The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-23
UNIQUE kLOND|KE CRUISE.
Fast Steam Yacht that is to Sail
From Seattle.
E.o.WIGGiNS AND HIS PLANS,
Wealthy Resident OF Washington
1ity-te~sel tn He Named for HIS
Famous Trosttag Mare Martha
wilkes. which Held the Worlds
MISREPRESENTATION Northward tn
Combine Business and Pleasure.

ds.inctiysiy novel expedition IS that
watch Is being fitted on; n Seattle by Mr..
E. D. w.gg.as wealthy resident CT
Washington, ID. - Mr. Virgins arrived n
Seattle q week ago, accompanied by his
wife, and IS stopping at the Ra-nier-Grsnd.
lie IS having butt IN tnis city fas. sail
iag steam yacht II which he intends cruis-
ing with a party Of trends and business
associates. a.ong the coast OF Alaska, hunt
ing and fishing. ending with the trip up the
Yukon river TO the gold fields.
Dir. Virgins IS the owner of a number
q fancy stock farms in the East. Among
his POSSESSIONS IS the famous trGtting mare
Martha Wilkes t2:9s, which held the
worlds trottirg record for the years 1861.
The yacht on which the party viii make
the cruise through the waters OF south
eastern Alaska and thence 10 the Yukon
will be named after the speedy mare.
II IS Mr. Virgins intention TO equip his
yacht with a years provisions and with
every posssb bic convenience for spending
ternine 10 remain In the gold fields until
next season Although he speaks with
reticence concerning his business interests
that are partly responsible for the ex-
petition. * is understood that Mr. Wig
gins has secured valuable interests in
Alaska in a new district adjacent TO the
klondike river. where important discov-
cries OF placer gold. as dattering n their
early prospects as those OF the klonGike
have been made. OF this matter, how
ever. Mr.. Virgins does not say much
We are Noing north as much for pleas
ure as for business said Mr.. Virgins
10 Post-Inteiligencer representative yes
terday. There IS nothing of interest that
/ can tell you at this tine concerning our
expedition. You may say. however, that
We will make Seattle our base OF supplies
and will start from this city in about four
weeks, with party OF twelve people alto
gether. !
our yacht viii be built SO that we can
cruise along the coast of Alaska with
safety. and still be able to ascend the
Yukon river without any danger of beng
stopped by sand bars. We shall take
plenty OF time in making the voyage along
the coast stopping 70 view the points of
scenic interest and hunting and fishing
where the sport can be found. | look
forward to this part of the trip with much
interest and many anticpatons Of pleasu
We have all heard, Of course, OF the wen
deTfGl scenery along the Alaskan coast
o. the great glaciers the magnificent
mountain ranges, the seal Islands, etc
After We have fully satisfied our desire
To ste all these things il is very probably
that the yacht viii be turned in the a.
rect.on OF st. Michael and that we shall
ascend the river 10 the gold fields.
Personally. / have great faith in the
mineral wealth Of the Yukon country and
especially that part of the Yukon district
situated in our own domain. While We
shall in all probability go clear to Dawson.
1e viii remain at some point IN American
territory during the winter if It is decided
10 put off our return 10 the states until
next year. At all events, We shall see the
country thoroughly"
M. Virgins admitted that he knew
something of the particulars Of a discovery
Of very rich pacers in the koyukuk river
country. a party OF American prosp tors
made the find last fail They ascended
the Yukon To the mouth Of the koyukuk
~ miles north OF Nulato Thence they
went by canoes and overland 10 the head
waters OF the stream prospecting as they
went until they located a very r.ch district
IN a country that has been but
little explored. The members Of the partv
returned to the Yukon and came out dur
ing the fall They have been at Washing
ton lately. securing legislation by which
tney VIII be able TO hold the claims which
they located.
The new discoveries are IN the same
mineral belt TO which the Birch creek
and kotzebue sound districts belong.
DO you expect 70 prospect for gold ?''
was asked Of Mr.. Virgins "Wen. hardly
that" was the reply, and yet Il we strike
something pretty good in the course Of our.
travels. We WI not overlook it."