The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-25
THE PASSING 1HRONG.

Henry Bratnober, the agent of the
hoIhschilds, and one of the most famous
mining authorities in the world, is at the
Butler hotel MIR. Bratnober's flying visit
through the klondike and down the Yu-
kon viii be remembered by all OF the
newspaper men on the Pacific coast as
one Of the historical events of the early
days Of the klondike craze. The Roths-
chllds' man went like a streak over the
Chhkoos trail, down the river like an or
binary gold hunter, through the KIondike
In an effort TO buy claims, and again out
TO civilization by way of st. Michael. What
Ee SAW and what ne thinks of that coun-
try is between himself and his employers
for he never told single newspaper re-
porter enough to write ten lines about II.
Mr.. Bratnober is big, dark and close
mouthed. He is over six feet In height,
biack-eyed. heavy black eyebrows, big as
to jaw, and almost swarthy as to com
plexion. From his large. fieshy face hangs
coal-blaek beard-a prolonged imperial
so to speak his cheeks being smooth
shaver. Yesterday he was the admiration
of the ben boys in the lobby OF the Butler
hotel, as he stood around, besieged by
Questioners, with a sloucn hat worn with
easy grace on the side OF his head and
his hands In his trousers pockets. To the
newspaper reporters who asked him about
his late trip TO the quartz districts Of
Southeastern Alaska, he said that he
never had been interviewed and would on
no consideration submit to the questions
of a newspaper man.
What Mr. Bratnober's mission in Seat
tie Is can only be guessed. The silver
standard men say that the Rothschilds
are trying to corner the gold of the world
Mr.. Bratnober would not admit yester-
day that he has any intention OF conspir-
ing in such a scheme. There seems to
b. little doubt. however, that he is In
teres:ed in some KlondIke enterprise. and
possibly the purchase Of some promising
quartz mines in Southeastern Alaska.
Fred Richter. OF Mineral Point, COL
practical miner. Is here on his way
north. Mr.. Richter has mined in the
San Juan country for many years. He
says that ha came to Seattle because
other men from his district who are now
in Alaska had written back home that
they had come here as the nearest and
best point for the Yukon. Mr. Richter
says that there Will be a large movement
IN the early spring for the Yukon by
way OF Seattle, and that he came now
so as To be ahead OF the rush that he
knows is coming from his region. Mr.
Richter says that many OF those with
whom he has talked IN and around
ouray will go TO Copper river, and that
he intends to go there to prospect for
quartz.
Col ". ". d. Turner. Of Spokane,
president of the lie Roi mine, has been
In the city for several days past on legal
business He recently returned from a
business trip to New York. To Post
Intsiiigencer reporter he said yesterday:
New Workers thoroughly understand
the importance attaching 20 Seattle by
reason OF the Klondike movement and the
development Of the mines OF the Yukon
and o. Southeastern Alaska They know
that Che state OF Washington Is expert
encing an era OF prosperity and legisi-
mate DEVELOPMENT, AMI that the wheat
crop OF the state was so great that hun
6reds OF mortgages have been paid OF
and hundreds of farmers placed In easy
circumstances. II Is not unnatural.
therefore. that the financial men OF New
York should take a great interest IN
Washington. as they certainly are doing.
IT do not believe that the current estl-
mate Of the extent Of thu Kiondlke move
nasut is too large. From personal OBJ
saFystions made in the Fast 7 am salts
fiss that there will he a great imnigrs-
tiou IN this direction next year T am
satisfied ton, that very large percentage
Of those who will cross the Rockies viii