The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-18

cott left Orca there were In the vicinity
Of the mouth of the Copper river about
200 prospectors awaiting a favorable OPP
portunity to get up to the headwaters.
The present situation Is given In the fol-
lowing special correspondence to the Post
Inteiligencer from Orca:
Two Hundred People There.
ORCA, Prince William Sound. Dec. "a
month ago the snow lay on the ground
about Ave feet in depth at this point. but
the weather has since been very mild,
with copious rains, and the ground Is
again bare. During the past few weeks
the schooners Phelps and La Ninfa. and
the steamers Alice Blanchard and VOL
cott have landed nearly 200 people here.
all intent upon reaching the upper Copper
river as soon as practicable.
From Eyak all along trail on the west
side of the delta to a point about ten
miles above Alganik village. there are
camped parties. the first of whom left
here on the 18th of last September. Re-
ports from those at the farthest camps
state shat the strong. cold northerly winds
which continually sweep down the river
during the winter months have already
begun and that they will make no attempt
to ascend farther until the latter part OF
February.
While in the coast cities the writer con-
stantiy met men who rad conversed with
Hax- a
Of the Copper river from its mouth. Jack
Shepard. an old resident and guide, states
that In his nine years residence here ne
has known but three white men who have
made the trip BY that is meant going
through the passes leading 10 the Yukon.
or back to the coast az Juneau Many
others have been from twenty TO eighty
miles. but no others have gone through.
VaIdes Pass Yet Closed.
At the head Of valdes bay. near the
foot Of the glacier. we found twenty-ssx
men In four different camps awaiting an
opportunity to push on into the interior.
In RESPONSE TO a query, the information
was given that there were no "duitters"
there. The glacier is yet impossible. as
The warm rains ard lack Of wintry
weather and snow has kept the crevasses
and fssures formed in the Summer yet
open.
In So!omon's basin. few miles distant,
eighteen placer claims have been stased
orr this fall The various gorges and
basins in this vicinity all show coIors. ana
some ~ them gold In paying quantities.
This vicinity has been but slightly ex-
plores and some rich developments NAV
be looked fer 1t Is the southern boundary
Of the section of country lying between
the explored sections of the Cook inlet
god district and the sickle bend Of the
Conner river. The VaIdes glacier rises hy
A gradual grade. TO; averaging over 100
feet 20 .he mile. ans makes an easy pass
axe-way through the mountains. IL viii
probably not be feasible 10 attempt the
passage until February.
Copper Claims Bonded
A. Tste;hik. near the GIadhoGga copper
discoveries, nothing Is being done. every
one waiting for spring Developments. II
IS reported that sever mining properties
On Latauche island IN the southwest par
tion Of the sound have been bonded, and
that interesting news viii be heard ere
long regarding the e4pper deposits isisre-
Fveryone In this vicinity seems hopeful.
though thay are waiting with more or Jess
irnparsencs for the time when more actlse
work NAV be done Many state that hey
intend pushing oH 30 tae Yukon II ihey 90
not see enough encouraging signs 20 hAaE
them before reaching the present Mecca