Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-07-21
RETURNING GOLD SEEKERS.
A shlpload of Miners from the Yukon
Coming Home with Much Wealth
to Recuperate.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 1S.-A1ter DC
Ing eagerly watched for hour by hour
during the past ten days, the steamer
st. Paul arrived last night from st.
Michaels, bringing men and treasure
from the Klondike. There were 176
passengers on her list, and the amount
of their earnings. in gold dust, mug
gets and bank drafts, is estimated by
the ships officers at $4,000, DOC.
The largest amount brought out
by a single prospector is in the
possession of n. L. Pickett, who has
$50, 900, principally in gold dust and
nuggets. Pete Wybird admits the
ownership of $4,000; E. J. Nash has
$40, 900. and Fred Berry, of Fresno,
Cal, who had previously brought out
a fortune, says he has another with
him now, but declines to disclose the
amount.
Fifty Thousand Dollars q Foot.
J. Dumas, who has been prospecting
on Ell Dorado creek, has $40, 900 to show
for his labors in the frozen north, and
w. T. Burns, who suffered the mis-
fortune of having his feet frozen and
losing both by amputation, feels COM
pensated by the possession of 1000
in cash, the proceeds of the sale of his
five mining claims.
]. Davis spent only one month in the
Klondike, but during that period real
lied $4,000 from his claim, and just
before his departure sold his claim for
900 more. so that his days at Daw-
son were exceedingly profitable.
The returning miners say that it is
idle for prospectors to go to the Klon-
dixie now, expecting to locate claims,
as all the mining land of any value has
already been staked. The only manner
in which claims can now be acquired is
said to be by purchase.
Minook Creek Overestimated.
The general consensus of opinion is
that the value of the Minook creek as
a mining center has been overesti-
mated. Claims there are pronounced
to be of little value, and the intending
miner, if he be guided by the expert
ence of these pioneers, will conf1ne his
operations to the ne1ghborhood of the
original discoveries near Dawson City.
Dominion creek is pronounced the
richest of the Klondike streams in the
precious metal, the Ell Dorado and
and Bonanza creeks being placed by
these prospectors as second in COMPARE
son to the Dominion. OF these claims
great things are expected from seven
and nine, not because those numbers
are supposed to be lucky, but on &C.
count of their inherent richness.
Among the passengers on the st.
Paul Is Brighten. George NJ. Randall,
who, as colonel of the Eighth United
States infantry, has been in command
of the troops at st. Michaels. During
his absence he was promoted to briga-
dieI-general, the news of his advance
ment having been taken to him by the
ship Roanoke, which arrived at st.
Michaels on June 81.
Gen. Randall lost no time in getting
into San Francisco, and on his arrival
last night wired to the war department
for assignment. He hopes to be sent
to the front in Cuba or to Porto Rico,
The Amount Much Larger than at First
Reported.
Later estimates of the amount of
gold brought down by the steamer St.
Paul from the Klondike make the total
much larger than at first reported.
Joseph Lebick, of New York city, who
has lived five years in Alaska, and
himself has about $4,000 in dust, de-
clares that the Alaska Commercial
Co. shipped not less than $1,000, 600
from st. Michaels. Other returning
miners substantiate this statement.
The officers of the company could
not be seen last night, but the con-
census of opinion among the Klon-
dikers is that the trading corporation
has secured the greater part of the
precious metal mined this season.
Quarter Million In Gold Dust Piled on the
Floor.
Many of the fortunate miners went
to various hotels last night and de-
posted their wealth with the proprie-
tors. At enc place over a quarter of
a millioa dollars worth of dust and
nuggets was seen piled on the floor
back of the counter. inclosed in old
sacks, boxes and dilapidated grips.
Provisions still Sold at Fabulous Prices.
L. J. Lebick, who has valua BILE
claims on Bonanza, Dominion and Ell
Dorado creeks, says that most of the
men, like himself, have come south for
the sake of their health. Scurvy and
mountain fever prevail in the KloDdike,
and food is scarce and of poor quality.
Although prices have been greatly re-
duced, -four is still held at So sack
and pickI ed butter at S. a pound.