The record-union., 1897-08-30

if they expect to find gold scattered
around at random, or get something for
nothing, as Colonel Sellers once at
tempted, they will be woefully disap-
pointed. While it is true that the gold
deposits in the locality were found al
most accidentally, it is not encourage
ment to note the fact that it is the
first accident of the kind in thirty
years searching. New diggings will
doubtless be discovered from time to
time, but when and where, the sages
cannot tell. One in this country is
quite a creature of circumstances. If
he chances to be within reach of a
discovery he may stand show of OBJ
tanning a claim, but should he be some
distance away, he stands no chance
whatever. 1 have been out on STAN
pede or two and staked a claim, but
the chances are there is nothing in it.
Some have an idea they will go out
and find Something If they should
stop to think that every creek, gulch
and recess has been prospected years
ago by experienced miners, their en-
thusiasm might lessen. All the gold
in this country is twelve to twenty feet
under ground, and frozen ground, too,
50 you see the free and wandering
ayocation of the prospector is no easy
task. 1t takes two or three weeks of
the hardest labor to sink one or two
holes on a creek. 1t is not like other
countries, where gold is on the surface,
here surface indications count for
nothing and all prospectors' rules are
worthless
"One creek may be rich, while an
other in the immediate vicinity, and
much more inviting, may be absolutely
worthless. OF all creeks, Ell Dorado
and Bonanza are the most uninviting,
low and marshy, covered with willow
and all kinds of of underground, but
there it was found lying like grains of
corn, awaiting the eyes of men. In
deed, [ may be pardoned for again re-
peating that people who come here
should not expect too much. Where
one has become rich, thousand re-
main poor. My advice is, if any one
comes, bring at least a years provis-
ions and enough money to pay passage
back home. 1t is no place for man
to attempt to play gentleman. Every
one works hard, the hardest of his life,
I dare say. Don't let the reports of
the great amount of gold going out turn
your head, it all comes from the creeks
above named, and the owners of the
claims realize their position only too
WE'LL
RICH DIGGINGS.
VICTORIA (B. c., Aug. 29.-J. Pc
terson, an Alaskan trader, who left
Dawson City on July 22d with his part
ner, Bradbury Cole, arrived here on the
steamer Islander this morning, they
having come out to the coast over the
Dalton trail. Peterson says there are
certainly rich diggings in the Yukon
country, but nothing to warrant the
rush that is taking place. Henderson
Greek, three miles below Stewart River,
where the reported rich strike has
been made is all staked off, but miners
did not record claims, the ground not
being considered rich enough. Before
Peterson knew that the Portland had
arrived, he said she would bring be-
tween $150,000 and 100000.
On the first of August $50 men had
passed Fort Selkirk on their way to the
mines. These are men who left the
coast cities before the excitement COM
menced, and of the men who left since
only fifty have crossed the pass. Trails
are getting worse every day, and it is
hard TO say which is best. Skaguay
is blocked with horses, and in attempt
ing to pass many horses have been
thrown over precipices and killed. Half
a dozen men came down on the Island
er who have given up hope of getting
to the lakes.
On the trip down the Islander picked
up four men, Frank A Brown of Ju-
neau, man named Gregmire of Port
land, w. McMurdo of Nanaimo. They
were clinging to a capsized sail boat
on August 23d, in which they and four
others had left Juneau for Skaguay on
August DIST. On the morning of the
I'D at a. m. the boat capsized, and
James Armstrong of Seattle, Thomas
Trevelyan of Nanaimo. w Mcdonald
of Nainamo and Hugh McLaren of Ma
naimo were drowned. Having been un-
able to get a steamer at Juneau they
had taken a sail boat, and loading it
with their outfits. started for Skaguay,
and While jibbing the boat it capsized.
NOVAK BROUGHT DOWN.
SEATTLE Aug. 29-Frank Alvord
Noval1, alias Frank Alvord, alias J. A.
Smith wanted at Walford, Benton
County. Ia, for the murder of Ed
ward Murray on February 3, 1897, was
brought here this morning on the
steamer Portland from St Michaels in
charge of two men from the Thiel De-
tective Agency Novak went over the
Dyea Pass and was caught at Dawson
City July Sth He was taken to Iowa
tonight over the Great Northern.