The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-07-16

Now Have Comfortable Fortunes.
Labor Demands and Receives Fifteen
Dollars Day and Board.
San Francisco. July 16.-A story RI
valling in intensity of interest that
told of the fabulous wealth of Monte
Cristo was related by the passengers
of the little steamer Excelsior. which
has just arrived from st. Michaers.
Alaska. Millions upon millions of vir-
gin gold, according to the story, awaits
the fortunate miner who has the hardi-
hood and courage to penetrate into the
unknown depths of the Yukon district
There was tangible evidence on the
little steamer of the truth of the story
told by the travellers, for in the cabin
were scores of sacks filled to the very
mouth with dust" taken from the pla-
GERS of the far frozen north. The
amount brought in is variously esti-
mated at from S50O,0OO to S75O,OOO
There came in on the Excelsior some
40 people among them some women,
from what Is now known as the Clon-
dyke district, though only Is of those
had been actually engaged in mining.
There were among them men who had
been for more than 10 years facing the
dangers and hardships of the frozen
north in the hope of making a rich
find, but who signally failed. But now
they come back with fortunes slowed
in their grip sacks and untold millions
! to be picked up in the country Of
which so little Is known.
The new Eldorado lies just across
the Alaskan boundary, in British terri
tory. 1t is of recent discovery. but
already there are at least 5000 people
on the ground. and more are docking in
! that direction. The discovery Of the
| CIondyke regions presents a story that
is unusually interesting. Around Fort
Mile, on the Yukon, is a tribe Of In
dians known as the sllckers, and with
them is a man who years ago was
known as George Cormack, but who
is now called "Sllclx George" In Sep
tember last, at the head of party Of
Indians he left his hut near Forty Mile
camp and started in southerly dlrec-
tlon, saying he intended to find q new
gold field before his return.
He came beck two weeks later and
startled the miners with the announce
rnent that 40 miles away there was gold
to be found In plenty. The streams
abounded with the yellow metal, and
all that was needed was for somebody
to pick It up. Many persons fioeked to
the place. and IN time the word reached
Forty Mile camp that untold riches
could be found along the bottom of
bonanza creek and It's tributaries.
Men who had failed at the former
camp Immediately packed up their be-
longlngs and set out for the new fields
1t was a hard and trying Journey, but
that was nothing with the promise Of
millions at the end of the route.
The following is an extract from 9
letter received by the Excelsior. II
was sent from the Clondyke region by
a prominent and wealthy young busi-
ness man Of San Francisco to his bro.
ther in this city:
"The excitement on the river is in
describable, and the output of the new
Clondyke district is almost beyond be
lief. Men who had nothing last fall
are now worth a fortune. One mar
has worked 40 square feet of his claim
and is going out with $4,000 in dust
one Quarter of claims are now selling
at from SIS, 900 to $780, 900. The estimate
Of the district given is 13 miles, witt
an average value of 100000 to the
claim. Some are valued as high a:
81 900 900 each. Al Dawson sacks Of
dust are thrown under the counters II
the store for safekeeping,
Some OF the stories are so fabulous
that / am afraid to repeat them fol
fear Of being suspected of the infection
Labor is SIS a day and board, with 1Ol
days work guaranteed, so you can i'm
agine how difficult It is to hold EN-
ployes.
IF reports are true, it is the bigges
placer discovery ever made in thu
world, for though other diggings have
been found quite as rich in spots, M
such extent OF discovery has beer
known which prospected and worked
so rich right through"
II. A. Stanley, president of the Bing
hamton Evening Herald company
writes from st. AIichaeTs island, wher
he stopped on his way to the Yukol
mining region. In his letter he says:
"The ice went out of the Yukon abou
June 15 and the river steamer PortH
r. Wear. which wintered at Dawson
2.225 miles up, reached st. Michael
June u. Inc ffNaA bACNbAAN
news of some of the most wonderful
? gold strikes in the worlds history. an
. brought also some 45 miners, ever!
1 man bringing in from 5000 to $4,000
Of dust and nuggets, with an aggre
/ gate of more than $1,000,O0O.
"The steamer Alice arrived at 81
. Michael's on June %, bringing 25 min
erg and half a million in gold for then
and much on their own account tn
passengers on the Alice confirmed ~
news reported by the passengers o
j the Wear, which Is as foilowsi
: "The richest gold strike the worl
has ever known was made IN the Clon
dyke region last August and Septem
ber. bat the news did not get even t
Circle city until Dec. IL, when ther
was a great STAMPEDE oyer the 80
miles intervening between there an
u the newer field. on Aug. ~ Georg
Cormack made the first great strike o
Bonanza creek. and on Aug. 10 seve
claims were filed I'm that region Wor
got to Forty Mile and Circle City, bu
the news was regarded as a grub stak
- rumor. on Dec. 10, however, authenti
news was carried to Circle city by
r M. Wilson, of the Alaska Commerce.
company, and Thomas O'Brien a
trader They carried not only new
. but prospects. and the greatest STAN
pede ever known In this part of tn
{. world commenced
"Those who made the 800 miles frs