The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-02

lake and through the TnlSu arm OF TaRish
to the Atlin portage. There is a second
route already called the Brooks traIi),
which runs overland in a short cut to
Tagish water, thence by boat TO Attn
portage. This route, as soon as the lake
freeze and snow falls win undoubtedly be
the shortest and easiest. A third route is
reported, whereby Lake Surprise may bu
reached from the Teslin lake trail by boat
to Wrangle, thence up the Suckeen river
to Glenora by river boats. From Glenora
the Teslin lake trail can be followed for
100 miles. From point at the head OF
Long lake, or near there, the divide may
be crossed without much trouble, prob
ably with pack animals. This however
Is only reported TO be practicable. No one
has yet actually gone in by that way.
Trails and Water Routes.
The route likely to be most Travelled,
however Is by way of Bennett and Tag
tsh, for II Is possible TO line a boat
through Attn river a strong swift river,
which connects Atlin lake with the Taku
arm of Tagish lake. Thus the Argonaute
who reach this spread of water with a
good boat will be in command of at least
three hunderd miles of lake shore with
wide areas Of good prospecting ground
on which to land.
TRAN leads up Spruce creek as well
as the full length of Pine creek to Lake
Surprise and on these two trails men are
racl5ing to and fro with tents stoves.
sacks of flour, picks and shovels, boots
and boxes on their backs, walking sw1ft-
~ and in trains like some new variety
Of pack animal.
The camp on the lake was swarming
with men in hot discussion on the even
ing that / pitched by tent among them.
The majority believed the camp to be
E.f tA.rtv
among the trees. Boats were setting off
on the return trip filed with sour and
sullen voyagers. We who were incoming
were greeted with jeers, what IN hell
do you think you are doing here; come
to hunt or fish," In the face of such uni
vereal detection late Corners made very
little statement of their purposes in re-
ply. The town site men were nervous.
The camp was decreasing In population
and the general feeling was one Of fore
boding.
Al night In the camps men sat grumbling
and swearing about their camp-fres. Al
most every party was In division. There
was always some enthusiastic individual
who had made "flnd' or had seen some
one else who had. This man was set up
on, ridiculed, abused or upheld accord
ing to the temperamental difference OF his
hearers. The noise of the discussion
reached other groups and out OF the dark
huiking figures doomed TO listen or throw
a hot missile Of profanity. Phrases multi
piled, mingling eneXtrica bly," Bench
claims, 30 cents to the pan--a good creek
claim-his slulce Is about ready-cleaned
up last night Oh, 1 don't believe At; ]
wouldn't give 800 for the whole -
Inoose-pa sture-Well, it's good enough for
melt is rotton, the whole --- cheese
You have got to stand In with the hu-
thorities or you can't get a thing -an1
GO nd ap1lagalu nd vrftb 40.
quence.
Gradually the camp thinned out. The
falnt-hearted ones who had not the cour.
age or the skill to go dig and sweat fol
gold sailed away. Others went out upor
their claims to build cabins and lay sluict
boxes. Others still busted themselves with
packing their goods up the trail or secured
the country for new indications.
Slowly the voices of the men who meant
business began to predominate. They
were cheerful and confident, moving about
quietly they began to buy more tools ana
provisions. To their friends they showed
gold-not much, not enough to demon
strate that there was a real basis Tor their
hope. Thereafter each day tie news grew
more encouraging. Each noon at DiscoY-
cry and each night al the lake men came
i'm sWarfns to exchange reports or mas
on this or that creek. and at last came the
surprising richness Of the bench hlgh
above the creek.
Bench and Quartz Finds.
An old man was digging on a ridge just
above Discovery. The passer-by had his
tests: "Helo, uncle, what are you doing
up there dggn' your graye?"
The old man remained studiously quiet
and continued to sack the dry dirt and
"pack" 1t down to the creek where he
washed il out in a pan. The jester began
10 stare. Strange to say gold came out Of
this loan. The Old man panned dollars
from his ridge Everybody began to rub
Der neck" The old man was embarrassed
to find a pathway to his place of washing
Then the rush for bench claims began
The possibilities Of the camp wideued. In
stead Of being 'creek proposition" it be-
came a big hydraulic proposition" NuZ-