The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-01-22
INDIANS DiVULGE RICHES.
Two Great Alaska Finds Discovered by
Red Men of that REGION.


Red Men of tina, Region.
Gold in quantities beyond the fancy of
the most frantic Klondike adyenturer is
reported among Alaska Indians, said l..
L. Watson. member of the SaXman In
dian council, instituted by the government
to civilize the Cape Fox tribe on the
Alaska coast. Mr.. Watson then told Il
story that would almost give an old pros
pectOr commissions. and furnished explain
atory details of a nature that demanded
consideration at least.
Last fall. while the Indians were all
engaged packing for the miners KlonGike-
bound" said Mr.. Watson, Il was told 4
strange story. A son of Chilkoot Jack,
one of the chiefs, belongs to the Cape Fox
tribe. He had been packing between the
coast and Dawson during the summer
and fall, during which time he claimed 20
have met an Indian from one of the
Yukon tributaries who had struck 4 price
less district. This latter Indian said he
was hunting some distance from Dawson
when he happened to examine the bed of
a creek and found in it what he took to
be gold nuggets. Not certain Of his own
Judgment, he got a few and Travelled
down the stream few days, until near
Dawson he found white man living
with i squaw. This man pronounced the
nuggets gold and importuned the Indian
to tell where they We're found without
avail. The Indian said he returned Sc
crctly to the creek and labored there al
summer. gathering along its bed as many
of the nuggets as he could with his lin
tied facilities. He erected Il temporary
structure for his habitation. and stored
his findings there until he had sevcraifold
more than he could carry. He then left
in search of his friends, who lived along
the coast. who were to aid him in carrying
out of the mountains the gold. Chlkoot
Jacks son told me this in confidence. as
a member of the tribe. ] do not believe
it is the nature of those Indians to fabri-
cate stories but think he really met some
Indian who furnished the information.
The nearest that he could locate the place
was Klondike. which meant anywhere
along the Yukon or tributaries south of
Dawson"
Mr.. Watson fell in with a man named
George Bailey on the trip down from
Alaska. who also had story of rich find
lngS, which he was able TO corruborate
with great pack of nuggets. Bailey
came aboard from the Stckcen route.
and, learning that Mr. Watson was an
Alaskan and interested III mining. showed
hun several nuggets as wide as his hand.
lie had two or three small sacks contain
ing gold. and had the same metal stored
about his ragged clothing in abundance
Bailey said he had been up the Stewart
river with two companions for two years.
and that he and one Of the other partners
were then on their way out with the clean
UP, which weighed about ninety pounds.
| Bailey stopped in Portland very short
time and then proceeded to San Fran
cisco, where he intends to procure il
fine outfit for working the claims he and
| his partners have secured. As they al
ready have Il small fortune taken out. and
good claims that viii yield more. they
We're not particular about keeping others
out. and Mr.. Watson was promised the
, prlvlicg" Of accompanying them on the
! return. The latter will leave for San
| francisco tonight 10 make arrangements
for The trip.
Bailey said he was located on the Stew.
! art river about 300 miles above the falls.
| which are about 60 miles from the con
! t1ucnce with the Yukon. He Travelled by
| the Stickecn route, which he said was
the only practicable way to enter the
| Yukon region in the winter As the
| SuCkecn i frozen now. its wide channel
makes a fine road. Ii is followed until
! the point for turning across to Lake Tcs-
| lin is reached, where another pavement
/ of Ice with its covering j. found After
/ travelling north for cOnsidera bic dis
lance, Bailey says. he turns directly
across the country for the headwaters of
/ Stewart river