The record-union., 1898-07-29
STRUCK TAT COOKS INLET.
THE FIRST GOLD FOUND ON
SAWMILL CREEK.
Ralph Murphy and Party Create q
Sensation at Sunrise City,
Alaska.

ply from the Cooks Inlet country, in
Alaska, to his parents, who live near
Brighton in this county. All OF his let
ters up to this time have told Of peril
Gus trips over mountains of snow and
ice in search of gold, and of the Ill for
tune of all who had gone to that part
of Alaska to look for the precious metal
But at last letter has been received
which brings good news. HIS party
has struck ledge Of decomposed quartz
on Sawmill Creek, near Sunrise CITY,
from which they took out S42..4O the
first day, and it grows richer as their
tunnel progresses-the first gold that
has been found in that vicinity. Mr..
Murphy writes:
Sawmill Creek, June 18th.
We are all six of us working in our
ledge The quartz is very good. A VEIN
of decomposed quartz, averaging from
four inches to two feet wide, runs into
the mountain--but how far? that is the
question.
We have sawed out timber for our
sluice-b boxes and had one days sluic-
ing. We could not save near all the
SOlu, as II WAS Illlt dllu luSty. SOiiAS
was attached to the quartz and washed
out with the tailings. Our cleanup for
the day was two ounces and thirteen
pennyweights, equal to about S424o. 1t
was first gold dust.
There was a small stream of water
running down the mountain. 1t was
bothering US, so three of our party went
up to the top of the mountain and
- of ;fc narIcinO
landslide, having washed the gravel
away and undermining some of the
trees, causing them to slide down into
the creeks.
June 1Sth.-I got four letters and
package of papers, and inclosed was
small flag. We hoisted the Stars and
Stripes over our tent and fired salute
from our six-shooters.
1t was a happy camp, as we all got
lots of mail Altogether, this has been
an eventful day for our company. The
samples of ore the boys took to Sunrise
created quite panic and caused rush
to this creek.
June 19th-A hot time on this creek
to-day. Lots Of men are coming to
prospect and see our quartz mine, this
being the first gold found in this dis
trict.
We are getting some quartz ready to
send to San Francisco to be assayed,
but we cannot hear from it before Au-
gust-too late to do anything this year,
as navigation closes in September.
June 25th.-We were working in the
tunnel to-day drilling and blasting. We
strike with a seven-pound sledge-ham-
mer We are making a tunnel through
soldid slate and porphyry rock. We
blast with black powder as we cannot
get giant powder here.
We talk of working three shifts Of
eight hours each, two working at
time. so we can get the mine opened
quicker. We found fine prospects Of
quartz to-day, rock from the pay streak
showing gold on the inside Of rocks as
large as grains of rice.
We all hope this will prove as good
where we crosscut it, and If so we will
sink a shaft and follow it into the
mountain, which will give us a good
winters work.
One of our men is thinking Of going
home this fall, and we may send some
ore to San Francisco to be milled.
June 3Oth.-Cloudy and rainy. We
worked in the tunnel to-day; fired more
blasts and are now in fourteen feet.
The wind has been blowing so hard no
one dare to go to Sunrise City for the
past ten days.
Three men were drowned while cross
ing the Arm" Others had a narrow
escape and were so badly frightened
that they sold their outfits and started
for home.
There have been about 1,50O people
here this season, and not more than 100
have ever tried to mine.
1t is raining this evening. We have
no pouring rain here-it is too cold. l
have some lettuce growing in a box.
The mosquitoes are so thick we have no
peace only while it is raining. We
have to wear fine cheesecloth over our
faces night and day. They have large
appetites. and come after US like hor-
nets
/ have heard nothing but the roaring
of water since March Goth. The creek
has such a steep grade that the water
just boils along. You have to be close
to person and call at the top of your
voice to make him hear you.
There are a good many bears here.
They are very affectionate and will hug
you if you give them a chance. Four
soldiers on Twenty Mile River killed
one He came after them until he had
been shot eighteen times. The nine
teenth bullet killed him.
People are leaving here on every boat
July 3d-We are all going to Sunrise
City to celebrate the Fourth. We hear
they are going to have quite celebra-
tion there.
1t is now 10 p. m. and I must close
and crawl into my sleeping-bag, al
though the sun is shining as bright as
day We have only twenty minutes
night now. RALPH /. MURPHY.
SHIPPERS WIN.