The morning news., 1897-08-06
TO KLONDIkE IN STYLE.
Organized Parties Chartering steam
crs TO Garry Them Up the Yukon.

Organized Parties CharterinE steam
crs 10 Garry Them Up the Yukon.
From the New York World
San Francisco-Now that the first head
long rush for the Klondike gold fields is
over. prospective gold seekers are adopt
ing new means and working on more SEN
sible lines to reach Dawson. Instead Of
sailing northward as passengers in the
crowded quarters of outgoing steamers,
they are preparing to journey TO Dawson
by the Yukon river route on chartered yes
sells, which are to carry supplies sufficient
20 last them a year and on which they
can return next summer
Probably d score of parties arc Quitting
for this kind of voyage. They will sail
direct to st. Michaers, ana thence up the
yukon. while their vessels will remain at
Dawson until the river breaks up next
spring, and can be utilized as neadquar-
ters for parties until they have staked out
claims.
Steam engines are being put into the
launch Hettie b., and sixty people are al
ready booked for the trip each paying 225
for passage to Dawson, with the privilege
of carrying 2O0O pounds of freight. At st
MichaePs the Hettie B. will be unloaded
She will convey an ark, which Is to be
taken along In sections. This ark will bear
the miners and their supplies up the Yu-
kon
The big steamer Progress is TO make
similar attempt to get a party up the Nur
kon this season. and the gasoline schoon-
er Schette, which will make the run 70 81
Michael's and then on up the river Is also
ready to start.
Three large parties are now outhtting
at Port San Pedro for Alaska. one IS TO
20 on a lumber steamer that Will start
on Aug. 1G. The fare to Dyea Is placed
al 500, and freight transportation will
cost S25 a ton.
on the following day a sailing schooner
will start with 100 men for Juneau. The
passengers will be assessed $50 each ana
be permitted to take ton of freight.
The third party is designed to be com
posed of men with more money. They
have chartered steamship, which
agrees to set each passenger down IN
Dawson, with complete camping ana
mining outfit for 5000. one hundred and
fifty gold seekers will go on TINS eA-
pedition.
Capt. Harry Meggs. United States army
(retired) tells "A wonderful tale Of the dis
covery Of gold In Alaska IN the latter
part of the sos. He was on duty In that
country at that time at point near Ju-
neau. He says that even in those early
days great humps Of gold were exhibited
by natives.
'"Often natives from the interior would
come down wearing necklaces made or
nuggets picked up from creeks IN the IN
terior." he said to-day "At one time
there was a tribe which had been con-
quered by another, ana penalty was exact
ed Some Of the conquered tribe came
over Chilcoot pass with certain amount
Of gold. which on being weighed was found
10 be short of the price demanded by the
conquerors Several chiefs were held az
hostages, while the remainder OF the tribe
was directed to cross the mountains ana
procure enough to liberate them. They
were gone several months, and when they
came bach an amount more than needed
10 uay the ransom was brought In. No
one could ascertain whence the gold came,
hut from the direction In Which they went
and the length Of time they occupied in
making the trip it was believed that they
went many miles inland.
"T believe that these men went into the
passes Of the Klondike country and picked
up by the crude means at their command
the gold needed 20 complete the ransom.
II was "A topic OF discussion among those
who we're detailed on duty at that time.
and many plans were laid TO procure IN
formation A. 10 the location OF the gold,
but the natives kept the matter secret.
and would never disclose whence they de-
rived their treasure"
one OF the difficulties that local capital
lists find IN their negotiations for purchase
OF mining properties on the Yukon IS the
lack OF authenticated records Of owners
of claims Different practices prevail on
the two sidhs OF the line and cause more
or jess confusion. The practice has been
al most Of the new camps 20 call min
crs' meeting. al which one Of the parties
was elected recorder, ana he proceeded
20 enter the bearings Of stakes and natu-
raj marks 10 define claims. Sometimes the
recorder would give receipt for fee
allowed by common consent for recording.
aud also keep q copy for future refer
ence but IN q majority Of cases even this
formality was dispensed with. and the
only record kept was the rough minutes
made al the time.
So far as known, no patent for mining
lands IN Alaska has been issued by the
United States government. the mining
districts are Underlined. ana the only law
that is recognized is that OF possession.
on the Canadian side "A different state
Of affairs exists. The dominion govern
ment has sent iu "a commissioner who H.
empowered 10 report officially an claims.
and while no certificate ia issued 20 the
owners thereof properties are thoroughly
defined ana their mctes and bounds oHfnh-
llshod The commissioner in the Klondise
district. whose name is Constantine. also
eNerclEea acml-ludicial functions, aud Hft-