The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-16
MYSTERIOUS COPPER RIVER.
PrOspectOrs Have Len to Go Up Among
the Indians but None Return

Among the hordes OF hardy prospectors
visiting the Cook inlet country. some Will
undoubtedly be restless and daring enough
TO leave the districts over which the ma
iority viii prospect and look for new fields
Copper river. about which so many-tales
OF Indian cruelty are told, will be the por-
ton OF Alaska's UNEMPLOYED territory first
visited, because of its proximity to Cook
inlet. The Indians there are said 10 be tall
and straight. resembling the Apaches Of
Arizona. The following interview with
man who is familiar with the country about
Copper river. is taken from the Alaska
News Of April 2:
There are estimated TO be about ls0n
although the tribe has never been num-
bered by any census taker of Alaska 10
know for certain. They live alone among
the mountains that surround the head
waters of Copper river and from among
which 1t springs No white man has ever
penetrated their country and come back
to tell the story OF what he saw and the
manner OF their living. their customs. the
topography OF their country or the number
or the lakes. Lieut.. Allen and guide as
cended the river ~ far as the first forks,
but did not reach the principal settlements.
Fine appearing gold float is picked up along
the mouth OF Copper river. which has
washed down from the lodges in the foot
hills. Tempted by these indications many
miners are known 10 have gone prospecting
up that river and in doing 50 disappeared
forever as far as l was ever able to as
certain. Whether they We're killed by the
Indians. or held In captivity. or found 1t
convenient TO inrermarry with the natives
is unknown. They are so far away from
civilization thai no force OF men Of suf-
fcient size has ever been collected TO ex-
piore their country, though Il was reporid
when | left Alaska three years ago that
a party Of forty men were going up ;he
Copper river the following summer 10 pros
pect its head waters
II resided on Cook inlet for two years,
having charge OF a store for the Alaska
Commercial Company. The Indians would
come down the iniet regularly every fall
and spring to trade with me. They would
cross ever the divide between the Copper
river and the Suchitnoo river and come
down the latter 20 the inieg. The first 7
wonid know OF their presence would be on
awakening some morning 20 see a half
dozen canoes dragged out on the beach and
a score or more OF these Indians sitting
around a camp fire. They would remain
several DAYS looking over Uy goods and
then dig VI their furs where they had been
hidden ard trading would begin. The In
dams can not speak English or any other
Indian language n Alaska. ! never found
an Indian that they could talk with or that
could at all understand them They bring
fire furs 70 the coast. their bear skins
being softer and more silky than any
obtained from any other section OF the ter
rttory. The weapons used by them consist
OF the bow. arrow and spear Magnificent
bows are made By them and they are evil
IDENTIFY excellent msrk<men, Judging from
the condition of the fars OF large animals
they kill
owing to the fact that they could not
speak nay language or theirs. we rssortet
TO curious custom for trading. They
would look through my goods until de-
sirable piece OF cloth or article would at
tract saels attention They would poin,
10 this and then az one Of their skins. Then
| would lay the piece Of cloth down h. the
side q the skin and Gnrall Il unEi piece
long enough 70 De worth the skin was an
rolled; the Ia1iiaa would then pick Up lsa