The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-09-10
Shelton Klondikers in the Lead.

from the klOnGke discovery through
the retltn} OF their citizens, who made
fortunes in the gold fields. Shelton
the county seat of Mason County
however, is far ahead of any other city
1t the State, both in number of return
ing 4ukoners and amount of gold dust
they brought back with them, taking
into consideration everything.
Mason County is one of the greatest
logging counties in the State and for
years Il number of French Canadians
have been employed In the woods and
logging camps. These lumbermen
came out from Montreal and other
portions of Eastern Canada and left
behind many friends among their own
people. Some of these went to Alaska
seven and eight years ago. They were
were we'll fitted for rough country
and managed to get along very we'll
Tor years, although none OF them made
very great strikes. About four wears
ago, when the gold bars of the Yukon
flrst attracted attention these French
Canadians were among the first on
the ground. They had not forgotten
their numbering friends who had gone
into the Washington woods about the
same time they went to Alaska and
the Northwest Territory. Soon letters
began to arrive at Shelton, telling in
broken French and English of the
great placer grounds. 1t was the news
conveyed In these letters that started
the lucky Mason County miners to
Alaska. They took the money thew
had saved and made the long overland
journey from the Alaskan coast, or
went up the Yukon in boats. Let us
say nothing about those who started.
Some have returned, some are dead.
others are still in Alaska and number
ed among the wealthy men. It is
those who have returned that are in
teresting.
$l5O,OCO in gold dust and nuggets
represents the amount brought back
to Shelton by the returning French
Canadians. The luckiest of them all
was Mercier, a hard working French
man, who went up in 1894. He
brought back 100000 aud has holdings
on the Klondike worth much more.
Mercier has been at Shelton since his
return, but yesterday left for Wlscon-
sin, where he will spend happy win
ter among relatives and friends. He
has not had enough of the Yukon
country by any means and next spring
will return and let his partner come
out. Mercier will leave Seattle in
March with team of six shepherd
dogs weighing about sixty pounds
each, heavy sled and 1900 pounds
of supplies. He is not going to trust
himself to the treacherous yukon, but
will go overland on the snow. He re-
turns alone
Everybody knows al! about Victor
Lord, the Shelton logger who returned
a short time ago with SAT. 900 and
claims on the river. He, too, has been
visiting his old Shelton friends and
dispensing money with lavish hand.
He first went to San Francisco, where
he spent several gay weeks. He will
go East, 10 Montreal, for the winter.
Four or five other lumbermen came
back with from $1,000 to $4,000, and
they are making things
very lively in Shelton.
Still in Alaska is Niger Jim, the
mine owner, capitalist,
miner and perhaps at present the rich
est man on the Klondike. He is also
a Shelton logger, but rot as most peo-
pie imagine a colored man. Jim is
Spanish-French combination, which
gives him color not mike mulatto.
He has a faculty of initiating colored
people and the name was applied to
him in Shelton and stayed with him.
He went to the Yukon four years ago |
and when the Klondike was discover
ed invested in claims in wholesale |
He gave his notes, borrowed |
money, and as he was not troubled |
with the financial depression this en-
capitalist has carried out
Ill his plans. He now owns an inter !
EST ID between thirty and forty claims
u. Alaska, and is rated in the North
Is their sole and only millionaire.
Jim will be back this year, so letters
% Shelton friends state.
Maxim Landreville, another Shelton
ogger, has $4,000 saved up as result
If his industry on the Klondike and
;ays he will not come out for two years.
he was so hard up when he went
North that he had to be assisted by
lis friends. He finally borrowed $500
rom lawyer and bought his outfit.
Alphonse Lamoureaux was in about !
: II