The evening times., 1897-08-04

San Francisco, Aug. 4.-Frank l.. Under
wood, representing members of the New
York stock Exchange, has secured an op-
tion on the Rbndike mining properties of
Clarence J. Berry, the lucky Frisco man
who lately returned with his wife froin
the north.
The price agreed on is said 10 be w.
900 900, and the option is to hold g'od
.untiI time shall have been given for
thorough examination of the properties
involved.
They include one entire claim on Ri
Dorado Greek half interest an Two oVhefs
and a third interest in fourth
With Berry's partners, who are stii III
the KIondike, Underwood and ms assoei-
ates have yet to deal, and party con-
sistinc of Francis Wear, a local mining ex-
pert. and three others will start nortb
some time this week TO intervie" eheh
and to look over the ground
It is the intention OF Underwood ana hss
associates. .if they car buy out the men wno
are interested with Clarence Berry O
incorporate and work the kiondiks CLAIMS
by the most modern process For TINS
purpose machinery viii be shipped to The
ground, and experts placed In charge ot the
mining operations.
An effort viii then be made to list the
stock OF the company on the New forK
Stock Exchange.
Mr.. and Mrs Berry were married IN
Fresno, Cal, March 5, 1896. The very
next day they started for the klondlke.
Their worldly possessions consisted OF
Just enough money to pay their passage
To San Francisco, thence to Juneau and
on 20 Forty Mile Camp, ard 20 purchase
supplies enough 10 sustain life for n year
Their wedding trip lasted seventy eight
days Mrs. Berry rode from juneau TO the
camp strapped to the sled, and, almost
blinded by the flying snow flung backward
by the team OF hardy sledge dogs bought
in Fresno. It was bitterly coId--60 degrees
below zrro-and the trail was often a mere
ridge In the snow.
When the brave pair arrived at Forty
Mile Camp, they found that there was alb
soluelY nothing to do. The husband stFuek
q claim and made aIittie money but hardly
enough to pay expenses. But they kept
on prospecting until hope left them
Soon after word came TO Forty Mile of
the wonderful discoveries in the KIOn-
dixie. Mrs. Berry told her husband he
had better go on and leave her behind.
she persuaded BIN at last and he wen
to Dawson City. 1t was late when he
reached there. but he was lucky enough
to locate one of the richest claims on
BoHanzs Greek. The claim is No 40. ts-
low discovery, and soon yielded $40 900
in nuggets. mostly picked up by Mrs Berry,
who had now joined her husband.
Itwss December 8, 800. nthedaring
Couple struck the first gold of any eonse
uuence Then 10 came in n torrent AL;
through tie winter Clarence Berry was Dill
Ing up wealth His wife was at the mines
every day, and a s the great Jumps af frozen
earth were dumped on the ground her fin
gers We're busy picking out the nuggets.
The largest nugget Mrs. Berry found
in this way was worth sea-. one M tba
most valuable found in the eisgiugs.
MI. and Mrs. Berry took with them a
stove, which was set up I'm their cabin
which had neither door nor window, when
they arrived Dough frequently froze in
the pan while Mrs. Berry was making
bread, and case of champagne which
was sent them for Christmas was kent
under The rough bed to prevent 10 from
freezing.
MIS- Berryenjoyed good health all through
her experiences in the frozen Northwest.
ane weighs twenty-five pounds more than
when she left Fresno on her wedding Jour
ney. Undaunted by her perilous trip, she
says she is ready to return with her hus-
band next spring IL he goes back.