The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-25

party OF five men from California
and Arizona are Quitting in this city for
the Yukon placer fields. They went to
San Francisco 10 purchase their outfits,
but found, after making a careful tour
or the stores there. that II was impossible
TO get fun complement of the articles
they needed for their trip over the Ice
and snow-coyered plains OF the North
land
W. X. Meade, for nine years United
States marshal for Ar.vna, heads the
party. He has been on the frontier for
twenty-five years. OF course he has had
lots OF experience-any man that held
down job as United States marshal in
Arizona could not well be called a ten
derfoot." Perhaps that is the reason why
Mr.. Meade made up his mind after visit
ing San Francisco TO come to Seattle TO
purchase the Alaska outfits for MS party
Fifteen years ago party of gold hunt
ers left San Francisco for Alaska A
number of the party came from Tomb
stone, Ariz. In the party were f. NJ
Carr, OF this city. and Nr. Meade. The
in Arizona and was the pscker OF the ex-
petition. The party went into the interior
of Alaska. save Mr. Meade who after
reaching the summit of the Chiikoot pass,
prospected for placers on the southeast
coast of Alaska for a while, ana then
returned TO Tombstone
When | was in San Francisco ten DAVIS
ago the merchants OF that city were not
prepared TO outfit any considerable num-
Der of Alaska miners" said Mr. Meade
last night. They did not have the
stocks. | found on examining the stores
that / could not get the articles needed
for residence in Alaska That is why /
came 10 Seattle. Here I have been able
to secure everything needed and at rea-
sonabIe prices. / have been we'll treated
by the merchants of this city. In only
one case did l encounter any difficulty in
making selections for the party. This
was in the line of rubber boots. 1t was
not easy to secure what VS. required in
sizes.
ION only one theory" continued Mr.
Meade. ''can l account for the fact that
the merchants of San Francisco do not
carry full stocks of Alaskan supplies
That is. that they did not expect travel
TO the north 10 begin so early"
Mr.. Meade lived in Arizona for over
twenty years. During the greater part
of that time he has followed the business
of mining. and with success. He has
always taken great interest In Alaska,
which led him to organize the expedition
referred to above. That was in 1852.
beng essentially a frontiersman, Mr.
Meade's interest In the regions of the
north was kindled anew by the accounts
OF the wonderful richness of the Yukon
country and the klondike. that have been
sent broadcast over the world from Sc
attic. This led him to organize another
party and lead il himself into the land of
unf Nd yrlu
George Bemenderfer Oliver Morton. L.
*. Grubbs and w. f. Heney. all Califor-
MIA men who are experienced miners and
prospectors
I'VE hope to get our freight over the
Chiikoot tramway." said Mr.. Meade when
asked as 10 his plans. but shall be gov
erned altogether by conditions as we find
them in the north. We are taking about a
ton OF provisions to the man. We have five
sieds and viii probably secure trailers
because | do not believe you can put a ton
of goods on a sled. II the trans are not
carrying freight we may pack it over on
sleds. or else wait till the cables get TO
running.
After reaching Lake Bennett we viii
pitch camp and then decide whether 10
push on or wait till the river opens in the
spring. If everything is favorable. we viii
hoist sail and go down over the ice as far
as possible. We will have no dog teams
ourselves.
You can say that I am we'll satisfied
with the goods purchased In Seattle and
with the treatment afforded It's by the rner-
chants OF this city. We have found them
obliging ard their prices reasonable"
Mr.. Meade told of his experiences in
prospecting for placer gold in the vicinity
of juneau in 1852 This was before the
Yukon was ever heard of as a wealth.
producing country. After sending his
party over the pass. Mr.. Meade set about
hunting for the precious metal on the
coast. With party OF Indians he ascend
cd the Taku. being one of the first white
men to go up that stream, He prospected
for piacers all through the district hack Of
Juneau and found plenty of traces OF the
hidden wealth that has since been brought
forth and put into the channels OF COM
merce But his mining interests in Ari-
zona needed his attention. and he deter
mined 10 return to Tombstone
When the party organized went down
the Yukon said Mr.. Meade In speaking
of his experiences in Alaska. they learned
that TWO white men had preceded them
Mr.. Carr then A youth OF q or y. and
very frajl vas In the party. One OF the
TIVE men ahead of him was Joe Ladue. who
is now famous as the father az Dawson.
Carr and the rest came out the following
fan. after giving 20 Ladue and Others their
surplus food.
located the first mineral ia the Tombstone
district. constructed a small steamer and
took Il 10 St Michael in The spring OF that
year on sailing vessel from San Fran
cisco lie put the steamer together At the
rivers mouth and assembled the stream.
There he met Carr and the others in my
party. Some ne them came out with SChief
Hin down the river. tae rest ascending the
Yukon and crossing the divide 20 tide
water Nest Of the members % that party
are dead noH. / have not ssen Carr since
then When he asked 10 GO In the party
| advised against Il. rs ne was not strong.
/ He weighed perhaps t3o or I4e. When lie
came out be weighed over go 80 much
for the hardshsps Of life In Alaska"