The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-02
THE NEWS OF ALASKA
Decision i'm the Noted Bennett
Mine Contest.
MINER SLAIN BY ENRAGED BEAR
Much Work Being Done at the Mines
Drowned Prospector Found
New Placers Discovered.

shin Of the Bennett mine, in the Silver
Bow basin. had been decided by Judge
Truitt in favor OF the NOVEL; Gold Mining
Company. a Boston company. which is
trying TO make settlement with the en-
ployes who worked on the property under
former ownership. The company offered
TO give the men the ore on hand. ana II
that was not sufficient 10 allow them ore
later on 10 satisfy their claims. The men
demand the cash, and have applied TO
Judge Truitt 10 get restraining order 70
prevent the company from operating the
mine until they are paid.
The Bears Nest mine, on Douglas ISL
and which was recently reported as SAT-
ed. is now being surveyed and thoroughly
prospected.
Killed by Eating Berries.
The Juneau Mining Record OF July =
states that ]. W. Burch. who arrived
there from Oklahoma territory few
weeks ago, accompanied by Mr.. and Mrs.
r. T. Brook, died very mysterlously sat
llrday evening July II. Since arriving the
three people have been living together in
one house Burch and Brook had been
hunting across the bay that day and ar
rived at home about o'clock in the even
ing. They ate their dinner soon after ar
irving home and about five minutes after
he arose from the table Burch complained
of his stomach troubling him, and only a
A physician was summoned a once, but
the patient lived but few minutes. Com
missioner Mellen summoned coroner s
jury. and an investigation has been going
on which will not be reported for some
time. \ post-nortem examination was
made but the report has been kept secret
Brooks says that Burch ate great many
berries while out hunting, which is
thought to have caused death. Burch was
about * years of age, and supposed To
possess some means. Brook only recently
made his acquaintance, and very little is
known OF the man.
Slain by an Angry Bear.
Word was recently received of an I'M
known man being killed by a bear at
Berners bay The man was James Nc
Donald an old-t time miner and prospector
of juneau. The story goes that while he
and William Prior were out prospecting
the day upon which the death occurred.
they gave two Indian bows the rifle which
they mad with them to go up on the
mountain side TO hunt for mountain
sheep Soon after the Indians had left,
Mcdonald and Prior saw three bears. one
old and two yearling cubs, coming after
them at full speed. The men started 10
run. but Mcdonald. who saw al once
that has fate was certain. told Prior, who
was in advance not TO walt for him. but
overlook Mcdonald AS she was about to
come upon him he turned and raised a
prospecting pick to strike but the bear
with one blow from her paw, sent him
whirling irr the air. No sooner done than
she started in hot pursuit of Prior Prior
was headed for a steep Sulch and upon
reaching Il he fell over a clump of bushes.
landed on the snow and shot down the
mountain side like an arrow. When he
reached the gulch the bear was but few
feet behind him, but here she seemed to
have lost all track of him and turned
back to finish the wounded man, and
before leaving him she saw that life was
extinct
The Indians were far up the mountain
side and saw Mcdonald meet his fate.
but were unable to render any assistance.
Prior landed at the bottom Of the gulch
not a little bruised, but feeling rather
satisfied with his unpleasant ride. The
bear soon left and Prior and the Indians
brought the remains of the dead man TO
Juneau Wednesday. where he was buried.
James Mcdonald was born in Nova
Scotia lin 1874 and came to Alaska from
Colorado In 1886, from which time he has
been engaged in mining and prospecting.
He served in the late war and was a
member of the G. 4. r.
New Placer Mines Found.
News has come from the neignborhood
OF Loring that placer diggings have been
found on the Stewart river, which emp
ties into the Sound north of that place.
]. A. Mcclure an old Montana mining
man. reports having discovered gold in
paving quantities in loose gravel. but
owing 10 a heavy flow of water a few
feet below the surface 1t was impossi-
bic 10 reach bed rock. To drain the place
would cost $4,000. and II was deemed
too much Of an undertaking. The coun-
try is full Of quartz though an assay
OF samples shipped to San Francisco has
not been returned as yet. Mr.. Mcclure
visited the Annette island discoveries and
spent some time looking over the ground.
He reports the rock as quite rich. but
doubts the permanenCy Of the ledge. Be
sides which there is considerable claim
jumping and the uncertainty Of title to
the ground ever being obtained from the
Indians in case the reservation theory
sticks.
The New Mill at silver Bow.
Owing 10 an unfortunate break in the
pipe that furnishes the main water power
10 the new thirty-stamp mill OF the Jul
neau Mining Company. at Silver Bow
Basin. starting the machinery will be de-
layed several days. which is a serious
matter The carpenter work has been
completed some time. and the machin-
cry Is all in place. ready 10 commence
ore crushing on a large scale There are
changes in some Of the present structures
to be made. and one more building for
assaying IS contemplated.
Notes Among the Mines.
Ex-Gov. Swineford has commenced work
nnon the Lucky Chance and the Turner
property - soon 10 be developed. There
are indications Of nickel in the AIillmore
vein and government experts are salts
fed that the mineral in that vicinity VIII
develop something equal TO the Tread
we'll Mexican or Jnga mines. John Shor-
tai. o. opal. Col. viii investigate the
value Of the Lucky Chance mine.
William Meehan and Harvey Hurlbert
had their prospecting camp and outfit
burned at Chuck recently. II was supp1s-
81 10 lie the work Of bruin. who entered
the camp in their absence and knocked
over the stove.
Willis Thorp purchased The Takou Con
solieated group OF mines last week for
So nS. which were sold at sherffs' sale
This group is considered among the best
annual producers Of Silver Bow basin and
Is thought 20 be a paying proposition for
Tie purchaser.
The topeka recently took 20 Seattle
something over $4,000 in bullion. PORTION
~ Alaska's contribution 10 the world S
wealth for the month Of June the COM
NAMES interested were the Novel; Cold
Mining Company. SO 900 Decker Bros
+ g so: ard juneau Mining Company
I g. po.
The Rustler went 20 Seward City Thurs
fav with machinery for the Comet min
/ The tramway from she Bear mine "a
+ the Mill e completed and the new TWEEN
4 ~ stamps viii he dropping by August T.
Ore IS being taken out II the J.. V
4 VI. CO mine az the Fate Of 2p0 tons a
dav.
Tae United states revenue cutter Vol
catr touched az Sjtks Julv a. She Will