The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-13

Mr. Dickey had been up the Shushitna
+ river before, he being the discoverer and
manner Of Mount Mckinley. n4ak II 0.10
or lsVO feet high, near the headwaters of
the Snushitna. He was also responsible
Tor important corrections in the govern
+ ment charts OF the Shushitna, the course
i OF the river as first laid down having been
corrected TO correspond with his observa-
tons. In speaking of his trip up the river
Mr., Dickey said:
/ We went up the Shushitna for 200
miles. reaching the canyon. At this point
the river PUSHES swiftly for four miles be-
tween perpendicular walls which are at
some places 100 feet high. In order to
pass this portage Of forty miles is neces-
sary. Above are three sets OF falls which
must be portrayed. and Offering discour-
agements hardly 10 be braved by human
endurance. This canyon has always been
known as fall. but such is not the case.
1t Is dangerous place. Years ago twenty
Indians were drowned there
contrary 10 the prevailing impression.
We found the Indians disposed TO be very
friendly. They are just beginning to feel
/ the influence Of civilization.
AT the mouth Of the river twenty men
encamped, and early in March went I'D
the river on the ice as far as the canyon.
Nine, led by Capt Andrews and Mr.
Jacks, formerly In business In Sitka pen
etrated far into the Interior, and have not
yet been heard from.
I'VE found no gold worth working
though indications were good. On the
lower river pans showing 200 and 800 col
ors have been taken. The river Is wide
and swift. In many places u runs in as
many as eight channels and is two miles
wide. II IL nearly as large as Copper
river, and drains a very moist country.
AFTER having occupied three weeks In
ascending the river to the canyon l was
compelled by my companions to return.
They were almost worn out. and threat
ened to leave me with the boat II / per-
sisted in continuing further. Our trip
down the river occupied but three days"
stewart River Ia Famous
Thousands Of miners are looking towards
the Stewart river, the second largest
branch Of the Yukon. Although the bars
OF the main river have been successfully
worked for the past ten years there has
practically been no real prospecting done
on the many important tributaries
Everywhere that the explorers and scat
tering prospectors have gone on the Stew
art and its branches gold has been found
On many creeks the prospects were extra
good. Several things have conspired to
leave this field practically untouched.
The question Of getting supplies IN is A
very serious one. At the same time the
few hundred men who have been on the
GENTLY attractive diggings nearer to the
older districts and closer 10 supply bases.
From tbs mouth Of Stewart river 70
Mount Jesus, on the North Fork the dis
lance is estimated az 40 miles. and n the
head Of this fork IN the vicinity Of 800
miles in all. The south fork is practic-
ally unexplored. one or two parties only
having been on 4 and then not for a sufi-
Gent distance 10 determine It's character
or length.
Good Bar DfggingS I'm 1855.
Tho prospectors and those who have
been on the river say that Il carries a
larger volume Of water than Pelly river
and IS beyond doubt the second largest
feeder Of the Yukon.
The first gold discoveries on the Stewart
were made In 1875 on bars within about 10
miles from the mouth. These were rich.
During the fan IN less than 30 days time
as high as $500 TO the man was racked
out
In ISIS fully 100 men were working on
the river bars with good success. Some
went Up the North Fork nearly to -
head Each succeeding season the bars
have been worked until nov they do not
pay wages
The Stewart emptias into the Yukon on
IS eastern bank. about 70 miles above
or Sogfh ~ the Kloudiks and 10 miles be-
low White river. which smpties from the
west. Frcn rs mouth 20 The forks is
about 20 miles. The North Fork extends
some 20 miles further on. trenalng n A
northsaSteriy direction The river ITSELF
bears generally east northeast from the
Yukon.
A trine over 20 miles from SIS mouth the
Fraser falls make an insurnountable bar
70 possible stea nboat navigation. They
make a fail - p feet in distance o. 80
feet and gre not over 3 feet n width
Here a portage % about haif a mile must
- made From there OF rapids are en-
countsred FOR about six miles but thass
car - polsa ard lined over without great
difficulty.
stewart River Pups.
Nothing Fl the way az prospecting has
bsen done on the North Fork other than
that u two nRrties o1e ~ which wtntered
thers j. $50. neither dong much more
thsn enter the country. Cold was found
however. on several creeks. but 70 a.
tempt was made 20 work than The trtb-
utsri@s OF the Stewart upon which gold
has he~n found are as follows:
Rosebud creek about ~ niles u2 On re
south hank Geld has bee1 found. but ID
prospecting done 20 any extent
Lake creek sbouf 8 nl!}sH I'D. Parties
- thfs creek lave found gold On - bars.
b. - work was done
Independence creek or fhe north si6s.
poplin found coarse god hert n Iss ard
Ia Day bays L Ls3. ID. relLhsE party