The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-08-29

Seattle WASH, Aug. 2S.-Probably the
most int resting Dawson City character
who came down from st. Michael yester-
day. on the schooner Sander is james
McNamee. He had $40, 900 worth of dust
in Il big sack, and as he turned it over to
the hotel clerk he was careful to see that
it WIS safely slowed away.
He is a single man, 80 years old, and
claims juneau for his home. The last
four years Of his life have been consumed
In searching the great Yukon for gold.
TO day he owns half interest in eigh-
teen rich claims on Eldorado and Bo-
nanza creeks and valuable holdings on
Hunker creek.
The Sanders passengers, who were
thoroughly acquainted with McNamee's
financial condition, assert that each of
the claims in which he is interested is
worth from $25, 600 to .$50,00O. During
the past few months he has taken out
S37, 900.
McNamee says that in his absence his
partner Charles B. Lamb, of--Los Ange-
les, Cal, will have charge of the claims.
Lamb and McNamee explored several
creeks in the far north, but had not
struck fortune when, early last spring
Lamb went to California after wife. 1t
was in June that he returned to Dawson
the boat McNnmee greeted them with:
Lamb. you're worth fortune. ,-p in
the cabin there is 1000, which repre-
sents your interest in the amount of
money that we have taken out of the
claims since you went South.''
Henry Ash, liking of Gamblers one
of the Sanders passengers, is worth half
a million. He has $40, 600 in gold dust.
Ash is an old Pacific coast gambler. Adj
verse legislation drove him to Circle City.
News came from Dawson City of great
strike. Ash followed the gang. At Daw-
son City he opened gambling house,
stood In with the mounted police, secured
all gambling rights, and gold poured into
his Golfers rs it never poured into those
of another gambler.
Ash made fortune, got tired of life in
that unciviliZed part of the world, and
sold his gambling house in June last to
Holden and Stevens. Ash's big interests
are on Bonanza and Eldorado creeks. He
has this to say as to the golden cargo of
the coming steamer Portland:
81 do not believe that the Portland will
bring over 81 ,000,0 600 Three-quarters or
less would be nearer Miners are not
shipping their money South They need
it's as fast as they take it out to extend
their operations"
j. S. DiEsmore, of Eureka, CAL. says
that he brought out Il little over $1,000.
Harry Ash credits him with $4,000 In
addition Dinsmore has interests on Hum
ker creek which undoubtedly foot up
from $50, 600 to 500, 900.
81 was in the mercantile business in
Eureka" he says. "and In April of this
year went North to try tn build up trade
in my line. / went over Chlkoot Pass,
taking four men and four tons of prov-
sions. 1t took three weeks to go over the
pass and three more to reach the Klon.
dixie AT that time packing rates were Is
cents pound
81 reached the Klondike at cleanup
time, sold my stuff at the rate of 81 for
81, getting $l.25 n pound for bacon, So Il
dozen for eggs, So a sack for flour, 81
pound for potatoes and so cents each fer
lemons. Dawson City was then but
baby, but saloons, cabins and dance halls
were fast being erected
''ln two weeks entered into deal
with Joe Moore, of Montana, by which
secured Il half-interest in IL claim next to
u claim that was running a. cents to the
pan on bunker creek. Since then we
have been able to do some little work on
orr claim, and are well satisfied with re-
turns.
''The richest man in Dawson City to-
day. SO far rs know, is SkifT Mitchell,
of Eureka Cal. He has been there eleven
years. Down in Eureka he was "A lum-
herman, but never made any money, and
poverty drove him North. He has made