The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-09-30

that property. Each man will ''dig
for himself" This party may divide
into two parties if the number of ap
plicants warrant it. They will go tC
Alaska for two years stay.
Next in line is a Copper river party
of fifty. Copper river, by the way
has never been prospected fully by
white men. The Indians up there
are reported as being very savage and
will not permit the whites to get into
the interior. OF course, that makes
the whites all the more anxious. As
a consequence a party of fifty will
leave Tacoma next February to ex
plore the Copper river, Indians or nc
Indians
But you may get your head cut of
by attempting this Journey" l said
to-day to member of this party OF
fifty The Indians are vicious and
will fight"
Il know it." The gold hunter re-
piled, "but if any Indian downs me,
one or more redskins will go down
with me-"
This young man is secretary of
| Superintendent Joe McCabe of the
Pacific division of the Northern Pa
citic railroad, a soft handed, fair
skinned office lad of athletic build,
and having plenty of nerve. He is as
enthusiastic as the average klondiker
and | asked him for an out line of his
plans.
when our men are enrolled" he
began, 1--WE will have meeting and
elect officers and board of directors
Each man will buy his own outfit,
which must pass muster as to quantity
and quality. Each man Will contri-
butte his share to a common camp out
fit. In that respect each will pay his
proportion Of the expense. We will
live in one house, as it We're, but each
man will have to hustle for his own
fortune. We will have each man well
armed, and, if necessary. We will not
hesitate to fight"
You could see by looking in that
young mans face that the glitter of
gold had strong attractions for him.
There is gold there, - he continued,
land we propose to get it,"
"How do you know there is gold
there?' ! asked.
Il have a friend just down from
there he said, land he has seen it..
My friend is reliable and | know he
can lead us to the spot where gold
will be found"
What evidence" | asked, did
your friend give of the presence of
gold on the upper Copper river, and
how was it he got out alive?'
The young man became confden-
tial He said: My friend was held
up by the Indians. He was coming
out of the Yukon country and came
via the Copper river. He saw squaws
up there with bracelets made of vir-
gin gold They had been hammered
out of gold nuggets. He also saw ma
tive silver. As he journeyed through
the country he was met by some In
dams who demanded to know what
he was doing there. They said pros
pecting was not allowed. Ny friend
explained that he was not prospecting
and he believes that he saved his
scalp by proposing that he be taken
to the nearest trading post. There
he convinced the traders thar he was
getting out Of the country as fast as
his legs would carry him. He prom
ised to get out quick and never re
turn. Upon those conditions he was
allowed to depart. He will return
with our party
In this Copper river party there are
to be representa- ives of all trades. Two
carpenters, "a blacksmith, a shoemaker,
and gunsmith have already been en-
rolled. \ good cook for the camp as
long as IDGN eau OuJ vi Il COHlll unity
dish. 1t is estimated that each man
joining this party will have to eXpend
between $400 and $500. Other Cop
per river parties are forming and if
the Indians resist the progress of the
white miners next spring, as they no
doubt will do, there certainly will be
bloodshed and the Indians will get the
worst of it unless they ambush the
whites.
For years the Copper river Indians
have brought out gold nuggets and
used them in trading. They have
never told where they get these mug
gets and as there has never been any
organized effort to find out where
they come from, their origin has re-
mained a mystery. The Indians are
well armed and very hostile.
While some readers may desire to
be put in communication with those
who are organizing parties, it would
be manifcstly unfair to give only one
and a half dozen references. | will,
however, undertake to answer any
question the editor may see fit to put
to me in behalf of his subscribers.
have not "struck it rich'' yet, and
therefore, cannot furnish postage
stamps for replies to questions from
the editor, and, in his behalf, it is well
for the subscriber desiring personal
information to remember that the ed