The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-27
A LAND OF GOLD.
Tale That Makes the Heart Jump
and the Pulse TiDgle.
BAGS OFPRECIOUS METAL CORDED
UP ON STEAMERS DECK.

Over Three Millions and a Half of Gold
on the Steamer Portland on Her Way
From KIondike to Seattle-Yuko n
Valley the Richest Country Man Ever
Dreamed OF.
New York, August ga special to the
World from Juneau, Alaska, via Victoria,
B. c., dated August 20, says: New dis
coveries and tons of gold is the latest
news from the Klondike. 1t was brought
out today by John j. Mckay and party,
who made the journey up the Yukon and
lakes in twenty-five days, breaking the
record by eight days for the inland trip.
When the steamship Portland arrives
at Seattle from ST. Michaels, which she is
expected to do within a few days, there
will not be enough figures on the fever
gauge to show the increase in excitement.
In her strong room and under heavy
guard the Portland will carry $500, 900
worth of Klondike gold dust
When the little Yukon river steamer
left Dawson City three weeks ago to con-
meet with the Portland at the mouth of
the great river she h ad corded upon her
main deck forward. in sacks, like SO
much wool, that amount of nuggets and
dust taken out of the creeks of the treas
ure land.
A tarpaulin was carelssly thrown over
the corded gold. The little steamer threw
off her lines and swung around to follow
the current to the sea, amid the huzzahs
of a thousand men, and Mr.. Mckay was
an eye witness of the scene.
Mr.. Mckay was formerly of Tacoma.
He sold out his business and went into
the Yukon country year ago last spring.
He got to the Klondike after the first rush
but not too late to pitch ON good grounds.
He is interested in one claim. OH the
Upper Bonanza and another on Hunker
creek. Mr.. Mckay will put no estimate
on his wealth. He tells a tale of gold that
makes the heart jump and the, pulse
tingle. He said: s5" There is more gold
in that country thanany man has yet
dreamed of. -
A dispatch from Skaguay. Alaska.
dated August "a, says: -Four weeks ago
this patchaof ground was a Rowling
flats, without human life. Two weeks
ago it was the bivouac of handful of
pioneers. Today it. is a bowling mining
town of two thousand men and women,
one thousand tents, several houses and
four hourishiDg saloons, one of which is
a dance hall. Within two weeks more
unless several Alaska bound steamers sink
or break down, the men here or on trail
near by will count at least four thousand,
perhaps more. And if the news brought
by the last Klondike party that there is
gold enough for all is verified, this seal
awag Skaguay will in six months boast
OF five thousand people.
They will go to market in electric cars,
read newspapers, attend church and go to
the theatre, send their children to Sunday
and day schools, and coin money or
dust the while in rushing Alaska in.
terror trade over the short trail that can
be easily and quickly built over this low
pass between salt and fresh water.
Skaguay is indeed the key to the Klon-
dixie. The men laboriously carrying OF
packing their goods from Underwater to
tent, those feverishly preparing to tackle
the hills, and the gaunt voyagers already
lighting step by step against privation
and mud, all are still full of yesterdays
glorious news of riches all Tower the
mountains and down the river"
The cry day before yesterday, "There
will be man for each nugget" has
changed to joyful '.there will be nuggets
for each man. Even the common
Skaguay creek has gold in it. An old
time pan twirler from Cripple Greek, by
name Barrack, washed several pans,7 each
containing affew yellow grains. Should
a big town grow here and the several
small streams be diverted to a common
channel the beds should yield heavy sums
from washing on a large scale with the
plentiful water. -lisg $50