The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-16
MANY MILLIONS OF GOLD
Await the Fortunate Miner in
Alaska's Gold Field.
-S>~i'
TALES OF FABULOUS RICHES.

Men Who Were Penniless Last Fall
Now Have Comfortable Fortunes.
Labor Demands and Receives Fifteen
Dollars Day and Board.
San Francisco, July 16.-A story RI
valling in intensity of interest that
tod OF <the fabulous wealth of Monte
Cristo was related by the passengers
/ OF the little steamer Excelsior, which
has just arrived from st. Michaels
Alaska. Millions upon millions of vir-
gin gold according to the story. awaits
the fortunate miner who has the hardi-
hoed and courage to penetrate into the
unknown depths of the Yukon district
There was tangible evidence on the
little steamer of the truth of the story
told by the travellers, for in the cabin
were scores of sacks filled to the very
mouth with dust" taken from the pla-
GERS of the far frozen north. The
amount brought in is vayiously est-
mated at from 100000 to S5O,OOO
There came in on the Excelsior some
40 people, among them some women,
from what is now known as the Clon-
dyke district, though only Is of those
had been actually engaged in mining.
There were among them men who had
been for more than 10 years facing the
dangers and hardships of the frozen
north in the hope of making rich
find, but who signally failed. But now
they come back with fortunes slowed
in their grip sacks and untold millions
TO be picked up in the country of
which so little Is known.
The new. Eidorado lies just across
the Alaskan boundary, in British terri
tory. 1t is Of recent discovery, but
already there are at least 5000 people
on the ground and more are Hooking in
that direction. The discovery of the
Clondyke regions presents a story that
is unusually interesting. Around Fort
Mile, on the Yukon, Is a tribe of In
dians known as the Slickers, and with
them is a man who years ago was
known as George Cormack. but who
Is now called "Slick George" In Sep
tembcr last. at the head of a party of
Indians, he left his hut near Forty Mile
camp and started in a southerly drcc-
ton, saying he intended to find new
gold field before his return.
He came back two weeks later and
startled the miners with the announce
ment that 40 miles away there was gold
to be found in plenty. The streams
abounded with the yellow metal. and
all that was needed was for somebody
to pick it up. Many persons tlocked to
the place, and in time the word reached
Forty Mile camp that untold riches
could be found along the bottom of
Bonanza creek and it's tributaries.
Men who had failed at the former
camp Immediately packed up their be-
longings and set out for the new fields
1t was a hard and trying Journey but
that was nothing with the promise of
millions at the end of the route.
The following is an extract from
letter received by the Excelsior 1t
was sent from the Clondyke region by
a prominent and wealthy young busi-
ness man Of San Francisco to his bro
ther in this city:
1.-THE excitement on the river Is In
describable, and the output of the new
ClondylSe district is almost beyond be-
lief. Men who had nothing last fall
are now worth a fortune. One man
has worked 40 square feet of his claim,
and is going out with $4,000 in dust.
One quarter of claims are now selling
at from $4,000 to $4,000. The estimate
Of the district given is IL miles. with
an average value of sa0OOOO to the
claim. Some are valued as high as
S1OOO,O0O each. At Dawson sacks of
dust are thrown under the counters in
the store for safekeeping.
Some Of the stories are so fabulous
that I am afraid to repeat them for
fear Of being suspected of the infection.
Labor is SIS a day and board, with 100
days work guaranteed, so you can I'M
aginc how difficult it is to hold en-
ployes
IF reports are true it is the biggest
placer discovery ever made in the
world, for though other diggings have
been found quite as rich in spots, no
such extent of discovery has been
known which prospected and worked
so rich right through
H. A. Stanley, president Of the Bing-
hamton Evening Herald company,
he stopped on his way to the Yukon
mining region. In his letter he says:
1.-THE ice went out of the Yukon about
June Il, and the river steamer Portus
r.. Wear, which wintered at Dawson.
2295 miles up, reached St Mlchaers
June q. The Wear brought authentic
news of some of the most wonderful
f.old strikes in the worlds history, and
brought also some As miners. every
nan bringing in from $4,000 to 100000
of dust and nuggets, with an aggre-
gate of more than sl,O00,0OO
"TEe steamer Alice arrived at st.
Michael's on June 30, bringing % min
crs and half a million in gold for them
and much on their own account. The
passengers on the Alice confirmed the
news reported by the passengers OF
the Wear, which Is as follows:
"rhc richest gold strike the world
has ever known was made in the Clon-
dvkc region last August and Septem-
bnr but the news did not get even to
Clrc,e City until Dec. Is, when there
WAS @ great stampede over the 800
Iailrs Intervening between there and
tnc newer field. On Aug. Il George
Cormack made the first great strike OH
BONANZA creek, and on Aug. 10 seven
claims were filed in that region. Word
yot to Forty Mile and Circle City, but
the news was regarded as grub stake
rumor. On Dec. 10, however, authentic
news was carried to Circle city by ].
NJ. Wilson, Of the Alaska Commercial
company, and Thomas O'Brien as
trader They carried not only news
but prospects, and the greatest STAN
pads ever known in this part of the
world commenced.
"Thoae who made the 800 miles first
struck It richest. OF all the 200 claims
staked out on the Bonanza and Edo
RADIO creeks, not one has proven
aank. Equally rich finds were made