The herald., 1897-08-22
SAN PEDRO

o<AN EDIlO, aug. Il.-tfeSuldT COr-
respondence.) San Pedro change cars
for Catalina and Klondykel" called the
brakeman on the Terminal train yester-
day, and everybody in the coach smiled
and repeated the word Klondyke in a
questioning tone. But, sure enough,
moored to the dock beside the steamer
Hermosa, was the steam schooner Cas-
par of San Francisco. taking on her
cargo and passengers for the gold fields
CT the north. The Caspar belongs 10
the Caspar Lumber company of San
francisco, of which J. G. Jackson, who
was here with the boat, is president. She
was formerly lumber schooner, but was
recently refitted with bunkers and an
upper deck put on her TO take company
of gold seekers from San Francisco to
the Klondyke country, but the expedi-
tion proved to be a failure. She then
came south, chartered by an organiza-
ton known as the Los Angeles and
Alaska Transportation company, to
transport the proposed expedition of
Klondykers from Los Angeles. That
also was largely failure. for some of the
members decided to defer trying their
fortunes in the extreme cold Of that coun-
try until the milder months Of spring;
others grew impatient at loss of time in
waiting for the Caspar, went to San
Francisco and Seattle and embarked
there for Dyea. The Los Angeles and
Alaska company put up a forfeit with
the owners of the boat, which they lost
by failure to keep their agreement. The
lumber company, however, are much the
larger losers, as they expended some
$4,000 in making the necessary changes
for carrying passengers, to say nothing
of loss of time.
1t will depend entirely on the situation
of affairs when the Caspar reaches San
Francisco whether she will be put in
the Klondyke trade and proceed farther
north, or anchor there and be fitted for
carrying lumber.
The Caspar lay at anchor in San Pedro
bay three days, and when she was ready
to leave last evening there was little
company Of twenty adventurous argo-
nauts aboard, who were going to Alaska
in search of the golden fleece. This
party were composed of the following:
J. D. Brooks, recently Of Upper Alton,
ILL.,; w. J. Pulliam, w. F. Bishop, w. A.
and j. G. BARLEY, ]. H. Beatley, ]. F.
Malsted, H. R. Park "A. c. Seward, J. B.
Johnson, T. E. and A. Potts, James KEEL
ley, H. J. Robertson.
The expedition was under the leader
ship of j. D. Brooks, who Travelled all
through the Klondyke country in 1889,
and is familiar with its dangers and ad-
vantages. He came to Los Angeles sew
eral months ago to visit relative, c.
w. Merry, residing in East Los Angeles.
After his arrival the Klondyke news was
received, and many men desiring to go,
Mr.. Brooks was finally prevailed upon
to pilot the party.
Their destination is the mouth Of the
Copper river, 300 miles west Of Juneau,
which, in his opinion, contains the rich
est gold and the weather in winter is
much less severe than the Klondyke.
When he was there in 1889 there were
but twenty-eight white men in the in
teiior, and the Indians were more
friendly to the whites than some of the
tribes elsewhere.
Mr. Brooks expects 100 men to join
their party at Seattle and 500 al Juneau.
He intends to take four carrier pigeons,
the first one to be let loose when they
reach Dyea, the second one at the mouth
CT the Copper river, the third when the
first rich strike is made, and the fourth
when the second big pay streak is found.
The party will also carry number Of
bottles, in which letters will be sent back
from time to time containing an account
of the welfare Of the gold seekers. Mr..
Brooks will write in detail to Los An
geles friends, and has promised to give
an account of the country from diary
L1 ho of
The Herald. He comedies that it is
rather late in the season to start for
those who are not familiar with the
Chilcoot passes, but thinks he is running
no risk, having been there before.
The Copper river expedition intends
opening a new trail $50 miles from the
mouth Of the Copper river to Dawson
City, which will make travel much
easier than by any road yet found.
Good luck to the Copper river expe-
dition; may it be successful and return
with countless buckskin bags of gold.
There was little flutter Of excitement
created this week, caused by the South
ern Pacific railroad driving piles and
strengthening it's track and culverts at
the end of the road at Point Firmin A
rumor was set af1oat that Poo Bah Hunt
ington was about to build another wharf,
and the old Crocker hotel, which has been
abandoned to bats and owls for many
years, would be repaired as boarding
place for the men. There is nothing,
however, to corroborate the rumor.
The streets of San Pedro are greatly
improved in appearance by the recent
grading. When asphaltum walks are
laid it will begin to take on quite metro
politan air.
The supervisors who have been on
tour of inspection in this locality this
week state that it is their intention to
build a road "a feet wide on the sea-
ward side from San Pedro to Wilmington.
This will make fine drive, greatly ap-
preciated by the community and sur
rounding country.
Rev. J. r. st. Clair, of Nordhoff, who
has been the guest of Mrs. Fraser. will
fill the pulpit of the Presbyterian church
on Sunday evening.
The San Pedro Times is "forninst" the
proposed bargain week in Los Angeles.
and claims it would seriously injure the
business Of the country merchant.
San Pedro was highly elated over the
harbor news contained in The Herald
Mr.. and Mrs. Juan Bandini have re-
moved to Santa Monica.
Mrs. Critenden is entertaining Mrs.
G.. T. Nordway of Redlands.