The San Francisco call., 1896-08-13
ANOTHER CREW
ACCOUNTED FOR,
The Little Schooner Prosper
Arrives at Hope
City.
WAS GIVEN UP AS LOST.
Members of the Expedition De-
nounce the Originator of
the Scheme.
GOLD IS SCARCE IN ALASKA.
No One Suffered, but All We're Anx.
ious to Get Away From
the Mines.
GOLD IS SCARCE IN ALASKA

The little schooner Prosper has been
heard from. She reached a remote part
of Cooks Inlet and, in spite of all reports
to the contrary, made fair weather of it
during the entire trip. Neither Captain
Holm, the Merchants Exchange or any
one in shipping circles had received any
news of her whereabouts, and as she had
put back on one occasion everybody gave
ner up for lost
She reached her destination in safety,
however but the gold hunters are dis
gruntled set of men, as the following letter
will show:
HOPE CITY, Cooks INLET, Alaska, June 25.
Dear Tom: We arrived here on the 10th, all
safe. We found every one waiting for the
water to fall in the creeks, as they call them
here. but we would call them rivers in Cali
fornia. We have been out in the bills pros
pecting and find that all the gold is very fine
and ali in loose dirt, and not much of it at
that There very few claims paying any
thing yet and no new discoveries this year so
far.
There are plenty of claims that Maid little
last year that can be had very reasonable-in
fact on your own terms-which goes to show
that there is nothing big here. In fact, as far
as can Judge by the little have panned out
myself on Resurrection Creek, could get bet
ter prospects o. any OF the bars at Bidwells
Union or Fairfield, along the Feather River
If we do not get anything by the middle of
July shall be in for going home. had the
bad luck to lose my watch IN the bush when
l was out prospecting. We are going out again
tomorrow to try creek across the bay called
Bird Creek.
The man that got up this expedition is
fraud OF the worst kind, as we found to our
sorrow when we got mere. So we have to find
something for ourselves. All the mining is
done with wing dams here, with very few ex-
ceptions. We stopped at three places on our
hut mot Erd nrfh ir,rrs l.
We can get the color almost anywhere in
Alaska, but very little on the bedrock 1t
seems to be all brought down by slides.
1t is the toughest country to travel over that
ever got into on Gods earth
FRANK CoRDER.
G. S. Blackwell from the local freight
Office of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company writes 10 George ]. Strong, ad-
juster of the Southern Pacific Company,
aud his wife as follows:
HOPE CITY, ALASKA June, 1895.
Dear Mr.. and Mrs. Strong, SSS Eddy Street, San
Francisco: After a journey of thirty days we
landed at Kayac Island, near Prince Williams
Sound. The trip was long and tiresome one
to me, but with the exception OF few days we
had very pleasant weather. was not sick,
but most of the men were. Some for two or
three weeks. You may be sure that each and
every one was glad to get ashore
No doubt YOU have anfidea that when we got
ashore it would be so cold that we should al
most freeze and, of course, thought so my
SELF but such was not the case. While it is
true that the mountains were covered with
snow and ice where we were anchored (about
three miles off shore) 1t was perfect San
Francisco day.
While here we caught lots OF Goldfish, SO had
fish for breakfast, dinner and supper, until we
got tired of them.
We remained here three days, then sailed
fer Resurrection Bay, distant about eighty
miles. While there we prospected every creek.
Five of us made trip inland about thirty-five
miles, across the mountains TO the head Of the
Kinai River We found colors in most every
place we prospected, but not in paying guam
titles We remained in Resurrection Bay
twelve DAYS, then sailed for Turnagain Arm
the head of Cooks Inlet.
Hope City is located at the mouth of Resur-
reetion Greek. It is not much of q city, only
a few minor streets. The climate beats San
Francisco II is very mild and pleasant The
days are long; in fact, there is no night here
at this time OF the year. Almost as light at IL
NJ as It is at IL NJ.
We have not done anything as yet; do not
know whether there is anything worth re-
manning here or not. Expect TO strike out
prospecting just as soon as we can.
The vessel that carries the mail will be here
to-day. Have not time to write more at pres.
eut Should / miss this mail it would be a
month before it could be taken TO juneau. We
only get mail once month at this place
postofice is about forty miles distant.
do not expect an answer to this as do not
know whether we will remain here or not /
will write you as soon as we get located. Hope
we will be fortunate enough TO find something
here.
Trusting this will find you all in good health,
with best love to all remain yours, sincerely
u LESLIE BLACKWELL.
The above letters show that the Prosper
arrived safe and sound at Hope City. but
that the hopes of all who Joined in the
venture we're dashed to the ground few
days after their arrival.