The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-17

Men are organizing in all parts OF the
East expeditions for different districts Of
Alaska What their destination shall be
depends apparently on the chance OF hear
say or newspaper publications. In far
Connecticut thirty men have combined TO
reach the Copper river, up which they will
travel, prospecting by the way. and con-
tinuing. IL unsuccessful, to the White river
and thence TO the Yukon. The plan OF the
party involves several side issues, which
will be depended upon to win fortune for
the Adventures in event OF failure in pros
pecting. An option has been secured on
a schooner and steam launch, and quo
tations have been obtained from all the
leading outfitters in Seattle for provisions,
hardware and other necessaries. On Mon
day a representative of the combination
left Stamford. Conn, for this city, where
the preliminaries are TO be arranged.
What the Party Will DO.
The party consists OF thirty men. TO go
to the gold mining regions of Alaska, each
man to contribute $500 and furnish himself
with clothing suitable for the climate and
pay his own fare to Seattle. which is TO
be the starting point. They intend to buy
a schooner of about 100 tons burden, also
a small, powerful steam launch, boring
machine for prospecting, fifteen months
provisions. tents. tools, medicine, blankets,
SleepiLS pdsSt arms, Uy
mite and drills for blasting, chemicals
forge, sawmill. large quantity of rope of
all sizes. blocks. chain and anything they
think will be needed for carrying on min
ing on large and successful scale.
They propose 10 start for the mouth Of
the Copper river, leaving Seattle about
February l. They will sail up the river as
far as the rapids. which are about 100
miles up from the mouth They will then
Ian cI, cta wi
visions for two weeks trip. rope. blocks.
arms. ammunition. the boring machine and
ten men, and start UP through the rapids.
If the boat will not make any Roadway
against the rapids they propose to send
some of the men up the bank till they get
above the rapids, then they Will make fast
one end of a long rope TO a tree, or spur
of rock. and tie the other end to log and
throw it in the river. where the swift cur
rent will carry it down to the waiting men
in the launch, who will speedily haul them
selves up through the rapids. Once over
them, they expect TO have 200 miles or
good navigable river and will steam ahead
until they find miners who have gone in
there ahead of them, and If they have
found gold in paying quantities they will
locate near them and stake out claims and
leave five or six men there and the rest re-
turn down the river TO the schooner. The
men on the schooner In the meantime viii
have built a good-sized barge with lumber.
which will be taken from Seattle. and have
IL loaded with provisions. tools, sawmill
and the whole outfit. II they cannot tow
it up to the claims fully loaded they will
try to make 1t in two or more trips.
II they do not find any parties already on
the river they will steam slowly UP the
river. prospecting as they go with the bor-
ing machine on every creek and gulch on
both sides of the river If they find gold
in large quantities they intend TO stake
out townsite, build block house to live
in. put up sawmill, establish store or
trading station, dig out some gold and
send II down the river by the crew OF the
schooner and start them back to Seattle,
show the gold and boom the location. load
the schooner with provisions and a num-
Der Of men to help work the mines.
II they get up the Copper river and do
not find gold I'm paying quantities they VIII
go over the low pass at the head OF the
river then down the White river TO the
Yukon, giving up part of their provisions
to the Indians to help them over the pass
and sending the steam launch down the
river with the crew to the schooner and
let them sail back to Dyea and leave the
steam launch and sawmill there, then
so back 70 Seattle and carry freight and
passengers to Dyea until they hear from
the main party.
the White river, and If gold is not found
In paying quantities they will press on 10
the Klondike and attempt TO get claims
to work on shares BY the time railroad
is completed over one of the passes, they
expect to have enough gold on hand to
ship In their sawmill and steam launch
and a schooner load OF provisions.
The sawnili and trading station will be
established on the Yukon. some of its
tributaries. and the steam launch will bs
used for towing harges of provisions or
tools or passengers. party OF three or
more will always he out prospecting with
the boring machine.
In the event of being unable TO get IN
the Copper river. they have planned 10 sail
direct for Dyea, get their outfits and pro-
visions on siedges and go over the Chill
koot pass while the snow Is on the ground
and go down the lakes and rivers on the
fee and prospect the Peliy river. II they
find gold in paying quantities. they VIII
establish town site az the junction of the