The herald., 1898-09-30
nAPLfSS PROSPfCTORS
SEARCH FOR GOLD AND FIND
THEIR GRAVES
Kotzebue Sound Gold Seekers Salts
fed There Is Little Gold in the
Region

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29.-Charies T..
Watson, a mining man from Carson, City,
who has arrived here on the bark Northern
Light from Kotzebue sound, tells Of how
seven gold seekers lost theiY lives He
says:
ION the night of August H. Fred How
ard, Irving e. Howard, Joseph Graham.
Samuel Wilmeth of Providence R. l., and
| J. G. Sturke Of Grub gulch, MADEIRA coun-
lty, Cal. who went north on the bark Mer-
maid, were drowned while trying to get
across Hotham inlet with their provisions.
A storm arose and capsized their small
boat When morning came the other
prospectors missed the Rhode Island party,
as theyrWere called, and the searching
party that was sent out found the| boat
floating keel up. but no trace Of the men.
The provisions and other effects belonging
to the hapless party were cast upon the
beach by tn ewaves.
George Muller of Iowa was ed on
August 10, while ascending the Kubuck
river. Muller and his partner had moored
their boat under sand bank that caved
In on them, capsizing the craft.
II was near at hand and rescued Null
1.-TWO men named Clark and Crawford
were drowned in the Kubuck rapids. I
could not ascertain their baptismal names
or where they hailed from
Watson says he is satisfied there is very
/ little gold in the Kotzebue country.
From Lynn Canal
PORT TOWNSEND. Wash, Sept. 29-
The steamship Farallon arrived from Lynn
Canal ports tonight, bringing seventy pas
sengers from various sections of south
eastern Alaska.
September Goth the Farallon picked up the
wrecked schooner Cappela in Seaforth
channel and towed her to Bella Bella. The
Capella sailed from Seattle September 18th
for Wrangle and on September 2Oth when
100 miles off Cape Flattery heavy gale
was encountered. The little schooner's
boats and matches were carried away and
Captain Jones Nordland was washed over
board and drowned. H. Lipse sailor, yAas
struck by q boom and had several ribs
broken. When the schooner was picked up
she was in q water-logged condition and
all the supplies were spoiled
| M. Dickinson, connected with the Dalton
pony express, who was among the Faral-
Ions passengers says that the Dalton Ex-
press Company has ceased operations for
the season and will try the experiment OF
| Wintering las horses on the Hochi river.
Robberes reported on the Dalton trail are
not credited by the Canadian police, who
say the stories of the men do not agree
Copper River Reports
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.-The navy de-
partment has received a report from Com
dated Orica, Alaska. September 9. giving
a general outline of the conditions at Val
des and Orica, in the neighborhood of the
gold deposits on Copper river. which con-
tains information valuable to miners be-
cause Of its authentic and official charac-
ter. The commander says that he found
500 people at Valdes on the 9Th of Septem-
ber, about 800 of whom were keeping stores,
restaurants, etc. There were about 200 re-
Turning miners. and they were coming
back every day at the rate of from two to
fifteen. About 5000 people went in over the
glacier and UP the Copper river, and there
are probably about 1900 people now in the
Interior many of whom are building log
houses and arranging to stay In all winter.
In the interior provisions are plentiful.
Men returning sell their outfits, so that
provisions, clothing, ETC.. over the glacier
are selling at less than half Seattle prices.
At Valdes about 65 of the returning min
ers were being fed by the government.
These men say they have no money. They
are required to work about two hours a
day on the government reservation. At the
hotel kept. by the agent of the Steam Whal-
Ing company about 80 men were being fed
and lodged for rs cents day. and the agent
offers TO employ men at $3.50 per day, the
money to be used TO pay passage to Seat
tie. Provisions at Valdes could be bought
at about half Seattle prices, and one trades
man was about to ship back . lot Of pro-