The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-02
Rich Lodges at Thorn Arm, on
Alaska Coast.
TEEMiNG VEINS OF FREE GOLD,
One Of the Disc0verers II Joscph
Mining Company. of This city,
Owns Ten Claims-StOries at First
Thouxht to he Extravagant-PrOs-
pectors FiOckinE From ALI Points

For months rumors have made their way
down from the forbidd:ng coasts of South
eastern Alaska 10 Seattle of finds Of gold
quartz Of fabulous richness on the shores
of almost unknown inlets within lew
miles OF the everyday steamer route Inc
steamer Cottage City on her iaSt Trip
brought down letters which show that not
only have the quartz finds been made. but
that the truth Of their richness exceeds
even the first meager reports. The new
gold mines are located on Thorn Arm. 40
miles down the coast from Juneau ana oos
twenty-five miles from ketchikan. The
country for miles IS scanned with huge
veins of free gold bearing quartz. some OF
1t SO rich that 1t Is fairly yellow with Jumps
OF virgin gold 1t is beyond question that
the district which Is yet almost andis-
turbed by the pick OF the miner viii De the
richest in Alaska if not in the world. and
already prospectors are focking to ii from
al parts OF Alaska. eager to be the firSt
to uncover its Siittering wealth TO the light
OF day.
The marvellous discoveries are given a
local interest from the fact that one Of the
original discoveries of the quartz Is Jo-
seph Hambiett, formerly of Ballard, the
other lucky prospector beng A. Cramer, of
California. and that the Gladiator Mining
Company, Of this city. Of which DR.. j. Eu-
gene Jordan is president. and E. Lobe is
treasurer. is the owner of q group Of ten
Of the richest claims. The stories told at
Sitka by Hanblett and Cramer We're appa-
rently SO wildly extravagant that they
were hardly credited there even and the
reports sent TO the outside word from that
point were regarded almost as mere fables.
And small wonder. Cramer told OF put
ting in 4 single blast on one of the lodges
and washing out 5000 worth of gold from
the rotten red quartz thrown out by the
shot with the aid of common mortar and
a gold pan: and Hamblet related how the
quartz on the very surface shone yellow
in the sun with gold when it's covering If
moss was removed. Yet these tales are
confirmed by q letter received by DR.. Jor-
dan yesterday from men whom his COM
pany has had at work prospecting It's
claims this summer. One of the men is
an assayer. and he writes tina, an av-
erage assay from samples of the quartz
showing not the slightest trace of free
gold to the naked eye gives 500 TO the tol.
Naturally. DR.. Jordan feels that his COM
pany has a bonanza.
"The reports the company has had from
its representa- ives on the ground are so
fiattering that I hesitate ito talk concern
ing them" said he to a Post-Inteigencer
reporter last night There is no ques-
lions. Eamblett, the original locator, has
FIVE claims, and ours adjoin his on every
side. They are right on salt water, where
an ocean steamer can land at the very
cabin door. Besides this, the new mines
are on American soil, just stone throw
on the other side of the interna tionll
boundary. and can be worked under the
laws of the United States. Every dollar
taken from them will come directly to Sc
attic. The rush to the district has alrea ly
started, and will be unparalleled. My let
ter states that whole OF Wranger is al
ready on the ground. and that the river
is filled with steamers loaded with pros
pectors.
ION each of the company's claims there
are from one to half dozen quartz lodges
of all sizes. from eighteen inches TO 80
feet in width, And prosecuting done by
our men shows this 70 be fact
Hamblett is half-breed. and has been
prospecting in Alaska for long time.