Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-03-11
RACE FOR TWO MILLIONS.

An exciting race of fifty miles over
mountains for a mine worth S2,000,000
by miner and an officer of the federal
government was the excitement in the
region of Tacoma, WASH, last week.
The race was incident to the open
ing of the great Colville Indian reser-
walton, in eastern Washington.
The Coleman syndicate, whose man
won the race, was organized by Judge
A. Il. Coleman, of Port Townsend. In-
terested with him are Judge w. ii.
Brinker, United States District Attor-
ney T. c. Robertson and his assistant,
Judge C. S. Fogg.
Judge Coleman became interested
some time ago in the LIE Fleur copper
and silver claim, on the Colviile re-
serve, fifty miles from Marcus, on the
Spokane and Northern Railroad. lie
Fleur is a Frenchman who discovered
the claim years ago, and has been
watching it ever since. Coleman filed
eight claims on the property; but the
Russell syndicate, healed by Colonel
j. n. Russell, ofSpokane, promptly filed
claims over his. The Russell people
claimed thGt the reservation was al
ready open under an act of Congress,
though the Presidents formal procla
nation had never been issued. They
took the matter into the federal court,
and Judge Hanford now has the ques-
ton under advisement.
The Coleman syndica.e requestecCon
gress TO open the reservation, and
prominent men went 10 Washington
city 10 show Congress how how the
public good would be conserved, as it
had been, by lis opening. The neces-
sary bill was passed FEBRUARY 10. Judge
Coleman went Immediately from Port
Townsend to the mine. The rights of
"sooners" being questioned, it vas de-
cided that man must be stationed at
1t Marcus 10 receive the news Of the
President signing the bill, and then 10
ride as fast be could for the claim. To
perform this feat, John McCool, of the
Coleman syndicate, and also collector
of customs at Marcus, was selected.
McCool was, in fact, one OF the original
discoverers of the tninc.
DIcCool was st Marcus the following
Thursday morning, awaiting telegram
from Washington, stating that President
Cleveland had signed the bill. The Rus
sell syndicate, equally clever, had Mark
Gilman ut Marcus to perform SINH
lar feat for them. The expected tele-
eram came early in the afternoon.
McCool and Gilman started on their
lonely: fifty-mile race over a rough,
tortuous trail. Each covered the dis
lance in less than five hours; but Gill
main, having the better horse, reached
the destination first. But he did not
post any notices. Judge Coleman was
in possession. He had with him an
Irishman and an Indian, and they were
prepared to use artillery, if need be, to
keep unwelcome visitors away.
When McCool arrived, he was
greeted cordially by Judge Coleman,
the latter quietly remarking that no
claim-fillers had yet put in an appear
ance. Gilman is quoted as stating that
h9 did not post any notices because he
did not wish 20 be shot. McCool's
notices were promptly posted.
The lie Fleur claim is situated on
the Fourth of July Creek, aud it is
said to be the richest claim in that re-
gion. 1t is estimated to be worth 81
100000 as it stands. Assays have run
S65 to S5 per ton in copper and silver.
1t will soon be transferred to the Tenas-
ket Mining Company, organized there
by the Coleman syndicate several
months ago, with q capital of S2, 900, 900.
1t is possible that the Russell syndicate
will make a contest.