The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-23
Fast Steam Yacht that is to SeU
From Seattle.
E.D.WGGiNS AND HIS PLANS.
Wealthy Resident of Warrington
City-yessel tn BE Named for His
Famous Trotting Mare Martha
wilkes. Which Held the Worlds
Record-Expedftion Northward 20
Combine business and Pleasure.

A dlstanct.vely novel expedition IS that
which is being fitted out n Seattle by Mr..
+. d. Virgins. a wealthy resident CT
Washington. D. {. Mr.. Virgins arrived IN
Seattle L week ago, accompanied by his
wife. and is stopping at the Ra.nier-Grand-
He is having built IN this city a fast sail
ing steam yacht in which he intends cruis-
ing with party of trends and business
associates, along the coast Of Alaska, hunt
ing and fishing. ending with the trip UP the
Yukon river to the gold fields.
Mr.. Virgins is the owner of q number
OF fancy stock farms in the East. Among
his possessions is the famous .rotting mara
Martha Wilkes (2.00 which held the
worlds trot,ing record for the years 1854.
The yacht on which the party will make
the cruise through the waters Of south
eastern Alaska ard thence to the Yukon
will be named after the speedy mare.
1t is Mr.. Virgins intention TO equip his
yacht with years provisions and with
every possible convenience for spending
the winter in Alaska should the party de-
termine TO remain in the gold fields until
next season Although he speaks with
retlcence concerning his business interests
that are partly responsible for the ex-
petition, 1t is understood that Mr.. Wig
gins has secured valuable interests in
Alaska in 4 new district adjacent to the
klondlke river, where important discov-
cries Of placer gold as ilattering IN their
early prospects as those of the Klond.ke
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
to a Post-Inteliigencer representative YES
terday. There is nothing OF interest that
L can tell you at this tine concerning our
expedition. You may say, however. that
Wa will make Seattle our base of supplies
and viii start from this city in about four
weeks. with party of twelve people alto
gether.
Our yacht will 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 to view the points Of
scenic interest and hunting and fishing
where the sport can be found. I look
forward TO this part of the trip with much
interest and many antic!pations Of pleasure
We have ali heard. of course, of the wen
derful scenery along the Alaskan coast,
OF the great glaciers the magnificent
mountain ranges. the seal islands, etc
After we have fully satisfied our desire
10 see all these things it is very probably
that the yacht viii be turned In the d.
rectson of ST. Michael and that we shall
ascend the river to 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.
We Will remain al some point in American
territory during the winter IL Ii Is decided
to put off our return to the states until
next year. At all events, we shall see the
country thoroughly"
Mr.. Virgins admitted that he knew
something Of the particulars OF discovery
OF very rich placers in the Eoyukuk river
country. y party Of American prospectors
made the find last fall. They assembled
the lukon to the mouth Of the koyukuk,
% miles north Of Nuato. Thence they
went by canoes and overland 10 the head
waters OF the stream prospecting "a they
went until they located a very r.ch district
in a country that has been .but
little explored The members Of the nartv
returned TO the Yukon and came out dur
ing the fan. They have been at Washing
ton lately, securing legislation by which
they VII be able to hold the claims which
they located
The new discoveries are in the same
mineral belt TO which the Birch creek
and k0tzebue sound districts belong.
DO you expect 10 prospect for gold?''
was asked Of Mr.. Virgins. We'll. hardly
that" was the reply, land yet IL we strike
something pretty good in the course OF our
travels, we WI not overlook IT."