The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-12-02

PORT TOWNSEND. Sept 2s.-From
Charles Enrich, a young man VINO mas
but recently returned from the Copper
River country, your correspondent Sc
cured an interesting interview relative
to that much talked OF section. The
impression has prevailed that the Cop
per River country was inhabited by
hostile sava ges, who looked with jeal-
Gus eyes upon the advent Of the white
man on his stamping ground. Nj. En-
rich dispels this false impression by
saying that the Indians are peaceable
and will harm 10 one if let alone and
treated fairly by the whites.
Two men We're killed there last Sum-
mer. but they themselves were primar-
lily responsible. 1t seems the two men
hired some Indians to do packing for
them, and when the time of settlement
came they disagreed as to the amount
due and a quarrel followed, in which
one Of the white men shot an Indian
The next day about a dozen Indians
came down in a body and killed both
of the men. This unfortunate affair
dency; the Indians simply followed a
custom prevalent in all tribes-a life
for a life.
Carried No Firearms.
Mr.. Enrich and his partner had no
firearms at all, and had no occasion to
use any, other than on the game which
abounds in that contingencies, bear,
grouse, ducks and geese being plenti
full. Mr.. Enrich smiled broadly when
| told of a proposed plan, which has
been a topic of conversation of late, of
forming a company of some three hun
dred determined men, heavily armed,
going to the Copper River and expect
ing to have to fight the Indians before
| being allowed to prospect for gold. He
said the idea was absurd and evidently
originated with men grossly ignoran,
| Of the Indians Of that country.
Young Enrich was closely ques-
/ toned in regard to quartz and placer
mining on the Copper River. At the
mouth Of the river some rich quartz
| claims have been located. A mimi.
expert representing an Eastern syndi-
| cate was there during the Summer ana
offered one man $4,000 for his claim
but the offer was refused. The ore is
free milling, runs as high as $50 to the
ton, and is found in well-defineG
| Lodges.
Found Plenty Of Gold.
Mr.. Enrich and his partner staked of
a couple of quartz claims of promise
and then proceeded up the river in ar
Indian kyack in quest of placers. They
went up far as the Kellner River
| prospecting the beach as they went
The sand was found to be impregnatet
with flour gold, which could easily b,
| mined with proper machinery. It 4
the opinion of the miners now on tn,
| Copper River that the head waters O
the Kellner River, which originates il
the Klondike country. will be found t.
| be as rich as the Klondike, but no pros
pecting has ever been done there, o
any other place on the Copper River t
any extent, and the real value of tn
country as a mining district is yet un
| known.
| An old hunter and miner named King
who has lived on the Copper River TO
y
been to the headwaters of the big river
and reports rich finds. He sent for tw
young relatives who lived at Los An
geles, and they were passengers on tn
Queen, bound for that region.
Mr.. Enrich says there are about sew
enty white men now on the Copper Riv
er, principally hunters, trappers an
fox farmers, the latter being quite a.
important industry. It is his opinio
that at the mouth Of the river quart
mines of immense value will be foun6
and on the tributaries, near the head
waters, placers rivaling the Klondik
will be unearthed. He himself will re
turn this Fall, his partner being al
ready there, and together they will loo
for placers.