The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-09-09
THE TREASURE SHIP.
The steamer Portland Arrives From
St. Michaels.

The Steamer Portland Arrives From
St. Michaels.
Port Angeles, WASH, Aug. 31.-The
steamer Portland arrived from st.
Michaels tonight. Captain Kidston
reported a pleasant voyage. and ex-
planned the delay of three days in
reaching Port Angeles by stating that
very serious storm at St. Michaels de-
layed the discharge of his cargo.
He laughed when told of the reports
that the Portland was carrying over
81, 900, 900 in gold. As matter OF
fact, he said, there was only about
1895, 900 in gold dust and nuggets on
board his vessel.
Up to the time he left St. Michaels
he had heard of no new gold fields.
Among the Portland's passengers
from ST. Michaels is Timothy Bell, who
has with him $780, in gold which
he dug from claim that cost $125.
William Ogilvie, Dominion surveyor,
says the 600 claims now staked out
will yield $50, 100000.
From a number of the Portland's
crew it was learned that Captain Kids
ton had expected the Weare, one of
the company's boats, to come down the
Yukon with about 81. 900, 900 worth of
nuggets and gold dust, but as she did
not arrive in time he decided to bring
down the treasure next trip.
The United States cutter Bear, it is
said, will guard the Portland on her
next trip from St. Michaels to Seattle.
As most miners will make their clean
up by that time it is expected tho
Portland's cargo will be very valu
able one.
The returning miners say the re-
markably rich claims on EldoradO creek
will number 140. Mr.. Ogilvie esti-
mates that, at the rate these 140 claims
are now producing, and considering
the ground yet to be worked, the
amount in the next three years will ag-
gregate about $40, 100000. To this
must be added the favorable POSSIBLE
tiles of pockets and development of
claims already found, but not opened.
There have been other rich strikes
and Indian creeks, but none Ct these
are as rich as the claims on Eldorado
and Bonanza creeks.
Until the wonderful discoveries of
Klondike were made, ground worth 10
cents to the pan, with two or three feet
of pay dirt, was considered very good
for the Yukon, and the miners made
their money with rockers and sluices.
This year the miners are passing en-
tirely over ground of this richness in
their search for sand and gravel that
will pay like that of the KlOndike dis
coveries.
Up to date, none of the claims was
showing any signs of exhaustion, and
scarcely dozen are more than we'll
opened. Every one has large areas OF
ground to be worked.
One returning miner says it is i'm
possible to make anything like an &C
curate estimate of the probable yield of
the mines. The ground is not at all
even in richness, and the worth of pay
streaks varies greatly.
The most important news from st.
Michaels is that the river steamers left
there two weeks ago for their last trip
up It is not certain they will reach
Dawson this fall, and the passengers
who left the Sound as early as July 25
nay not reach Circle City before navi.
CATION closes. This makes it certain
that hundreds who left the Sound and
California since August l for st.
Michaels will winter there. At the
best they can scarcely get started up
the Yukon before it freezes solid.
All vessels touching at St. Michaels
this summer have had difficulty keep
ing their crews, who have caught the
fever. One schooner from Victoria was
entirely deserted by her crew, from
captain to cook, who started up the
river for Klondike.
The crew of the J. M. Colman tried
to desert, but the attempt was discov-
cred in time, and, by display of fire.
arms, the men were compelled to re-
main.
Every vessel from St. Michaels has
come away short-handed. The Port
land lost several of her crew, but was
able to obtain men by paying high
wages.