The San Francisco call., 1896-10-04
VANISHED THEIR
DREAM OF Gold.
How a Brave Little. Band
of Miners Failed in
Alaska.
They Fitted Out an Expedition
Last April, but Cooks Inlet
Fooled Them.
RETURN OF THE PROSPER.
Disgruntlei Miners Who Are Not
Chary of Murmurs Against
Their Recent Chief.
RETURN OF TIE PROSPER.

The eighteen men who purchased
shares in the little schooner Prosper and
went on rold-hunting expedition last
April got back home yesterday.
They are very bitter against the man
who induced them to mortgage their
homes and use other means OF raising
money III order to reach the new Ell
Dorado, and should they lay hands on
him there will be trouble. The statement
OF the returned gold-m1ners is as follows
Last winter man named F. C. Bender of
Berkeley advertised for party OF men to go to
the Alaskan goldhelds. In answer to in
quiries he informed applicants that he would
take them to claim in Alaska that would
pay good dividends, ii not a small fortune
Eighteen of US paid him 500 apiece each for
q share in his schooner Prosper, in addition to
paving for the provisions and outfit.
We sailed from San Francisco April 6, but
stress or weather compelled us to put into
brakes Bay twice. Owing to dissatisfaction
engaged Captain Robert Quinton IN lien of
Captain Holm and sailed again on April 20.
We encountered nearly all head winds and
gales until May 27, when we anchored near
Point Steele, Alaska, and prospected for two
days and found nothing. Bender then in
formed US that his great secret place was
resurrection Bay, to which place we pro,
around and found nothing. Bender then
coolly informed US that there was nothing
there. We then deposed him from the man.
agement of the business and elected f. E.
Corder manager. We then proceeded TO Turn
again Arm, Cooks Inlet, and landed after a
protracted and desperate battle with the mos
quitoes.
We found the whole country located, but
there were plenty of claims to be leased or
purchased. We also found hundreds of idle
men and millions OF busy mosquitoes, but no
gold.
Bender had tried secretly to divide the party
and abandon the others and start out with
two or three OF the men on his own account;
his scheme did not work, whereupon he
abandoned us altogether.
After prospecting all around the country we
finally leased claim of Martin Chester, on
Resurrection Greek, where we turned the
stream and worked the river bed for one week,
sluicing, but we found practically nothing.
Discouraged and disguised We then deter
mined to return home. We left Hope City or
August s with 8 number of passengers for
Sitka. We encountered head winds and a
succession of southeast gales, the most OF
which occurred on August % and 30. We
rugged out q sea drag and hove to under bare
poles for twenty hours. For the first six
hours the wind blew with hurricane force.
Captain Quinton, who had weathered many
hurricanes, says he never experienced such
gale. But our schooner acted splendidly and
nota single sea broke on board.
We reached Sitka on September and left
for San Francisco September IL with fine
wea ther but head winds ali the time, and
rived in due time safe and sound. We owe our
most grateful thanks to Captain Quinton, who
brought US through all right.
F. E. Corder, H. c. Shock, c. R. Olsen, John
T. Voyler, C. Christensen A. f. Platner, A. E.
Corder.
f. G. Bender, a prosperous carpenter,
living on University avenue, near Sacra-
mento street, conceived the idea of the
expedition and succeeded in getting seven
other citizens of Oakland and Berkeley
interested in The scheme. These seven
men were +. E. Corder. a foreman in the
employ of the Judson Company; H. c.
Shock, an Oakland route-agent for San
Francisco newspaper; Charles Olsen, an
employe of the Judson Company; John
T. Voyler, an OakIander; o. Christensen,
San Francisco wharhnger; A. f. Plat
ner, another Oakland man, and A. +.
Corder, also of the Judson Com panY.
There were eleven others who became Co
partners in the scheme.
After prospecting for while they be-
came discouraged ard disgusted, and
finally set sail for home, leaving Hope
City on August s. They reached Sitka on
Septem Der 6, and left for San Francisco on
the 18th, arriving here last night.
Bender has been in the City for nearly
two months. On one occasion the miners
held meeting and threatened TO lynch
him, SO he made his escape and came to
San Francisco. There is now sure to be
litigation, as the miners hold the con-
trolling interest. and Bender, as the
holder of a one-third interest, is listed as
managing owner.