The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-16
RICHEST IN THE WORLD
GREAT STRIKE OF GOLD MADE IN
THE ALASKAN FIELDS.
New EIdOrado just Across the BOun-
Diary on British Fields, Where
the Dust Lies Exposed.


sengers of the little steamer Excelsior.
which has just arrived from ST. Michaels,
Alaska Millions on millions of virgin gold,
according to the story, awaits the fortunate
miner who has the hardihood and courage
to penetrate into the unknown depths of
the Yukon district. There was tangible ev-
idence 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
100000 to $750,00O. There came in on the
Excelsior some forty people, among them
some women from what is now known as
the Clondyke district, though only fifteen
of these had been actually engaged in min
ing. There were among them men who for
more than ten years had been facing dam
gers and hardships of the frozen north in
the hope of making a 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 so little is known.
The new Eldorado lies just across the
Alaskan boundary in British territory. 1t is
of recent discovery but already there are
at least three thousand people on the
ground and more are 1ocking in that direc-
ton. The discovery of the Clondyke regions
presents a story that is uniquely interest
ing. Around Forty Mile, on the Yukon. is
a tribe of Indians known as the ISickers,
and with them is a man, who years a6o
was known as George Cormack, but who
is now called Slick George" In Septem-
Der last at the head of a party of Indians
he left his hut near Forty Mile camp and
started in a southerly direction, saying he
intended to find a new gold field before his
return. He came back two weeks later and
with hp O m
that forty miles away 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
hocked to the place and in time the word
reached Forty Mile camp that untold riches
could be found along the bottom OF 30
nanza creek and its tributaries. Men who
had failed at the former camp immediate
~ packed up their belongings and set out
for the new fields. 1t was a hard and try
ing journey, but that was nothing with
the promise of millions at the end Of the
letter received by the Excelsior Just ar
rived here from Alaska. 1t was sent from
the Clondyke region by a prominent and
wealthy young business man of San Fran
cisco to his brother in this city:
THE excitement on the river is indescrib-
able and the output of the new Clondyke
nothing last fall are now worth a fortune.
One man has worked forty square feet CT
his claim and is going out with $4,000 in
ing at from $15, 600 to $780, 00 The estimate
of the district given is thirteen miles with
an average value Of $500 900 to the claim;
some are valued as high 81, 900, 900 each.
At Dawson sacks of dust are thrown under
the counters in the store for safekeeping.
Some of the stories are so fabulous that
am afraid to repeat them for fear of be-
ing suspected of the infection. Labor is SIS
a day and board, with one hundred days
work guaranteed, so you can imagine he w
difficult it is to hold employees.
IF reports are true it is the biggest plac-
er discovery ever made in the world, for
l.. III
quite as rich In spots no such extent OF
discovery has been known which prospected
and worked so high right through.
The Associated Press has received letter
from H. A. Stanley, of the Binghamton,
n. Y, Evening Herald Company, telling of
the wonderful gold discoveries of Alaska
Mr.. Stanley wrote from st. Michaels ISL
and, where he stopped on his way to the
Yukon mining region. Writing under date
of June 30, he says:
THE steamer Excelsior, of San Francis
CO, was the first vessel to push her way
through the ice to this station. The Port
land, from Seattle, arrived four hours later.
From these vessels we learned for the first
time of McKinley's election, the result Of
the Corbett- FitZsimmons prize fight and
other news of the fall and winter. The ice
went out Of the Yukon s+a about bout
Portus B. Weare. which wintered
at Dawson 2225 miles up, reached st.
Michaers June 81 The Weare brought au--
thentic news of some of the most Wonderful
gold strikes in all the world history ana
man bringing in from 5000 to $lOQ,O0O OF
dust and nuggets, an aggregate OF more
than $l000,00O Just how much the Weare
brought in on its own account as the eX-
change of provisions and supplies furnished
miners by the North American Trading ana
Transportation Company; could not be as
certained but it is very large
1.-The steamer Alice arrived at 81. MI
chaers on June 49, bringing twenty-five min
ers and half a million in gold Tor them ana
much on their own account. The passen-
gers on the Alice confirmed the news re-
ported by the passengers OF the Weare'
t"The richest gold strike the world has
ever known was made in the Klondyke re-
gon last August and september, put IHe
Dec. 15 when there was great staInpede
over the three hundred miles intervening
between there and the newer helds. ON
Aug Il George Cormack made the nrSt
great strike on Bonanza creek, and on Aug.
10 seven claims were filed in that region.
Word got to Forty Nile and nd circle lily lily,
but the news was looked upon as gruD-
stake rumor. On Dec. Is, however, authen-
tic news was carried to Circle city by ).
M. Wilson, of the Alaska Commercial T STiC
pany, and Thomas O'Brien, trader. They
carried not only news, but prospects, ana
the greatest stampede ever known III tulS
part of the world commenced Those who
made the three hundred miles first struck
it richest. OF all the two hundred claims
staked out on the Bonanza and Eldoradon
creeks not one has proven blank Equal
ly rich finds were made June and 10 on
Dominion creek Not less than three hun
dred claims have been staked out on Indian
creek, and the surface indications are tnat
these are as rich as any of the others.
THE largest nugget yet found was
picked up by Bert Hudson, on clam NO. b,
on the Bonanza, and was worth $zol Next
in size was one found BY j. Clements, on
Indian creek. worth 1921. The last TOUR
pans Clements took out We're worth SzO0,
and one went $775. Bigger pots have been
struck in other regions, but nowhere on
earth has SO rich a general find been made
as in this section. about se Vt.atyaJi,,
Some brought but a portion or their clean-
up preferring to invest other portions IN
mines they know to ho rich. Among the
most lucky are ]. J. Clements, OF Los An
geles, who has cleaned up about $ll5,Op.
He brought out 900 and invested the
rest Prof. T. c. Lppy of Seattle, who
brought out about $4,000 and mas $l50,OoO IN
sight, and who claims his mine is worth
$500 900 or more; William Stanley, OF Sc
attic who cleaned up SIP 900; Clarence Ber-
ry, $4,000; Henry Anderson, $4,000; Frank
Keller $4,000; T. ]. Kelly, $33 900; William
Sloane of Nanaimo, &. c., $4,000, and al
least thirty more who will not talk, but
state room. Then there are at least twenty
more men bringing from 5000 to So, 900 All
this gold and more to come Is the cleanup
of last winters work. 1t must all come
out via ST. Michaeps, and the oulk or sup
plies must go in that way. The two great
transportation companies puShlng IN sup
plies are the North American Trading and
Transportation Company and the Alaska
Commercial Company.
"Further particulars will follow in about
forty days, on arrival of next steamer as
Mr. Stanley will remain in Alaska and
gather all the information he can
<-s->-
CUMMINGS'S RAILROAD COUP.
How the Late Millionaire and His
E-farAs nu4I& tho NicIxaI-Plnte-