The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-12
THE NEW BONANZA.
Indian Trackers and the Golden Lake
Described by Globe Trotter.

London Chronicle.
We have received the following striking
narrative of early adventure in the Yukon
gold mining district from Mr.. Beresford
Grea thead. who is well known for his ex-
ploit around the world on foot"
During the winter of 1892 / was storm
bound in the little mushroom town of Es-
tevan in the Northwest Territories, and
while there heard of the Yukon district for
the first time. Two fellows who had spent
some months there returned home, and
their story was so full of life and hope and
the proof in gold dust and nuggets so con-
vinclng, that seven or eight of US laid plans
for proceeding at once, that is as soon
as the spring opened up, to that Ell Dorado.
However, We were advised on no account
to depart on our adventures without at
least $500 a head or its equivalent in pro-
visions, rifles, ammunition. etc. AS we did
not possess this amount we were obliged
to postpone the trip for a future occasion.
Nevertheless, the account these gold seek
ers gave us about this auriferous district
may prove interesting TO the public at the
present time.
mines in British Columbia and had become
very intimate with an old Indian who had
spent his childhood in the Yukon valley;
and after deal of persuading he promised
10 guide them TO spot where gold was
as common as dirt" They started out we'll
provided with provisions about the end or
March, accompanied by only three trusty
Indians, two of whom were relations of his
old friend and three pack mules. on which
were placed their divers bales of necessi-
ties. There was practically no path open,
and they were subsequently Obliged 10
make the most of narrow Lodges or rock
overhanging immense ravines, where a
footslip side meant certain death,
and to follow the narrow trails over the
mountains They had also to ford or swim
numerous rivers and creeks, some of which
V of considerable depth. After en-
COuntering innnmerable perllS ana under
going many hardships the little band at
last arrived at Yukon river. AT that time
the Dominion government was scarcely
aware that any rich gold deposits existed
at this extreme point of the Northwest ter
ritOrieS. consequently but few individuals
had prospected in that vicinity. Neverthe-
less one or two favored mortals had al
ready returned laden with rich spoils taken
from mother earth in the shape OF spark
ling dust. Our adventures now proceeded
as carefully as they &C ufi, peerlng INTO
every nook and Granny, hoping soon TO as
cover 81 fortune At length they arrived
at an extremely rocky place where they
found a tiny lake, or pool OF water I,, ABOUT '
fed by a miniature waterfl Ill that rushed
foaming down the steep mountain sides,
and its only outlet was hole about foot
SQUARE from out of which the water
emptied itself into the Yukon river
Here they camped, and lmmeolately SET
to work to thoroughly examine their new
quarters. The sand in the bed OF the river
they found to be immensely rich in alluvial
deposit, and in a week they succeeded in
accommodating $3.50 worth of dust. On Sum
day they had rest, and after washing and
mending their clothes, ETC.. proceeded to
else, the little lake they had noticed on
their arrival The weather was now ex-
tremely hot, and, after stripping, the TWO
men plunged into the cool water. Their
bath was not very deep, as, when they
stood upright, the water only reached
to their armpits One of the two friends
happened to get out of the water and set
down on a rock at the edge of the lakes
when, with an exclamation of surprise, his
comrade called his attention to the condi-
ton of his feet. On glancing down at them
he perceived, to his establishment that a
quantity of gold dust was sticking to them.
With wild whoop he dived down, and re-
turned grasping in both hands as much
dust as they could contain. You can easily
imagine that they were as much pleased as
surprised at this unexpected find, and de-
voted many days to scooping up the Valu-
able deposit. After remaining in this neigh
borhood for some weeks they set out once
more for Vancouver, carrying with them
over S. 600 each in gold.
The two adventures had made up their
minds to return the following year and dam
the hole up. empty the lake and take pos
session of the wealth it contained. Before
leaving they measured the depth of the
deposit and found by means Of a stick that
it was fully a foot deep, but that It was
constantly being washed out through the
outlet. What became of them. and whether
they ever returned to the Yukon l cannot
say. But on certain that their story was
a fact, and there is not the slightest doubt
in my mir and in the minds of many
practical Canadian. miners, that this dis
trict is undoubtedly the richest gold field
in the universe