The Monticellonian., 1898-07-22
RETURNING GOLD SEEKERS.
Coming Home with Much Wealth to Recuperate.

to Recuperate.
 SAN FRANCisco, July 1s-After be. 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 KlondiIle There were l76 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 S3 600, 006. The largest amount brought out by Il 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 S5o,0oo; E. J. Nash has $50, 900, and Fred Berry, of Fresno, Cal, who had previously brought out fortune, says he has another with him now, but declines to disclose the amount.
 Eifty Thousand Dollars A Foot. J. Dumas, who has been prospecting on Fl Dorado creek, has s $f0 O00 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 S100,00G in cash, the proceeds of the sale of his five mining claims.
 J. Davis spent only one month in the Klonditse, but during that period real | ized S2O, 900 from his claim. and just l before his departure sold his claim for 1 S25, 900 more, so that his days at Daw- son were exceedingly profitable.
 The returning miners say that it is l idle for prospeetors to go to the klon- dike now, expecting to locate claims, as all the mining land of any value has | already been stalled. The only manner 1 in which claims can now be acquired is said to be by purchase.
 Minook Creek oyerestimated
 The general consensus of opinion is l that the value of tue Minoolt creek as d mining center has been overcsfi- mated. Claims there are pronounced to be of little value, and the intending miner, if he be guided by the eXptri- ence of these pioneers, will contiae his operations to the neIghborhood of the original discoveries near Dawson City. Dominion creek is pronounced the richest of the Klondike streams in the l precious metal, the Fl Dorado and and Bonanza creeks being placed by these prospectors as second in eompari- 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 ae- l count of their inherent richness.
 Among the passengers on the St. Paul Is Brig.Gen George N. Randall. who, as colonel of the Eighth United States infantry, has been in command of the troops at St. MichaeIs. During his absence he was promoted to briga- dieI general, the news Of his advance ment having been taken to him by the l ship Roanoke, which arrived at St. Michaels on June 27.
 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 te Porto Rice. The Amount Much Larger than at First
 Reported.
 Later estimates of the amount oi | gold brought down by the steamer St Paul from the kiondike make the total much larger than at first reported Joseph Lebich, of New York city, who has lived five years in Aiasla, and | himself has about Sl0.009 in dust, de. clares that the Alaska Commercial Co shipped not less than S5,000,0Jo from St. Michaels. Other returning mtners substantiate this statement TT ho 1Af of l,a 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 Co various hotels last night and de- posited their wealth with the proprie- tors. At one place over a quarter of million 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 stiIl Sold at Fabulous Prices. l.. J. Lebiok, who has valua bIe claims on Bonanza, Dominion and Fl 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 klondilte and food is scarce and of poor quality. Although prices have been greatly re. duced, flour is still held at SS q sack and pick ed butter at s? pound