The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-15
IN THE UNIk VALLEY.
WashingtOn People Searching for
Gold In Alaska'a WILLIS.

washingtOn People Searching for
Gold In Alaska'a WILLIS.
Up the valley OF the rushing. bosterous
Ink river. seventy-fiye miles from where
the stream empties its icy, waters into
Benin canal, a party Of hardy and adj
yenturons gold-seekers Is pushing It's way
to the scene of placer ind OF extra
ordinary richness which was made last
fab by two trappers and prospectors IN
. wild and unexplored portion OF Alaska,
VIII D. Jenkins. jr., OF Olympia. IL
member of the party. The members
started early in the present month from
Revilla- Gsgedo island. around which
Benin canal lies in the form OF horse
shoe. They have Indian guides. and are
amply provisioned for six months. with
base Of supplies handy should they deter
mine TO remain longer.
The scene OF the latest discovery or
placer gold in Alaska IL In the
heart or vast expanse Of country which
the Sandman Indians have hunted over
for many years. Indeed. this territory
has long been regarded As the individual
property of the tribe named by other tribes
Of the coast of Alaska. The Sanxmans
are good hunters, and every fall and
winter they have brought their furs to
the trading post at Ketrhikan and there
exchanged them for money and supplies.
Sometimes the Indians have brought
gold in small quantities as well as furs.
To the white traders they would not inn
part the secret OF the location OF the
placer fields. Last fall an Indian came
back from the hunting grounds with .
sack flied with dust and nuggets, con-
tanning. Il is said. 81, 800.
In some way two white prospectors be-
cama possessed of the Sanxman's secret.
A trip up the Unik river was made to
where there Is vast area OF dry river
bed-an old. abandoned channel-between
high, precipitous and snow-capped walls
Gold In paying quantities was found by
the aid of shovel and rocker. The white
prospectore filed location notices and
came back to Ketchikan.
Secretary of State Jenkins and other Of
fcials Of Olympia. Including Land Com
missioner Bridges and Deputy Insurance
Commissioner Heifner became possessed
of information concerning the new gold
fields. A party Of fifteen men was or
ganixed, including VIII d. Jenkins. jr.,
the secretary's son: j. w. Darling and
Z. T. Watson. coIored mining man who
has lived for eight years on Revilla-
Gigedo island. and knows the adjacent
country well With Watson and two In
In this month and have probably reached
the favored region by this time
The Unik river Is about 800 yards wide
at its mouth. Its currents are very swift
In places and are icy cold. At one place
the river passes through canyon fifty
feet wide. and its forced passage changes
It into a raging torrent in which a boat
cannot I've.
The river opens earlier than the
Stickeen. Residents of Reviila-Gigedo ISL
and say that this il due to the fact that
hot springs exist at the foot OF a glacier
fifty miles from the mouth Of the river.
The Jenkins party ascended the river In
fiaf-bottomed boats as soon as the Ice
had hoated out After n distance Of
seventy-five miles is reached. there Il
portage OF thirty miles to the mines.
Mr.. Jenkins. who Is IN the city on state
business. said yesterday that the gold In
the new diggings Is coarse and of high
value. Men with rockers can make good
wages from the surface down. he SAYS.
1t is understood that the Jenkins party
has secured title to a large tract of placer
ground. which win be mined with nv
draui.c machinery.