The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-18
ArsEposTERors CLAIM.

One OF the most preposteroas claims
ever seriously advanced hy anyone in
this country is that pat forward in behalf
Of Mr.. W. ]. Arksli. proprietor OF Frank
Leslie's Weekly. that he has a claim 70
the whole ElondIke region because OF the
fact that an expedition sent out by bis
newspaper some seven years ago to ex-
plore the Yukon country succeeded IN
discovering gold at some places. and car
fied out with them specimens Of H.
Now. as a matter Of mining law. known
10 every man on the Pacific coast who
has ever taken any interest In the sub
iect. II Mr.. Arkeli himself. alone and IN
aided had penetrated the wllds OF the
Yukon region before another man had
set foot Ia the country. and had been tie
hrst person 10 discover sold To that region
he would have been entitled TO locate
one claim. which he could have worked
under regulations differing whether
the discoveries happened to De made on
the American or the Canadian side OF The
ire. He would have been entitled to no
larger claim than would have been the
case had ne made tie same discovery CT
"a piece OF government land ten mites
ftom Seattle. IN no event could he have
held tho claim Tor more than one year
without doing work on It or relocating IT.
aud further. ne could not have held the
claim at ali unless he proceeded 10 formal
IS locate it IN the manner prescribed hy
iaw,
The ''diseoveries'' made by the expl-
dition which Mr. Arkeu sent out were
sagally absurd In their character. Ac-
c0rGlns to SIR. Ari.eli's ewn version Of the
matter the members 81 his expedition
discovered 10 or 30 men engaged In
mining. and brought out with them some
sold. whether mined by Themselves or pur-
chased from TIRE miners already on the
ground does not appear. This IS a dis
cevery which, according 10 New Yo-k
CORES pondents. entities Mr. Arken to
some shsdowy. underlined claim 80 a share
in the riches Of the Klondiks. and Il an-
pears that thcre arc persons SO ignorant
or 50 cseaulous that they are anxious To
pay him iarge sums az money Tor an ln-
serest Ca this extremely attenaated clalrn.
Before Afr. Arkelfs expedition was sent
lago the Yukon gold had been dis
covered in that country. hundreds OF min
ess have been steadily az work there fer
ucarly a desen ycars. Ten years ego
the bars - the K]ondike hsa been uros-
lsctea WITH intGeront seeccss. 10 iSs7
laere were ahout 40 men az work on
Stcwsyt river whlch IS loeked upon here
as likely 10 prove as rich as the Kioodlke.
The men wao msde These discoveries cg
solid On TIE Xnkon and is tributaries
were uot oufttea by wealthy ssnalca;es.
They were hardy sold seekers. vho
brayed she tesrors cg an unknown region
Io tae hope fa3t shey Nigh; and wea}th
therc, Whea gGey did discover sold. ali
ghat ybey az emP,cd 60 claim Tor then.
selves was thc rrguiatioa cls.re. tee
Of which was prescribed ey the mineral
laws 90 regulated Dy the e. uegs tAsrn-'
selves tn meetings hs'd Fer the purpcse
whoa Mr. Arke}gs eSps slrsea went irto
ire yukon * soun3 2AeSe men az Work
IN the mines which trey lad discovered.
sud whem Mr. Arkelrs cxneditlon got
stranded n the country g made rs way
Sat 20 ctvil.aattea by means 81 steamers
Nhlch were plying 90 the Yukon carry
}aE 81 provisions FOR the nfen Who were
sacn segsgea "a nlinlag. AZ. ArssM feel
esly recalls that he vas eoapogiea -
pay s "a - she transportation comp&ay
which took ais men oat - the country
TIE miners vic really di4 aaa the geo
t2ck thevns stves oUt without calling uren
anyone Tor assistance. ard ever the same
reates by walsh tNey made their orsSs-
Eal eatranss tnte tAe co0ntTy. EaiesS tneS
ssa been fovtaaate enough 20 make SUI
ESleus money - thai they could a1ora