The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-03
RICHES IN TWO YEARS.
Tacoma Man Makes Lucky Strikes ON
the Yukon.
Tacoma News.

Tacoma News.
Michael Knutsen, of Tacoma, is one of
the rich miners who have come out of
the Klondike. His chief distinction rests
in his being the possessor of the largest
nugget yet found in that district-a solid
chunk of gold weighing fraction over thir-
ty-four ounces troy and worth $3.50. %. II
was found near bedrock on claim No &c.
Eldorado. This nugget is pear-shaped, ex-
cept that it has not the thickness of a
pear. 1t is light yellow in color, over four
inches in length in it's largest part and about
three inches in width
Knutsen owns a quarter interest in claims
Nos. Sc and 81 on Eldorado and is worth
$1,000 to the box length, the box length be-
ing space 12x15 feet going to bedrock. Up
to Aug. l No. SO had produced $4,000. and
work had only been started. Claim 81 re-
manned almost untouched. Gold has been
taken out of both ends of Claim Sc and from
the center, showing that it's supply will hold
out. The depth to bedrock is six inches to
twelve feet In all probability this claim
will produce $1oOO,0OO, and No. 81 should be
Two years on the Yukon made Knutsen
rich. His experience illustrates that of hun
dreds of men during that time. In the
spring of 1895 Knutsen purchased less shan
years supplies and started for Forty-mile
district. The first year he worked for wages,
receiving $40 a day in summer and Sc and 81
a day in winter. He saved money and in
less than a year paid $1,000 for a half in
terest in Glacier creek claim, from which
$4,000 was taken by four men during the
winter. This claim pays $500 to $500 per box
length. The summer of 1896 was spent in
opening it up by putting in a blind drain
and thirty sfuice boxes in preparation for
the next seasons work. Seventy-five cords
of work were hauled down for winter burn
ing.
Then came the Klon6ike excitement in
August; 1896, in consequence of which this
rich claim on Glacier creek was left and
has not been touhed since. In August Knut-
sen and Olson, his partner, ran out of pro
visions and Olson went to Forty-mile after
grub. Knutsen did not know what to think
of his long absence, but Olson finally re-
turned and told his partner how news of the
Klondike had Just reached Forty Mile when
he got there Olson had joined the rush and
on Sept. had staked claim thirty-six on
Hldorado. On hearing the news knutsen
started overland for Klondike. In four days
they walked 100 miles, crossing high and
crooked divides, and Sept. % Knutsen staked
claim No. IL below on Bear creek.
Still 1t not known that the new
claims were worth much. In December
they got to bedrock, however, and found
Forty Mile was made to fetch up supplies.
Two box lengths on Claim 81 produced
$4,000. His partners took $4,000 out of four
box lengths on Claim &C. They took out
enough gold to pay expenses as they went
along. The spring clean up produced $4,000,
and $4,000 more was taken out during the
summer. KnutSen'S partners in the owner
ship of these claims are Olson, Arthur
Celene and Constan Alstine. Knutsen's
claim on Bear creek remains untouched:
Adjoining claims very rich, and he will
make big thing out of it.
Knutsen does not think there will be much
starvation this winter if supplies on the
Klondike are divided up. He has seen men
live through the winter there on two sacks
of flour and some beans, bacon and dried
APPLES. In the summer of 1895, after his
provisions gave out, he lived three weeks
on flour, lard pepper and salt. He was
working ten hours day and three times
day dined regularly on flour fried III lard
and water.
Knutsen says there are certain to be other
rich strikes in the Yukon country.