The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-13

The following interesting letter from
VIII Egerter, who is IN the Alaska
Klondike region, was received yester-
day by a wheeling friend. and the In
telllgencer is permitted to publish 1t:
In Camp, on Krutina River, via Port
Yaldes, Alaska, August 1G, 1895.
Ny Dear Friend:
Your most welcome, though short,
letter was received to-day, dated June
2S), and contents were eagerly read. l
will write you little matter that might
interest you.
We are camped on Rlutina river,
about forty miles from Its mouth, or,
in fact hut eight miles from its source,
which, as with nearly all the rivers In
this country. Is glacier, or perhaps
several, The valley is for the most part
thickly wooded, (sprlng and cotton
wood. and the loWland Is, swampy. Our
camp Is on n nat, within few feet OF
the river. and also only foot or 50
above the banks, The water Is not, as
one would suppose, clear, but mud
dy at all times, a sort OF grey clay
coming from the glaZier. We have clear
streams, though, OF very tine, cold wa
ter, formed by melting snow.
The valley Is probably four miles
wide. This Is the place, as near as l
can briefly describe 1t, where we WILL
as We now calculate, spend the winter.
We think, from Indications that bear,
moose. caribou. beaver and the smallest
animals will be abundant; In fact, Dear
are getting to be quite troublesome In
the nelEhborhood, no less than two men
having been. terribly mutiiated, and one
may die, having been struck in the face
by one the past week. Ny partner
CBob), shot one "a cinnamon), weighing
over 400 pounds some days ago, and We
got about 100 pounds OF meat to camp,
when the river rose 50 II took our bridge
Of logs. and we were unable TO get more
OF It in. In getting Il back mountain
goat was also added to the spoils, so We
have had plenty OF fresh meat ana
both were fine. When to this Is ndded
duck and immense quantities oil sad
mon, which are now running, you may
guess that we do not trouble our ba-
cor much. and your guess would be cor
rect. Salmon are caught mostly with
q spear, occasionally with nets and at
times they run so thick that shovel IS
the tool used. 1t is no fable to say that
at times they alnlost-and in some cases
do-erowd each other onto the banks OF
the streams. They range in weight
from eight 10 thlrty-flve pounds, some
times larger. The latter are called King
salmon, the others hump-back, dog and
red, the red being the finest meat. we
are Just starting to-day quantity LOT
use this winter. Meat at almost any
season may be hung out and be In no
danger Of spelling. The air Is not damp
and meat Win dry before It spollS. This
reminds me that II any OF my friends
are suffering from cHtArrh this Is the
place to come. Since my arrival have
not been troubled at all. l believe thas
have been entirely cured. My general
health has been good, excepting a duil
headache, which all here seem to get,
Caused perhaps by wind and high alti-
tude). have never been better In my
lie,
Hundreds-I may say thousands
have left, and Will no doubt bring back
news that will not be very encouraging;
IN fact, roast" this country but no
one here is yet In position to say that
gold does not exist In this section. l
know II does. and the only question Is;
Can II be found so as to be worked at a
profit?
Our present plan Is to stay here until
early spring. Then to make our wny to-
ward the Klnk river. which Is some
where near 100 miles westward. DO
not think gold VIII be found IN paying
quantities on Copper river proper as It
is not possible to reach bed rock In that
stream. The Copper If deep stream.
full Of dangerous rapids, md Kept In Its
beds by immense clay Banks and cam
Ons When n strike" Is made, depend
on Il, II Wis not be on the Copper river,
but on one or more Of its tributaries.
have three claims now--two placer
ard one quartz-lOcated,s one nt blind
Gulch," on Kfutina river. one on Con-
Elna river. and one quartz on Independ-
cnce creek. do not expect anything
OF Importance to develop from any OF
these.
It may be interesting to know how
claims are staked, 30 1 viii briefly de-
scribe H. When strike Is made the
person making the discovery Is entitled
10 double the amount OF q regular
claim. 4 regular size claim Is: Placer.
md quartz, eco feet by ] 900 feet. or 90
acres: other Claims are stnked above
and below. and numbered or named. a
meeting Is called, eight men, at least,
being necessary. recorder elected. who
surveys and correctly stakes the land,
and charges 80. The mapuer Of stalking