The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-08-04
PLENTY OF GOLD IN ALASKA

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 3.-George
Ecker, an employee of the Harbor Com
nissioners, has spent several seasons
in Alaska and is well posted on the
alleged "terrors. of Chilkat.' He knows
a great deal about the Klondyke, and
more about the rich deposits which ex-
list in American territory.
Mr.. Ecker is the gentleman who
about one year ago went over Chilcat
with Mr.. Berry, and on his return to
San Francisco furnished the first story
of Mrs. Berry's trip TO the mining camp
with her husband.
1t is all mistake for people to sup
pose that they will have to go to the
Klondyke for gold. 1 could tell you
story of a rich strike ON the American
side, but 1 am not at liberty to make
this news known as yet. The people of
this city viii be surprised when some
Of the miners now at work on locations
ON American territory return to tell of
their good luck.
"A gentleman whom I Travelled with
in Alaska came down here from Juneau
some days ago. This man told the
newspaper reporters that he had found
about 81 800 in dust on the Klondyke.
The truth Of the matter is this said
my friend, producing a bank book.
Here is a deposit of $50 1000, and the
amount is only a third share of the gold
taken from diggings on the American
side in locality unknown to any but
three men, one of whom is myself -
Ecker says that the lucky miner stat
ed that instead of bedrock being TWEEN
ty-five feet below ground, as in the case
of the Klondyke, it is only six feet be-
low. Much of the precious metal was
contained in pieces of broken, decom-
posed quartz which We're easily
smashed with a hammer and the mug
gets picked from the rock.
Now, this sounds like a fairy tale"
said Ecker, "but the fellow showed me
the deposit of $4,000, and beside that I
know the man to be an honest and very
careful person. He would not tell me
where the new mines are located, for he
explained that he is going back with
his partners in the spring.
Nov, regarding American territory.
The capitalists here should turn their
attention to the Copper River district.
Something has been said about this dis
trict, but not enough. | studied the
Copper River Indians character and
made many Investigations of the dis
tricts-that is, such parts of it as We're
accessible-and / saw enough of it to
convince me that it is the coming min
ing country of Alaska
The Copper River Indians are a fierce
tribe, and unlike most Alaskan nations,
they oppose the civiliZing of their coun-
try by white men. There is only one
man in Alaska who has dealt success
fully with them. This mans name is
Jim James. He is a trader and his
headquarters are at Juneau. Jim is
wealthy, but delights to live a wild life.
He commenced dealing with the Copper
Indians, and carefully and gradually
won their confidence. He brought a
number of big chiefs TO Juneau and
entertained them. He found that gold
nuggets We're plentiful along the Copper
River, and that the tribe holds the Sc
cret as to- the location of mines more
fabulously rich than those of the Klon-
dyke
But the Indians will not give their
secrets away. They have murdered
many prospectors who have tried to en-
ter their country. Even Old Jim never
stopped over night in their camps, and
he was content to trade with them and
gather great fortune in nuggets from
the unknown Ell Dorado"
NO INSURANCE FOR KLONDKERS.
CHICAGO, Aug. 3.-The Chicago
agent of the Travellers Insurance Com
pany at Hartford, Conn, has received
Instructions from the home office not
to insure any person going to the Klon-
dyke region. It is a risk that the COM
pany does not desire to take on account
of the extreme hazard, and because
when death takes place the difficulty
of obtaining the facts makes the set
Element of claims too difficult to be
practicable The telegram is as fol-
lows:
Hartford (Conn.) Aug. Sd.
81 P. Dolan, agent, Chicago: Do not
solicit or accept either life or accident
insurance on persons going to the Klon-
dyke or Alaskan gold fields. Circular
letter has been issued.
GEORGE ELLIS, Secretary"