The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-09-01
The Steamer Portland at Last
Reaches Seattle.
Has Only $SSO,OOO on BOard-A Million She
Expected to Bring Was Delayed.


SEATTLE, Wash, Aug. 30. - The
steamer Pc tand, from Alaskan ports,
has at last arrived. Captain William
Kidston, in command of the steamer,
reported pleasant voyage, and ex-
planned the delay of three days in reach
ing this port by stating that a very seri-
Gus storm in st. Michael's delayed the
discharge of his cargo. He laughed
when told of the reports that the Port
land was carrying over $4,000, 900 gold.
AS matter Of fact, he said, there was
only about $850,000 in gold dust and
nuggets ON board Of his vessel. Up to
the time he left St. Michaels he had
heard of no newly discovered gold
fields.
From member of the Portland's
crew it WINS learned that Captain Kid.
ston ha6 expected the Weare, one of
the company's boats, to come down the
Yukon with about 81 ,000,0 900 worth of
nuggets and gold dust, but as she did
not arrive in time he decided to bring
down the treasure on the next trip.
The United States cutter Bear, it is
SAID, will guard the Portland on her
next trip from st. Michael's to Seattle.
AS most of the miners will make their
cleanup" by that time it is expected
that the Portland's cargo will be very
valuable one.
The returning miners say that the re-
markably rich claims ON Eldorado Greek
will number 40.
Mr.. Ogilvie Dominion surveyor, es-
Inmates that the rate these 140 claims
are now producing, and considering
ground yet to be worked in the next
three years, will aggregate about $780,
400 000 To khic rnucf ba added tho ia.
vorable possibilities of new gulches and
the development Of claims already
found, but not opened so as to permit
Of greatest production.
Among the Portland's passengers
from st. Michael's is Thomas Bell, who
has with him $4,000 in gold, which he
dug from a claim that cost 1925.
There have been other rich strikes on
Stuart river, Hunker. Henderson and
Indian creeks, but none of these is as
rich as claims ON Eldorado and Bonanza
creeks. Until the wonderful discoveries
of KloDdike were made, ground worth
10 cents to pan, with two or three feet
of pay dirt, was considered very good
+ for the Yukon, and miners made fair
money with rockers and sluices.
This year miners are passing entirely
over the ground of this richness in their
like that of the Klondike discoveries
UP to date none of the claims show any
signs of exhaustion, and scarcely a
dozen are more than well opened.
Every one has large areas of ground to
be worked. 1t is impossible to make
anything like an accurate estimate of
the probable yield of the mines. The
ground is not at all even in richness
and the width of pay streaks varies
greatly.
The most important news from St.
Michael's is that the Yukon river steam
ers left there two weeks ago for their
last trip mp the Yukon. 1t was not
certain they would reach Dawson this
fall, in which event passengers who left
the sound on the steamer Portland as
early as July 20 would only reach Circle
City before navigation closes. This
makes il certain that hundreds of min
ers who have left the sound and Cali
fornia since Aug. 1 for st. Miohaers
will have TO winter there. At least they
can scarcely get started up the Yukon
before the river freezes over solid.
All vessels touching at st. Michael's
this summer have had great difficulty
keeping their crews, who have caught
the gold fever very soon after arriving.
One schooner from Victoria was entire
~ deserted, and her crew, from captain
to cook, started up the river for Klon-
dixie. The crew of the. schooner j. M.
Coleman endeavored to desert also, but
the attempt was discovered in time,
and by the display Of firearms the men
were compelled to remain ON duty.
The mates of the schooners Jewett
and Coleman and a carpenter of the
Sanders were piped off at st. Michaers
and departed at once for Dawson.
Every vessel from st Michael's has come
away short handed. The Portland lost
several of her crew, but was able to OBJ
tain new men BY paying higher wages
IL has been stated that the North
American Trading and Transportation
company brought $150,000 from their
various stores and trading posts along
the Yukon, but this can not be verified
FAMINE ON THE KLoNDlKE RIVER
Impossible to Land suniclent Food TO
Feed Those Already There.
BAN Francisco, Aug. BOW. A.
Ryan, one Of the special correspondents
Of The Associated Press, en- route to
Yukon gold fields. writes from St. Mi
chaels under date Aug. 10, to the effect
that there is great danger OF famine
on the Klondike this winter. Accord
ing 10 all reports received, from the up
per country it will beimpossible to land
food at Dawson City TO support the
population already dependent upon that
base of supplies.
r. T. Lying, local agent Of the Alaska
Commercial company at st. Michaers,
declares that there are already over
2,OO0 idle men la Dawson and new par
ties arriving every day via Chilkoot
pass, while the total amount Of freight
landed there this year viii not exceed
1000 tons, Of which not more than
three fourths Is provisions. Miners re-
turning from Klondike, who left there
in July. report that the food was run.
ming very low then, and IL was disposed
OF az fast as discharged from the
steamers. Old timers realize the situa-
ton and predict distress and death as a
result Of the Klondike craze