Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-03
THE GOLD HUNTE RS.
Departure of the Alaska Party
for Copper River.
The Union Station Full of People to Bid
the Adventures Godspeed,


from 1000 friendly throats 9S members
of the Worcester and Northwestern
Mining and Trading Company steamed
out of Union depot at 345 Wednesday
afternoon. on the Fitchburg road, bound
for the Alaskan gold fields. For two
hours previous to the time of depart
ure, friends of the local gold-seekers be-
gan to gather at the station, and when
the party left, the train she'd was as
densely packed as it was when Candi-
date Bryan visited Worcester in 1896
Every Klondiker was a hero, and there
were Just 80 different admiring groups
of friends and relatives. Only one
member showed fahering spirit, and
he would have gone but for the presence
Of his wife and children, who cried pit
eously at the Union station, and begged
him not to 60 The sight of tears in
4khe eyes of his loved ones unnerved him,
Ind with beating heart he left the sta
ion for his home, with smiles upon his
Eife's face to cheer him. His comrades
y hid not endeavor to keep him, but his
baggage went on. He pleaded not to
JAlaVe his name mentioned, that he might
not be thought craven-hearted by his
friends. Women were present in large
numbers, and, while they did not cheer
they smiled and threw kisses, while the
men cheered. 1t had been expected that
the Pullman tourist car which was
sent on from Buffalo the first of the
week FOR the especial use of the Wor-
&cester party, would reach this city We'd
nesday morning, but owing to the
storm, it was run no further than Gard
ner where it was held to await the
Worcester people. Through the efforts
Of Ticket Agent J. F. Healy, the Fitch
&burg road provided a special passenger
coach for the use of the party to Gard
per and this was attached to the rear
III the regular train. The party will live
and sleep in the tourist car during the
entire trip, and will make no further
change. The route is over the Fitch
81 burg, West Shore, Nickel Plate, Chi
cago and Great Western and the Great
Northern road to Seattle. The journey
is expected to occupy four and a half
days. Reaching Seattle Monday, the
argonauts will sail on the steel steamer
Alliance the Thursday following, reach
ing the Alaskan coast on Washingtons
birthday. The steamer will carry the
party to Prince William sound Valdez
glacier, Copper river, the first point
stopped at being Orca, one of the prin-
opal trading posts of the region. This
is at the mouth of the Copper river
which cannot be ascended owing to the
numerous rapids and waterfalls. Val
dez glacier, it is said, can only be
passed in the month of March.
Following one of the tributaries of
Copper river, the party will find them
selves in an unknown and UNEMPLOYED
field, where they hope to establish
Camp Worcester" and prepare for the
fortunes with which they expect to re-
turn to this country. When this field
iSFeached, the party will be divided or
continue with full strength, as the cir
culnstances dictate. A captain will be
chosen for each company, and prospect
ing will begin. AS soon as the first
camp is established, the judicial sys-
tern which the. company has framed for
itseh will go into effect, and the mem
q beFs will be governed by it's laws. The
bylaws which the company has in its
constitution provide for this. and when
the party finds itself beyond state and
territorial jurisdiction, the bylaws be-
come operative. Every member of the
company is expected to work except in
case Of absolute sickness, and the Off
GERS will do the same tasks as the ordi-
nary members.
President Wilkinson said that the
party might be absent two years or a
less time, dependent upon the results
of the diggings. A Worcester miner
who had a personal talk with an old In
HislA VI LilC GOppGI river CGSlOU, T6-
Vealed the secret of the Copper river
wealth to the Worcester party when the
company was first organized, and since
then the fixed destination has been not
the Klondike proper, but the southeast
ern part of Alaska. near Mt. Wrangell.
This region is entirely within the
United States boundary while the
hlondike region, which is 500 miles dis
tant in an AIRLINE to the north. and
about 1900 miles by the actual route. is
IN the great northwest territory of Cam
ada.
The baggage car at Union station was
AN OBJECT of attention. The car had been
III the depot for two days, but it was
noon before many Of the sailor bags
containing the equipments had been
loaded, Baggage Master Lowell found
himself overburdened with the baggage
81 tie Alaskan gold hunters, but gave
the matter his personal attention, and
as result every piece was placed
aboard without trouble or delay. There
were 50 individual pieces of bagga ge.
checked to Al different men, the total
complement of the company The sailor
bags are all waterproof, and the eouin-
nent was packed within them with the
utmost care Some members of the partv
had single bag, and others two or
three.
Every piece was checked. and bore the
address: Prince William Sound. Valdez
GlaZier. Copper River Alaska Some of
the members took snbw-shoes with
them. and other toboggans, with pretty
souvenirs from their families and
friends to prevent forgetfulness of hap
ny homes in New England. In the car
was barrel of cooked hams, frankfurt
ers and bologna, which had been espec-
tally prepared by B. J. Bertels. This was
transferred to the tourist car upon
reaching Gardner although the two
cars viii he coupled together for the en-
tire trip to Seattle.
At Seattle the members will take sup
plies sufficient for is months, and the
clothing equipment with other necessi-
4ties have been purchased with a view to
meeting all wants for that period. Every
man was allowed 100 pounds Of baggage
although many exceeded the limit. The
sailor bags are all dark. and they gave
a mournful aspect to the scene The
bags contained everything in the way Of
clothing. ammunition, food utensils,
coats. etc. Nearly every member wore
his rubber coat lined with lambs wool
at the station owing to the cold. and a
majority of the company carried their
rifles with them to give militant air
to their carriage. Two Of the company
appeared dressed in old army coats,
which had done service in the late war,
ana the company appeared to be a cos
mopolitan gathering. The leader of the
party is American, while the Swedes are
strong in numbers.
Among the members of the company,
President Charles A. Wilkinson, who
ieft Wednesday evening with his son.
Charles Wilkinson, the secretary of the
Company. for a short visit to his sister
III Buffalo. where he will Join the main
company on its arrival, has the most ex.
uerience. Twenty-seven years ago he
nassad three years In British Column hia