The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-21

which u On the shore OF Norton sound.
Boring sea. dates back to the year ISL,
and Is known as the UmaIak mine and
mas been equipped by J. G.. Green. the
1897 produced $4,000. the ore carrying l&3
ounces Of silver per ton as well as gold,
God has also been discovered recently
In the beach sands Of Norton sound
Pm. the drift OF the prospectors Is now
gartter north, 10 the streams flowing in
to kotzebue sound. where trading schoon-
ers have resorted for years to exchange
the products Of civilization for furs. The
best information on the district comes
from Capt S. N. Saddler ard Miner w.
Bruce. both OF whom have made repeated
voyages and have jouraeyed far into the
interior. Capt Sadiler says the streams
promise rich returns. for he has bought
gold from the natives OF FIVE tributaries
OF the sound and in a trip 800 miles up
the kowak river found gold everywhere.
The gold obtained from the natives WAS
simply picked UP in the crevices OF the
rock and the rifles. for they have SD
perstition against disturbing the earth.
Indians Mine the kOyukuk.
The Koyukuk river had also been
worked for gold by the Indians
long before any white man had
penetrated so far from civilization.
and az the best route to the streams
emptying into kotzebue sound Is up this
river and across the low divide in the
Judah mountains, 1t ia naturally associated
with them In one district Hon. W. D.
Wood said Of this stream I'm an article
published in the Pos -Intel.!gencer on his
return from the Yukon:
The diRgings OF the Koyukuk. from all
accounts. promise a greater surprise than
any other undeveloped district OF the
Yukon The river rises far north OF the
1000 miles. joins the Yukon about 800
miles below the mouth OF the Tanana
1t Is navigabe for medium steamers for
GO miles TO It's crossing Of the circle AZ
this point trading post was started some
seven years ago. but on account of the
small number OF miners in the country
and some miscarriage in TIE plans OF he
traders. II was not profitable The Dig
gings are Inaccessible unless a food sup
ply he placed at the head OF navigation
on the koyukuk. The Glggings proper
are l6o miles further no stream. although
the bars pay for rocking for a distance
OF 10 miles.
For ten years Indians and white min
ers have been making the long. rough
trip overland 10 try these digg'ngs for
few weeks in a season. since the provi-
sions they could lake would not keep
them there longer. They have always
done we'll on the river bars, getting from
$50 TO $40 per day. but the time and pro
visions consumed IN getting there and the
short time for work have made even
these results unrrofltab.e and have no.
enabled them to determine the extent and
richness Of the deposit on bedrock Tn
district Is also reported to be rich In
quartz. there being less evidence Of gla-
cial action than In other localities. Fifty
thousand dollars f. the estimated amour:
rocked from the Koyukuk bars.
The Koyukuk Indians always have
dust when they come ont to trade usu-
ally about $40 20 the mar. Reports sub
stantiary to the above effect have bee
received by me from Il score OF white an6
Indian miners who have worked CT the
river. n independent interviews, az,
they confirm one another fully. hnd
them and many others anxious TO 80 back
20 the koyukuk as soon rs a base OF sup
ply Is established there"
Other accounts say that the Indians with
crude rockers make from SO 10 sl2 per
DAY and have brought out 500 or $500 in
coarse gold to trade with
Fortunes on the Kowak.
More recent. definite and encouraging IN
formation IS available ir regard 10 the
kotzebue sound rivers and tha route frc<r,
me koyukuk to their head waters. A PARTY
composed % MesSrs Ross Runkic Clark
Alien ana Ebhstt was prospecting on the
koyukuk when they met party Of In
dams who had number Of nuggets rang
irg In size from ~ cents 20 S. which they
had taken from the Kowak The whit.
n'en then went on up he koyukuk 70 Lake
Wat. AZ rs source. made Z portage over
n good Indian trail for thrty-eIeht miles
- the kowak. Trospccted several streams
ard foUri good Indications everywhere
Then they separated into three parties
Ehhif; and Alien found sctue rich quartz
ard brought back quantity OF dust ami
nuggets from the Amber river. Ross and
Clark took S.9esa in twenty dave from a
small stream entering the kowak no miles
below tts source Ross selling an indian a
plug ~ tobacco for a one-ounce nugget
Hunkte descended the kowak and took
So =. from a small crevice IN a few days
J = Swal,ey and A I. cole panied or.
$50 IL tAree hours NJ the twouth os small
stream fftv N lrs from thc mouth ~ the
Kowsk which they nan~a Eureka crock
snf 81 ore month took out over sfeA""
Another man ia reported 10 have banned
out s. go IN Two days
The Romtr tp the koyukuk
A. these rcpcr,s have cause1 starr-
re 80 - tAesa Streams and form a go1a Ia
SIS fnv The belief tina wen once opened
- travel The district " prove richer than
ths nlyca creek or Fortv-MH@ 3lgKsugs
n-a may oven equal The kiortIka ana Ire
bIs fo- short psr>od n The s}aT1ner O.
acrc8.l - ~. tce VA-k which of.s.-urts
uaviEat.ou u ire northern par; y ReYtrS
sea TIL late n The sea s2n. and The journey
10 the streams i 20; plea s3re sumner
excursion TIE T2Uta NOS: favored - that
taken y the Ross parry. ~ Ire koyukak
ard over ne Judah mountains by ne IT.
diam ira : 3r1e az the steamship con-p pa
n!s-, which a~a running % - Michael ard
up tire Ygko0 are arranging - send some
% tAes- rtyev coats % the a@as % nav.ca-
tlan on the NoyGkuk where a store WI
- rs'a~NsheH - max ne miners can -
y.s-LSa t1e.r supplies ard remain N the
traCtry tcr "a ioVae Summer season - 1T
a. v11ts -. T@e ka'rshue saar3 country 1.
ye~1t:e,s hV the iT3 hers IA st~s4-. TIA earl
80 deep ara ~ - Ia. ,aegs vi! e 20
lscA ~ fresh rneat