water
which answered to the description of the
Lost Rocker. The surroundings of the
lake were closely scrutinized, but their
provisions were gone and they had no
time to prospect. They came back and
told of their discovery.
From the peculiar characteristics of a
certain spot near the lake, which DIR. Null
cahy declines to reveal, he is confident that
the newly discovered body of water is the
veritable lake which many an Alaskan has
longed to find. Whether or not the gilt
tering nuggets of the legend are there re-
mains to be disclosed.
AS soon as spring opens the party will
return to the lake and prospect the stream
which enters it.