Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-24

might incidentally send us on few.
with his best regards. The Journal
has had many employees in many
places. first and last, but none on
record. other than the possible case of
Mr. Berry who has subsequently
stumbled upon $4,000 fortunes Just
picked up"
The Sun, under date of San Francis
co, July 20, says:
The most remarkable exhibit of the
wealth of the Klondike placers was made
today when Clarence Berry of Fresno
showed in his room at the Grand Hotel
the proceeds of some of the richest
pans on his claim, from which he took
out 100000 in three months. He had
been only three years in the country.
Last year he came back with a modest
stake and married Miss Ethel Bush.
who returned with him to the far
north. They settled at Forty Mile.
When, in October. 1896. word came of
McCormack's great discovery on the
Klondike everybody doubted it, but
Rlttoi UidCh StIlt ictlt1 W Dolly tcti-
ing him to comes s all was true. Berry
went up the river on a raft, and soon
after his wife followed him on steam
er. Berry had $1,000 worth of provis-
ions, and he secured for this grub, an
interest in sixteen mines. Berry
brought down $4,000, and he owns an
interest in over dozen claims.
Today he had reception at his hotel.
and made the largest exhibit of mug
gets seen here since the days of 40.
On his table was the boss nugget found
during the season on the klondike. 1t
is about the shape and size of me-
dunn sized potato, and it's value is $3.50.
This was found by Mrs. Berry, who
picked it out of the dump. She also
picked up several other nuggets rang
ing from $50 to $3.50.
Berry seems to have struck nugget
claims in this rich canon. for he has
scarcely any fine gold. He has scores
of nuggets that are as large as mans
thumb. The greater part of his treas
ure is in the form of small nuggets
worth from s. to SIS. In bottles on his
table he had arranged the contents of
the best pans of pay dirt that came
from his mine.
In one bottle about four inches high,
was $500, the champion pan made dur
ing the season. In another was $3.50.
and in a third $175. In all he had five
bottles containing these extraordinary
pans. which. the old miners who saw
them say, is the best proof that the
richness of the placers has not been
exaggerated.
n. all hat fCrp nm,
Bonanza Creek, is as bright as brass.
Indeed, it bears a striking resemblance
to the imitation nuggets that are seen
in eastern museums. 1t runs ST to the
ounce.
Just before noon the Alaska Com
mercia4 Company gave notice that no
more tickets would be sold for the
steamer Excelsior, which is to sail for
St Michael on July %. The company
has not sold out more than half the
berth room, but President Louis Sloss
declared that the usual space given up
to the steerage would be filled with
food, for ii is his desire to rush into
Dawson all the provisions that can be
carried, for he fears a famine may oc-
cur before the ice breaks up In May or
June next. Last winter was the mild
est Alaska has known in years, so that
the chances are that this winter VIII
be long and severe.
Unless the food supply is large people
will die, as Mr.. Sloss says. like rats In
a trap, for men unused toexposure can
not make anoverland trip on snowshoes
from Dawson to Juneau. such as Mail
Carrier Carr makes twice each winter,
ie .,t1
out of the country.
| The excitement here over the hloh-
| dixie is still great, but the majority OF
those who have the gold fever are COM
| ing to the conclusion that they must
wait until next spring before going To
] the mines.