Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-27

Fort Townsend, Wash, August %.
The schooner ]. NJ. Colman, which
left st. Michaels, at the mouth of the
Yukon, July 2S, was spoken last night
of Race Rocks at $50 by the Asso-
ciated Press tug Vigilant, which was
in the straits watching for the arrival
Of the steamer Portland. The Colman
brings four passengers who have been
in the Klondike and who left Dawson
City July II. The passengers are Chas.
H. Metcalf, of Detroit, Mich; B. &.
Jones, Berkeley, Cal, an assayer for
the Alaska Commercial Company at
Dawson; c. B. and u. B. Patrick, broth
ers, from Humboldt, Cal. They left
Dawson ten days after the Thorp party,
which arrived at Seattle last week on
the steamer George e. Starr, from
Dyea. They all tell stories OF the
richness of the Klondike, Bonanza anu
EIdorado creeks, but all say that very
few clean-ups have been made since
the early summer. Mr.. Metcaf has
been engaged in the merchandise bus
mess at Dawson City, Circle City and
other points for three years and has
been out every year. He goes in each
wear over the Dyea trail, and last
spring he looks in twenty tons OF
freight. 1t took him from March to
May to get his freight over the pass
with one man, two horses and eight
dogs. From Lake Linderman to DaW-
son City he was fourteen days.
When the Colman left st. Michaels
there were about twelve men waiting
to come out on the steamer Portland,
and another steamer with passengers
was expected down the river before the
time set for the sailing of the Port
land. The men waiting at ST. Mich
aels all had from 5000 to $4,000, but
no phenomenal strikes were reported
by them. With regard to ascending
the Yukon, Mr.. Metcalf said it takes
from twenty to twenty-five days to go
from St. Mihcaels to Dawson City, and
passengers leaving Seattle later than
August 20 will have no chance Of
reaching Dawson City this fall. The
Lippy claim, on Bonanza creek, from
which gold amounting to $4,000 was
taken. he said, was one Of the best de-
veloped claims in the group, Others
will doubtless prove just as rich when
fully developed.
The first claim located on Bonanza
creek was named Discovery, and is
recognized by miners as the center Of
the field, many others being numbered
each way from it. Sixty claims are
now located above and ninety below
Discovery, in all fifteen miles being
( taken. On Eldorado creek, which
empties into Bonanza, sixty claims are
located, twenty nearest the junction
Of the creeks being fabulously rich.
From one claim located on Shookum
gulch. tributary to Bonanza creek, n.
W .Porters. Of Denver, and Joseph
/ Goldsmith, of Juneau, took $1,000 in
nuggets, ignoring fine gold. They az
terward sold the claim for $25, 1000 cash.
| They worked only four weeks. Bear
creek. a small tributary to the Klon-
dixie. Is also remarkably rich in gold.
B. E. Jones said: Il should say there
are about $500 people in Dawson and
on the creeks roundabout there. This
summer only about 20 claims have
been worked, and thus far not a large
sum Of money has been taken cut.
Most everybody is getting ready for
the winters work, which will be push
ed as vigorously this year as last. As
far as can estimate, the great wealth
Of the Klondike is holding out. Still
! the amount of gold that will come
down this fall will not be as large as
estimated in some quarters. l should
say that there viii be in the nsighbor-
hood of 175 men down by the Portland
and Excelsior, and a very fair average
to each man would not exceed $4,000
Many will bring down practically moth
ing. I would not care TO say what