Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-06-02
L|TUYA BAY To THE FRONT
CONCERNING W. S. GARDENERS LETTER,
The Alaska Mining Record Reports South
eastern Alaska PIacers of Very Great
Richness and Ease of Access,

From the Alaska Mining Record, pub
lished at Juneau. May IS, 1898, we take
an account of the placer mine discovery
lately made by Walter S. Gardner of
Centralia and associates. In last week s
issue we printed letter from Mr..
Gardner to friends in the twin cities in
which he stated that he would hold
claims in the LituYa Bay country short
time for such as cared to buy. The
Mining Record speaks of that property
as follows;
In our last Wednesdays issue we
published a news item of much import
ance, regarding Messrs. Savage and
Blakemore, who in company With Mrs
Savage had just returned by steamer
kodat from Lituya bay.
"These gentlemen, and other of their
associates who arrived on the weather.
beaten schooner Dora B, are the owners
Of same, and to listen to the story of
their recent explorations and dicoveries
in that practically unexplored section
| fills one with admiration and enthusiasm
and desire to be one of the interested
parties.
From the reports and expert tests
and investigations made by these gen.
tlemen, and evidence in the shape Of
samples of their valuable gravel and
ruby sand deposits, which they brought
| with them, convinces us that as soon as
developments are properly begun these
placer discoveries will attract the atten-
ton of mining men on all portions of
the globe.
"This journal has repeatedly held that
that section of the southeast coast of
Alaska lying between Berners bay and
Alaska inlet undoubtedly contains the
mother lode and future development
will prove our prophetic words.
'The Dora B had been placed under
the guidance of Captain John Johnson,
the veteran and well known pilot of
this coast, and sailed from Juneau last
January with the venturesome repre-
sentatives of the above mentioned COM
these people during that journey can
only in manner be understood by old
residents of Alaska.
THE party consisted of Messrs. Saw
age, Blakemore, Gardner, Meyers,
Wright and Johnson, and last, but by
no means least, the brave little mascot,
Mrs. 0. II. Savage, who, in the language
of Captain Johnson. was really the best
sailor in the party. Well do they de-
serve the immense reward which is now
III their grasp for their daring and cour-
ageous enterprise, nerve and grit to
brave the terrOrs Of the 'Icy straits
and Arctic seas in such season and i'll
the face of their many Juneau friends
and acquaintances, who predicted and
prophesied certain death in making the
attempt in mid-winter. Nothing
daunted, and with their ships masts,
sails, decks and hull coated with ice
they Set sail for their EIdorado and
arrived safely, after storms and vicissi-
tudes, at their destination, from which
they returned few days ago.
''It may be borne IN mind, however,
that while the winters journey is fraught
with extreme dangers, in summer it is
most interesting, beautiful and safe
trip, and we predict that Lituya bay
will in very short time be port of
entry for large Alaskan coast steamers.
"The Dora started Friday evening
on her return trip laden with supplies
to be delivered at Lituya bay for the
further working and development of
these Mines"