The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-09-18
LIFE ON THE YUKON,
A Mounted Policeman Tells About
the Rich Strike on the
kIOndike.

with Matthew r. Gowler, a mounted
policeman who returned from Dawson
City few days before. Mr.. Gowler
spent two years at Fort Cudahy, and
was there when kernock made his rich
find on the klondike. Referring to that
interesting event he said:
Two years ago the deta chment of
which | was a member, consisting of
twenty men, under command of Capt
Constantine, reached Fort Cudahv. The
year after our arrival the news of the
discovery of rich dirt on the Klondike
reached the fort, and Captain Constan-
tine gave the men all opportunity to
stake out claims. | was not anxious to
go but the captain insisted on my going,
saying that he wished all the men to
have piece of any good thing that was
to be had. We started for the klondike,
four Of US, in a common river boat built
by ourselves, and polling and towing up
streams for three days reached the point
of landing. Hundreds were rushing for
the rich localities making the best speed
they could over the twenty-five miles of
thicklv wooded country that ad to be
traversed on foot. Some IN their eX-
cltemcnt were without coat or a morsel
of anything to eat, though they were
going into a perfect wilderness. The
discovery OF gold on Bonanza Creek
there are no claims on the klondike, it
being a river nearly as big as the Assni-
bolne-was made by man named ker-
mock, by the mereat accident, He was
on his way from Circle City, which was
about that time beginning to get pretty
flat, to Indian River, hundred miles
beyond the klondike, when he hap
pened to notice what seemed to be rich
dirt just in front of the spot he had Sc
lected for bis camp. He PANIED out a
shovel full from the surface and was
surprised at its richness. In two DAYS
he had washed from the surface dirt
over 500. lie soon spread the news
and the great rush started 1t was not
fraction of what it would have been
if the people lad known what untold
millions lay alous the banks of that in
significant little stream. Five hundred
dollars have been taken from single
pan of dirt. OfcourSe we knew nothing
Of all this as we plunged for twenty-five
miles through brush and mud half wav
to our knees, or tore our way through
the thick bushes. We reached the spot
at last and ascending TIE river beyond
the point where kernock made his dis
covery, we staked our claims. Mine
was number IS above the discovery
claim, which means that seven people
had measured off 800 feet of that creek
bed and posted their names upon it be-
fore | reached the scene. Next day we
commenced the return journey, and
short time afterwards l sold half my
claim, the purchasers doing develop
ment and each sharing alike in the re-
turns. Ward, one of my comrades, let
out $50 feet of his claim and Melted as
his share $4,000. Jenkins, another po-
llceman, had a partner who took out
Vt
2G above discovery, got out Of three DAYS
washup So 900. He had eight or ten
men EN- ployed on the claim"
Here is picture Of life on the Yukon
as draw by Mr.. Gowler:
Winter is the busy season of the
year. When | left Dawson City on July
10Th, there were ! 800 men ont of the
/ 900 III the country idle When fall
comes on the miners go up the side of
the hill and commence to cut their sup
ply of fuel, needed not only to keep
his cabin warm but in his mining ope-
rations. 1t is impossible to work his
claim III summer as the holes are full Of
water. As soon as the snow arrives he
drags the wood to his claim and he is
ready for the winters work which COM
mcnces about the 18th of December. 70
secure the best advantage three men
work together. Eight feet apart they
sink through the earth or muck with
pick and shovel two shafts, four feet
square, or four by six, as desired From
four to thirty feet down they strike the
gravel, which is, fit pans gold, the pay
streak \ fire of say half cord of
wood is made on this. frozen solid as if
is, and the conGuctlvity of the stone
spreads the heat in all directions The
muck does not conduct and thavs
hardly at all in consequence. While the
first hole is burning the second is being
shovelcd ont alternatives and NO ,ioo
is lost in vaitinc. The tra., Sa.,,,s -
be sufficient 70 allow III. wood - I,,r,,
I'm, tho smoke mayor ,ao,I,. ,loo,.,.,
and men shovel for d,vs !, ., ot,,as,
nbara :, charcoal VIII, s,,,I.a $780, :.
,youId snttn.a,. o,,. ono