The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23
A VAST POCKET OF GOLDl
Marvellous Richness Of the
Clondyke District.
THIRTEEN MILES IN EXTENT

Millions Taken Out in q Few Weeks
Strewn With Gold.
San Francisco, July ia story
rivaling in intensity of interest that
told of the fabulous wealth of Monte
Cristo was related by passengers on the
little steamer Excelsior, which has just
arrived from ST. Michael's, Alaska.
Millions upon millions of virgin gold,
according to the story, await the fortu-
nate miner who has the hardihood and
courage to penetrate into the unknown
depths of the Yukon district. There was
tangible evidence on the little steamer
of the truth Of the story told by the
travellers, for in the cabin were scores
Of sacks filled to the very mouth with
"dust" taken from the placers of the
far frozen North. The amount brought
in is variously estimated at from $780,
600 to $3.50, 900.
There came in on the Excelsior some
40 people-among them some women
from what is now known as the Clon-
dyke district, though only 10 of these
had been actually engaged in mining.
There were among them men who had
been for more than 10 years facing the
dangers and hardships of the frozen
North in the hope of making rich
find but who signally failed. But now
they come back with fortunes slowed
in their gripsacks and untold millions
to be picked up in the country of which
go little is known.
The new Eldorado lies just across the
Alaskan boundary in British territory.
It is of recent discovery, but already
there are at least 5000 people ON the
ground and more are focking in that
direction as fast as transportation can
be secured.
The discovery Of the Clondyke region
presents story that is uniquely inter-
esting. Around Forty-Mile, ION the
Yukon, is tribe of Indians known as
the Stickers, and with them is man
who years ago was known as George
Cormack, but who is now called "Stick
George.n In September last at the
head of a party of Indians, he left his
hut near Forty-Mile camp and started
in southerly direction, saying that he
intended to find new gold field before
his return. He came back two weeks
later and startled the miners with the
announcement that 40 miles away there
was gold to be found in plenty. The
streams abounded with the yellow
metal, and all that was needed was for
somebody to pick it up.
Many persons focked to the place,
an in time the word reached Forty
Mf1e camp that untold riches could be
found along the bottom of Bonanza
creek and it's tributaries. Men who
had failed at the former camp imme-
diately packed their belongings and SET
out for the new fields. It was hard
and trying journey, but that was moth.
ing compared with the promise of mil.
lions at the end of the route.
The following is an extract from a
letter received by the Excelsior. II
was sent from the Clon1yke region by
a prominent and wealthy young bust
ness man of San Francisco to his brother
in this city:
'The excitement on the river is in.
/ describable, and the output of the new
Clondyke district is almost beyond be.
lief. Men who had nothing last fall
are now worth fortune. One man
has worked 40 square feet of his claim
and is going out with $4,000 in dust.
One-quarter of the claims are now sell.
ing at from $15, 900 to $50, 900. The
/ estimate of the district given is Ia
miles, with an average value of $780,.
| 600 to the claim, in which some are
valued as high as 81, 900, 900 each. Al
Dawson sacks of dust are thrown under
the counters in the stores for safe keep
! ing.
"Some of the stories are SO fabulous
! that am afraid to repeat them for feal
# being suspected of the infection.
Labor is SIS dav and board. with
100 days. work guaranteed, so you car
! imagine how difficult it is to hold EN-
ployes. If reports are true it is the
biggest placer discovery ever made il
! the world, for though other diggings
have been found quite as rich in spots
no such extent OF discovery has beer
/ known which prospected and worked sc
high right through"