The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-12

which enormously rich discoveries have
also been made. Other creeks enptying
into the klondIke and penetrating the
same mineral region are Bear creek. Gold
Bottom. Hunter and others. Indian creek,
which empties direct into the Yukon. also
heads ia the same range. but across the
divide. from the headwaters OF Bonanza
and Eldorado.
According TO Mr.. Butler the glowing
stories which have gone forth as TO the
richness OF the new camp are not in the
least exaggerated He personally knew Of
one pan OF dirt being washed out which
carried $3.50 In the party with him on
his way out from the camp was Mr.. J. s.
McCauiey, Of Victoria who carried with
him the product Of one pan Of dirt washed
out on claim on Eldoradc creek which
AT SIS an ounce was worth ses3. Mr.. Nc
Cauley proposes to put this pan of dirt
on exhibition at Victoria. These almost
fabulous results are not due to the pres
ence of casual nuggets, but are made up
almost entirely from coarse gold and gold
dust. distributed throughout the dirt.
Mr.. Butler says that in the creeks on
the Klondike there are at present 500 men
wintering. and about fifty have come out
since the winter commenced. nearly all
proposing 10 return. Work has been Wig
orously carried on all winter. notwith-
standing the cold the winter operations
fires. digging IL and piling il ready TO
wash ii out as soon as the summers
thaws furnish a sufficient supply AZ water
for washing. There have consequently
been no "clean-ups," except those made
10 test the magnitude and extent or the
deposits.
The stories as TO possible starvation on
the Yukon. Mr. Butler says. are without
foundation There has been a shortage
Of provisions OF some kinds, but this has
been the common incident Of every winter
on the Yukon. Those on the ground have
sufficient 10 supply all their wants until
navigation opens, and the transportation
companies viii be able 20 get in enough
during the short season 20 supply the
wants OF the present population. But Mr..
Butler desires TO particularly emphasize
the fact that every man who contemplates
going in TO the Yukon this season must
take with him provisions sufficient TO sup
ply his own needs for a year ar least. IL
any number neglect 10 do this. the people
on the Yukon may have to face starvation
another season.
The season during which navigation is
open IS but three months long. The ca
pacity OF the steamers at present on the
river is limited and no more steamers can
by any possibility be put on the river this
/ season. The present transportation facil-
tiles are barely adequate TO bring In sup
piles for the present population If that
population suffers the enormous expansion
at present In prospect. Ii Is entirely out
of the question for the stores and trading
companies TO supply their demands. for
they cannot supply the existing demands.
| Hence the necessity for every one going in
| the present season 10 provide his own
| food.
According TO Mr.. Butler. the owners of
| all the claims in the Hero camp Will be
| eager TO employ all the labor they can get
| the coming summer. and wages win GER
| tainly be IS 10 $40 a day. and possibly
| higher, but every man must provide his
| own food
| The weather during the winter was not
| at all severe. although the thermometer
| showed a very low range of temperature,
| ranging as low as 60 degrees below zero.
| There was an entire absence of wind In
| the creek bottoms. every one was Gao in
| very warm clothing and no suffering and
| but little inconvenience was felt from the
| extreme cold. Outdoor occupations were
carried on some when the temperature
| was at the lowest
| The party with which Mr.. Butler came
| out left Bonanza creek on March 4 and ar
| rived at Juneau on April 4. an extraordin-
| airy quick trip. Beside Mr.. Butler. the
| party consisted of James Mckay. of Ia
| coma, and J. s McCauley, of Victoria.
| Within 80 miles OF Bonanza creek they
| commenced TO encounter the vanguard of
| the army now pressing into the Hero gold
| fields and from that time on encountered
| new parties daily. He estimates that
| there must be nearly 1000 men heading
| for the Yukon thus early in the spring.
Mr.. Butler returns 10 Bonanza creek some
time next month with a new stock OF sup
| niles