The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-31
BOUND FOR COPPER RIVER,
Eastern Men Buy a seattle Schooner
and Make Ready for a Long
I'm

The Klondike country is not the only
place on earth, according to the ideas of
Frank Porter, Jack Moore and w. IL.
Hamilton, and they win attempt to demon
strate the truth of this proposition by ex-
ploring the Copper river in Alaska.
Porter is New York man and grad
uate of the New York nautical school ship.
Moore and Hamilton are from Philadel-
phia. All are well known in the cities
which they claim as their homes.
When the world was attacked by klon-
dicitis and the rush to Dawson City COM
menced Porter, Moore and Hamilton got
the fever and decided TO try their luck in
the mad chase for riches. Moore and
Hamilton came to Seattle and commenced
systematic investigation of the truth of
the reports of the wondrous wealth that
had been thrown into the clutches of those
who had the temerity 10 leave their homes
and isolate themselves in the far interior
OF Alaska, where the Indian has held alb
solute sway for so many years.
They figured that the percentage of
lucky men of the hordes that were hasten
ing on to Dawson City would be small and
that there ought to be other places in that
large and comparatively UNEMPLOYED coun-
try where the placer miner might make a
good stake. 1t was evident to them that
II they could find place where the pros
poets were even fair and the number OF
competitors comparatively small. their
chances OF ultimate success would be in
creased
Information came to them from appar-
entity reliable sources that the Copper river
had not been thoroughly prospected. and
that 1t afforded a good opportunity for the
prospector. When Porter arrived in Seat
tie few days ago a consultation was held
with the result that they decided TO 60 IN
the Copper river. They had been told that
1t was a bad country TO enter. on account
or the presence of hostile Indians but this
ala not make them give up or contempIat ia
q change In their plans While in the CITY
they met Harry II. Eaton. ex-proseeutjuv
attorney Of Kitsap county, an old friend ~
theirs in the East. They were anxious 10
nave him join the expedition. but he is
sun on the fence" although there is a
strong magnet pulling him in the direction
OF the Copper river. He saws that Re
would be willing to 20 Il It were in the
spring, but that the fall makes II a dtf
ieFeft proposition. Porter. however Is
positive Eaton VIII conclude 10 try his
iuck in the prospective gold fields.
yesterday afternoon Porter completed ar
fahsennents Tor the trip by purchasing the
s.oop Trixy T, from Frank Lindauist. THE
ss Is small craft. measuring thirty
rect over all, but she Is verY sta1ooh. ara
Porter IS not worried at the prosnect ~
siii'hs her l.5oo miles 70 the mouth Of The
Copper river. "i the
cWlng 10 the size OF the sloop onlt, o,s
shlaii rowboat VIII be taken along ~ fhts
u not suitable for making the run mn re
rlVeT canoes VIII be purchased from, tna
thalans provided there "a an onnovt,,,ft,,
- hesouate with them before they COM
Hostliities. The sioop VIII be put in
winter quarters at some little hav near .ta
mouth Of the river. and left IN the tsnse-
hlefcies OF the elements and the honest,
OF pfespectors and Indians
C"'5lS 70 reports about the Indians Par.
tef IS inclined to think Il would NJ, he
oao ldea 10 have his present con,nen,, -.
creased by one or two cool. level-be,f5a,s
men lie has received overfures from e.
80 Nho are anxious 20 risk the trim IN
s''e ss3op' bat ne has not made any definite
aeclsion- IN talking Of the venture yrrart.
Porter said last evening:
We shall sail from Seattle nv. ..,.
go as We understand the Conner So.
country Is inhabited by n fot ~ try-f,.f,
So 80 hostile indians. 7 don't knovv
ett y "ouid Dc wise precautfon 10 49,
@sanE another man or 50 esn.|. 49, -
p EATON viii decide 20 20 with ,,s s.,
~ n4Ss give w on account Of the seasor,
$50 80 year. We shall take one ton ..
t4oN+slohs and firearms enough "a NJ
tcct N4 against the attacks 81 rrer ,,-5.t
eopper-coiored skins We have hesy, ~,
Ia We copper river Is hard sfrray~
20 haV1sate. except with small boats an.s
sstt - W. nave 20 so TIP about go rnlEer
before reaching prospecting fe~rftr~-y a
understand II. there are 4 lot OF sr~af,
streams which how into the Yukon frorr
We country We shall reach hw going W
the copper river. Our work R-IH be 49,.
tlf3ea 20 placer mining and unless of,r g.,
iofnl4tipn regarding the country Is e.
roneous. / think car chances fair 20 ha,,.
success attend oar efforts. There are
comparatively fex ueopIa eofn1 sSe~s
ard shat WAS one 81 the special reason
WY " 2 cnn.a it as q flela far or -