The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25
ANOTHER RICH GOLD FIELD
LAKE CLARK DISTRICT MAY ECLIPSE
THE ANCIENT GOLCDNDA.
1t Was Found and Named by GeOgra-
pher Schanz, and Is Wholly in
the Territory of Alaska.

OF the Frank Leslie eXped uon OF 1880 ana
1891, organized by w. J. Arkell, IS now sec
rotary of an important local business en-
terprise. He was interviewed in his office
to-day by the correspondent of the jour
nal on the subject of Mr.. Arkelrs claims
to the gold fields of the Klondyke district,
by right IF discovery, for the estate Of E.
j. Glave. Mr.. Schanz said:
81 was in charge of the geographical
work of the Frank Leslie expedition. which
started out in the early spring of 1890 for
the purpose of exploring the country imme-
dately north of the Mount ST. Elias Alps,
which, previous to that time, had not been
penetrated by white men. OF course, such
expeditions ale not planned to contine
themselves to certain territory, and we
went out with rowing commission, au-
thorized to so in any direction in which
circumstances might make it appear ad-
visabe.
1--WE started north from San Francisco on
the government steamer Patterson, of the
coast and geodetic survey, and were land
ed at Pyramid Harbor, on Lynn canal 1t
is at this point that the roads leading to
the present gold fields diverge, and, as far
as 1 know, the great majority of the pros
pectors have been and are entering by the
way of Dyea, over ChilkoOt Pass, to Lake
Linderman, the headwater of the Lewes
(Yukon) >river. The Chilkoot route was we'll
known at that time, but our party at once
turned westward and scaled the Mount st.
Elias Alps over new pass between Chill
koot and Chilkat, necessitatng a twelve
days portage over the mountains. We
named this pass Leslie Pass and were
the first white men to reach any of the
waters northward of Mount ST. Elias in
that way. don't believe anybody has gone
the same way since.
after we reached the north side of the
mountains we found a lake some forty
miles in length, which was named Lake
Arkell, and is the headwaters of the Talk
heena. This river is of great Importance,
and has numerous affiuents from what is
now the great gold district.
DALTON'S DISCOVERIES
cat Lake Arkell the party divided by
agreement all of us retaining our rights
to anything that might be discovered by
any branch of the expedition. Glave and
Dalton went westward toward Mount ST.
Elias, and prospected along the many rivu-
let's running into the Alsekh, which at that
time was supposed to run north into the
Yukon, but which Glave proved to run
south into Dry bay. Dalton was an ex-
pert prospector, and this practical branch
of the expedition made very valuable dis
coveries of placer mines over a good part
of the territory they explored, it being the
intention, as we understood it, of Mr.. Ar
kell to develop any indications found by
the expedition
''In the meantime, Wells, Price and my
self went northward and investigated all
the tributaries of the Tahk-heena, eventu-
ally advancing down through Lake La
Barge, the Yukon river, rPelly river White
river. Stewart river, Sixty-rntle creek and
Forty-mile creek. The outposts of the gold
prospectors we found at Forty-mile creek,
in June, $780, and there were at that time
about $50 white men in the entire territory
in which thousands are now seeking their
fortunes.
II think that Mr.. Arkell, in all justice,
may lay claim to whatever rights our ex-
plorations would enttle him in all the
country between the Yukon and Mount st.
Elias, Lake Arkell and Mount Wrangel in
Guiding the river districts of the Talk
heena and the Alsekh, as well as the upper
waters of the White CXukon) river, some
of the eastern branches of Copper river
and the territory drained by these various
streams. What these rights amount to 1
am not in position TO say. cut the different
members of the origin9 Exploring eXpedi-
ton will, of course, expect their share of
whatever there is in it. I have so much
confidence in my friend, Mr.. Arkell, that
1 would leave my interests entirely under
his protection.
"Glave and Dalton came out of the dis
puted territory in August, 1880, and went in
again in the spring of 1891, on which occa-
sion Glave was the first man to introduce
the use of horses north of the Mount ST.
Elias Alps. He and Dalton trained the
horses to wear snow shoes, and altogether
performed miracles of patience and endur-
ance The gold indications which had been
found the previous year were followed up,
and it was the intention of the entire eX-
petition to follow UP all claims, but I'M
fortunately Mr.. Glave, while travelling in
Africa in behalf of the Century Magazine,
lost his life, and the matter has been Ia
tent since then.
After the summer of 1880 I descended the
Yukon in an open boat to Bering sea, and
then made my way in Eskimo kayaks Skin
canoes) southwark along the coast of Ber-
ing sea to Fort Alexander, at Nushagak,
where 1 went into winter quarters in Octo-
Der, 1890.
THE LAKE CLARK DISTRICT.
During the winter Of 1890 and 1891 I took
a dog sledging trip to the country north of
Lake Illiamna a territory previously I'M
explored and, geolog ically' of the same or
igin and formation as the gold-bearing
foot hills of the Alaskan mountains. Ny
companion on this trip was John w. Clark,
in command of the post at Fort Alexander.
Mr.. Clark had prospector grub-staked on
the AIulchutnak river, which is a branch
of the Nushagak, and all along that stream,
as well as its branches, We found prospects
indicating pay dirt
North of Lake Illiamna, the spot still
untitled on many of the maps, we discov-
cred a large lake, nearly eighty miles in
length and twenty or thirty miles in width
which 1 named Lake Clark The Indian
name is Kilchikh-vona, and all of the nu-
merous streams which run into it are I'M
doubtedly gold bearing. l made the first
map of this lake. and reported the same on
my return through Ivan Petroff the great
Alaskan geographer, al that time connected
with the eleventh census. | mention this
at the present time In order to put rec
ord once more that the Arken explorers of
1880 and 1891 are entitled to all the credit
for whatever may be discovered hereafter
in the Lake Clark district.
Il expect one of these days that the an
Gent Golconda or King Solomon's mines