The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-18
ABE GORDON'S LUCK.
Ex-JaiIer Returning with q Fortune
Tom McGraw Locates Rich
Claims at Munook-

Abe Gordon. who was county tailer for
several months during the administration
or Sheriff Woolery. is the latest Seattle
man TO return from the Klondike loaded
down with gold Mr.. Gordon left here
in the spring of 1885. and is the owner
of claim on Bonanza creek. which, IL
is said, is one of the richest IN the dis
trict.
Mr. Gordon was a passenger on the
steamer Danube which arrived from st.
Michael at Victoria Saturday night at .
o'clock He has sack of gold worth
approximately $4,000. He was expected
IN this city yesterday afternoon, but for
some reason decided 10 wait until today
before coming from Victoria
Mr.. Gordon is we'll known in Seattle
He located several claims in the Silver
ton district, and is a close friend OF James
Sheehan's. Mr.. Sheehan said last night
that he had not heard directly from Mr.
Gordon. but believed that he would reach
here today.
c. o. Johnson, general agent of the Chi
cage, Great Western railway at San
Francisco, was passenger on the Dan
ube. He left San Francisco in July last
on the steamship Excelsior, but was UNI
able 10 proceed further up the Yukon
than Fort Yukon. To Post-InteIligen-
Ger reporter last night Mr.. johnson said:
$50 many conflicting stories about the
that 1 hesitate to add my experiences TO
those already told. You may say, how
ever. that the hardships to be met and
overcome by any man who hopes 10 sue
coed in the gold fields of Alaska have
not been overdrawn. The country is
rough and unsettled, and the means of
transportation between points on the Yu-
kon most uncertain. / believe that Mu-
nook creek will develop into a very rich
country Pr0GnQprs Indicate
that the gravel in the streams of that dis
trict is rich in gold. One claim yielded
122 ounces, or about 5000. in one day.
on another claim. two men worked five
days last April and took out $500. There
were 600 miners at Munook creek when I
left there September is. Claims that
looked promising were commanding good
figures, but those who had prospected
their properties enough to ascertain that
they would produce gold, were not anx-
ious to sell.
81 met Gov. McGraw and his son, Tom
McGraw. The latter left the steamer
Hamilton at Munook creek on her trip up
the river from st. Michaels. The governor
opposed his leaving the steamer, as he
intended going through to Dawson City.
Tom and j. T. Tobin, OF San Francisco,
learned OF the richness of the creeks IN
the Munook district, and decided TO leave
the boat there. 1t was not generally sup
posed that many were going TO get off the
Hamilton at Munook, each man who had
made up his mind to try his luck In that
region, keeping the fact to himself. When
the boat landed. sixty-fve of the passen-
gers went ashore
Tom McGraw and Mr. Tobin were ex-
cephonally lucky. They hired an Indian
guide and prospected the region thorough
~. They were placed In a position where
they could learn the location of the best
ground Both located claim each on
Hoosier and Hunter creeks myself
bought two claims in the district and have
arranged for their being worked this win
ter. / Intend TO return next spring"
Mr.. johnson declares that the food stua-
ton in Dawson City and the Upper Yukon
country could not be much worse than IL
IS. He says that while he was at Fort
Yukon the steam barge Margaret arrived
and took on fifty tons OF provisions. in
tending to take them to Dawson City. She
was unable 10 get past the fats In the
river between Fort Yukon and Circle City
The steamer returned and, discharsfnc
her cargo. started up the river empty. Her
purpose was TO go TO Circle City and there
take on -four for Dawson City. There
were $500 sacks OF -four at Circle City at
the time. The water was SO low. however,
that the barge failed TO get over the bars
even light She then returned TO Fort Yu-
kon to spend the winter.
This gives you an idea how impossible
II has been 10 get provisions 10 Dawson
City this summer" he said. 1.-THE Alice.
Bella and the other steamers have made
but one trip this summer as far as Daw-
son City and. of course, It is too late now
for them 10 get through There is some
provisions at Fort Yukon, but danger ex-
lists even there that the supply will not
hold out till spriag."
William Langdon, who was a passenger
on the Portland on her trip leaving July
p last, corroborates the account OF the
good fortune encountered by Tom Nc
Graw. Mr.. Langdon returned on the
North Fork.