The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-14
HO. FOR THE MUNOOK.
IT - on THE AMERICAN SIDE AND
SAID TO BE VERY RICH
All of the News From the Dig
gfngs Tells of the Wealth OF the
By P.-L Alaska News Syndicate.


Aug :. lS7.-Since the date Of my last
letter the following Seattle people on this
pear have decided 70 stop at
Aunook creek. William Moran,
c. H. Almond, A B. Lleweliyn
and wife. ]. Burkman. p. Jack
son. II. A. Bigslow. Clair Bigeiow, ". A.
Hall. Frank SeneIaen W. A. Trinkle. r.
Cooper and John Dye. Besides those from
Seattle A. Baldwin. Of Omaha ard ". 3.
Portland at Duten harbor, VIII also stop.
William Moran and C H Almond have
plenty OF nrovisionl to last them more than
year. The others have fermsd an associ-
alton 10 collect provisions, and have bought
what they could at the various trading
posts along the river mad now have saffi-
eient 70 last them far two months They
nave arranged with one OF the Alaska
Commercial Company steamers now on
her way down the river, 10 bring them pro-
visions on her return trip Furthermore
u 10 said that the AlaSka Commercial Com
pany has decided 70 open a store ar MI
nook creek and expect 10 have It stocked
this fan
There are now about ssventy-five miners
al Munook creek. The work so far has
been almost entirely surface diggings on
the bars. and some claims are said 10 have
yielded from sic TO $50 per day 20 the man.
Very little has been done with the creek
N~SGhA-coF NAANA-H one EI0I HEOSfNSA Is
reported. AS / have before written. II is
not possible 10 get definite information
about the locality. Bar diggings are
worked IN summer, and creek diggings in
winter on the bed rock of the frozen
streams. Many Of those who have decided
TO stop at Munook creek have done so be-
cause OF the fear that they would not os
able 10 get provisions al Dawson. They
reason that with the arrangements they
have made they viii have a much better
chance OF getting provisions than If they
go on 10 Dawson: that IL the creek turns
out rich they viii be on the ground. and
that II ii does not they can come on TO
dawson In the spring. Moran and Almond
think that Munook creek offers the best in
ducemenis from their point of view.
Several other passengers ara ,alking Of
getting of. but the above named are all
that have decided TO do so. Many VIII be
influenced by what they hear on our arrl-
val there. The passengers generally are
not allowed 10 buy provisions al the trad
ing posts we pass and put them on the
steamer. because she Is already loaded as
much as she can stand and get over the
Yukon Hats on the upper river. Ii Is plain
sailing as far as Munook creek, however,
and Tor that reason those who are to get
of there are allowed TO pick up what sup
plies they can on the way up.
Munook creek is in Alaska, and runs in
TO the Yukon about eight or nine hundred
miles below Dawson. 1t is on the left side
OF the river coming down. One thing in
its favor is that it is much further down
tie river than Dawson. and nearer St.
Michael, the base OF supplies.
The name OF the creek is vsriously
spelled 'Munook," 'Maauke," "Minuke''
and "Mlnuk.'' according to the fancy Of
the person you ask to spell Il. / take the
spelling "Munook" from an Item in the
Yukon Press. a paper published at Fort
Adams, Alaska
STR. HAMILTON, Yukon River, Aug.
q, Is91.-I sent short letter today on the
Bella, written in the few minutes / had
after we came alongside. and before she
pulled out Ii was n cssSarily a. very hasty
letter, but wished to send II by the Bella,
SO as 10 be sure II would reach st. Michael
in time 10 catch the Excelsior.
The account of the food shortage at
Dawson given by the miners on the Bella
agrees with the account given by the min
ers on the Healy that have already sent,
except that the account given by those on
the Bella Is more alarming. They say that
there Is not enough food for those who are
already in the country. and that both COM
panies are refusing TO sell any more pro-
visions. as the orders they now have Will
use UP all they cam supply. The miners say
that there win be great suffering, and that
they do not see how all the people who ara
IN the country can get through the winter;
that part OF them will be obliged to leave,
and that some are alreody doing so, and
more win follow. This serious situation is
caused by the unexpected rush TO the klon-
dixie this summer. This the companies that
furnish the supplies were not prepared for.
The Whisky Shipments.
Furthermore. according to the accounts
OF the miners, both companies have used
too large proportion Of the freight space
on their river steamers and barges for
whisky. This is sa4d 70 be especially true
or the Alaska Commercial Company. but
70 sbe also true OF the other company 10 a
certain extent. The Hamilton has con-
siderable amount OF whisky In her cargo
on this trip. OF course every barrel of
whisky takes up space that could be used
for -four and bacon. l have no idea, now
that the grave danger Of a failure Of The
food supply this winter IS so fully realized,
that any more whisky will hs sent UP.
Hospital at Dawson.
The miners Gil agree that the country is
wonderfully rich in gold, and he large
amount going out on the Bella-estimatRd
At from $4,000 10 $1,000. 00o-bears witness
to this. As i wrote. there has been con-
typhoid fever al Dawson this
summer. and this makes all the more well
come the news that four Sisters from the
Holy Cross mission are going 70 Dawson
70 open 4 hospital. IIoly Cross is a Roman
Catholic mission on the Yukon thar we left
this morning, the steamer having tied up
there for the night The mission is large
one. and IN re will be xix Sisters stationed
there this winter SISTER Mary Stephen is
the sister superior. There are also TWO
priests rather Crimoat snd Father RAJ
garn. and two brothers.
ssIuneok Creek
The reports we get Of Munook creek are
good, and while Il IS not nearly 20 rich. so
far as is known. as the klondike region, Il
has sufficient attractions 10 Induce several
Of our passengers 10 talk OF getting off
there. Il IS a creek thai runs into the Xu-
ken some So miles below Dawson, and has
shown some very good prospects. L is
hard 10 set definite information. but Il
promises well
We are now about GO miles Up the Yu-
kon and are making good progress, and
expect 10 reacn Dawson By Tire Goth.
Josiah Collins Party.
Prof. Richardson. Of Seattle. who came
in over ire trail. was a passenger on TIE
Bella He IS on his way 70 s.. Michael,
ard VIII start up the river again as econ as
us steamer - EftH1e1. Aa0 E-t 20 lawson
before winter u possible. lie told me 81
TIE loss by ". II cowley Of rs outHi. His
beat upset and he not only lost AL ne mad.
but also nearly ioss his nfe. &c e now
working 8 claim Prof. Richardson salf
ne passed Josiah Cosllns ard party on their
wsy over the summit. and tnat they we're
well ard making good progress He
thought they would Be n Dawson BY me
tine " reached there. unless they stop AT
Stewart river. He sold The sanao story as
al the rest regarding ne food question.