Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-08-19

Klondyker. Now it, all overwith. The
heyday of his anticipated arrival, the
anxiety concerning his delayed appear
ance at home, and the nervous desire
of everyone to see Mr.. Gray and hear
his version of the frozen north are mat
ters Of bygone excitement. True, the
germs of Klondicitis are still abroad in
our cities, but the fever heat of the
disease has dropped to sober question
ing and quiet plans as to the direction
of activity next spring. None expect
to be sick with it until then. Mean
while our late arrival is a magnet of
attraction for an unending series of in
quiries and requests for information,
and wherever he stops to talk be is
surrounded by crowd of interested
listeners.
He displays a number of yellow
nuggets and is reported to have given
away good many more of them en-
route home. A watch chain of nuggets
worn by him attracts much attention
and is a novel piece of jewelryware.
A few bright new $50 gold pieces made
at the San Francisco mint from Alberts
own Alaskan diggins have been put
into circulation here. His first act upon
entering the old home was to distribute
double eagles in the family, one to each
of his two sisters, his brother Rob, his
mother, grandfather and grandmother.
Perhaps the finest chunk of gold
brought home by the argonaut was the
$35 nugget sent to E. P Arpin by Wm.
Chapple, Gray's partner. Chapple was
cook for the Arpin Lumber Co. at Arpin
before he went to Alaska.
Just one year and four months ago
Mr.. Gray left Grand Rapids for region
of snow and uncertain existence prac-
tically "broke." In company with
Messrs. Anton Wipfi, Lewis Huser,
James Hurley and William Chapple, all
of Wood county, he set out for Alaska
in April, 1896, being staked for the
greater expense of the trip by Mr..
Chapple. The detailed story of his life
in the north, the long journey overland
to the gold fields and consequent hard
ships would not make a chapter filled
with events of high life, comfort and
little labor, but between the lines can
be found in plain type today the story
of fortunes smiles.
Albert S return to Grand Rrpids had
been announced by telegram and in the
Centralia Enterprise, SO when he came
Sunday morning there were many citi-
zens at the depot to welcome him as
the popular man of the hour. He was
looking strong and hearty and appeared
very glad to get back to his home and
friends again. When he stepped from
the train the crowd virtually swallowed
him in its embrace and twas indeed a
busy gauntlet Of handshaking and
greeting that Mr. Gray run for the next
fifteen minutes. 1t was undoubtedly a
most emphatic object lesson to Albert
that nothing succeeds like success.
To the REPORTER man he gave the fol-
lowing story of his successful search for
yellow treasure:
THE GRAY PARTY
sailed from Seattle for Juneau on May
2, 1896, and arrived there May 10. From
Juneau they went back to Wrangel for
the purpose of going up the Stickeen
river on which trip they started May
%. They travelled up this river dis
tance of 40 miles to Telegraph creek.
There they engaged pack train TO take
them to Lake Teslin, a further distance
of $50 miles in a northwesterly direc-
ton.
Now the party was increased from
five to thirteen and they cut out their
own trail, going to Lake Nissultine.
The whole party went half the length
of the lake, when all gave out and turned
back, except Chapple, Hurley and Gray,
who continued to the end of the lake.
Those who went back to juneau nearly
starved there during the winter. The
| trio contiHued up into Hootalinqua
river and followed that for sixty miles