The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-08-17
Millions Of Treasure Nearer
Civilization Than KlOndike.
ALASKAN INDIANS on GUARD
Natu raj Gateway to the Heart OF
the Coveted dCountry-Natives Are
Friendly, But White Travellers
Hurriedly Piioted Out of the Re-
giou-Reticence of the Tribes.

New York, Aug. 1.-THE Journal today
publishes the following dispatch from Cof-
fee Cliff, Ensanada Baja, CAL:
1 have read considerable about the Klon.
dixie aud the way to get there in winter
OF spring. i went up there via the Yukon
IN July, 1894, and came out in December
by way of the Copper River. / went up the
White River, a tributary of the Yukon,
which is navigable for small steamboats,
dra wing eighteen inches or less of water
to within thirty miles of the Copper River
Pass
The Copper River Indians conducted us
over They told us that the name OF the
pass was Low Pass, OF Copper River Pass
Their fathers called il the Russian Pass.
My companions were Charley Harris, of
Boston; Edward Fletcher, of Butte, Mont,
and Milton Fletcher, of Denver, Colo.
We prosppcted the head waters OF the
White Riyer and found gold on the rams
of the high bars, but notinpa gquantities-
The SHOW was too deep when We got there.
il was only when the wind had blown
the SNOW off the high points that we
could ger at the ground TO dig, and We were
getting short of flour and elk meat.
We came to a camp OF Indians, who Of
fered to show us the way over the pass
to their homes, where we could see ships.
They informed us that other white men
with instruments, which We understood
from :tem To be telescopes or something
to look through at the stars, had gone over
the pass ahead of US. We found the pass
nd rat fr A.
snow There was not half the snow on
the pass that there was on the head OF
the White River, and 1 can say without
fear Of contradiction that a railroad Ur
wagon road Of easy grade can be cheaply
constructed over the Copper River pass
After leaving the southwest end Of the
pass we were guided down a ek Of easy
grade To a stream which flows southwest
into the Copper River. AT the mouth OF
the first creek we came to, where the In
dian canoes were tied up, we found tepee
built Of brush, with fire of coal in the
middle OF it; but no Indians or other per
sons seemed to be near. Two Of our
guides, however, went up the main stream
with canoe, returning in Il few hours
with perhaps dozen other Indians in
canoes. They had some fish with them.
We found their camp well supplied with
wild meats and some flour and beans.
They proveG 70 he very friendly, but
seemed an 1lious TO get US down the river.
We found them very clever at making the
bargain 20 convey us to the sea. We were
on the second day the more fully convinced
than on the preceding day that they did
not wish US to prospect their country.
from the fact that II any OF US started
away from the tepee they Immediately fol-
lowed, and did not allow US to get out OF
their sight We noticed that particularly.
and. observing that they were large strong
Indians. we remained near our guns, and
were careful 10 keep as close together as
convenient
Having a large pocket compass in olIr
possession. we exposed IT to their view very
often and talked In serious fashion to
the instrument When an Indian came
near we would place thc cap over its face,
giving, however some of the more intelli-
gent OF them an opportunity To see thu let
tiers and the motion of the needle
Finally, on the third day after our ar
rival we were notified tha, after one more
sleep we must start for their home. The
canoes being loaded early in the morning
of the fourth day. we arrived on the even
ing of the second day after we Were ioaded
at the Indian village at the confluence OF
the great Copper River, where 500 or 900
Indians were living.
Here we discovered that the Indians who
had escorted US delivered 10 the chief. or
Sabchief, quite a quantity of Goa rse n ucget
gold. We then knew the reason of their
anxiety To get US out of their country
We remained over night al the village. The
inhabitants seemed quiet-rather more of
q business tribe than a tribe of warriors.
The next morning we expressed desire
to move down tie river. and after pow
WOW about thirty Indians loaded their
canoes, and with the silva, who had con-
Quoted our party over the pass, and whn
seemed to speak English and Russian the
most intellgently, a. our guide, we began
the journey. The river passes through 4
wooded country all the way. At
the end of eight days we landed at Rus
sian JDhn's, at the mouth of the river
without an incident worthy of note except
hat il lained ha rd almost every night.
The In.iians seemed to have regula rIy es-
tabiShed camping grounds on the river.
Through some of the traders at these