The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-17
Band of $50 to Go to Alaska on
the Brigantine Blakeley.
THEY OUTFITTEp IN SEATTLE.
These ArgoBauta Hope to Find
Placer Feds Filled With Nuggets
and Dust. and Mountnfn Ranges
With Lodges of Quarfz-t *ew
Route to the Alaska Geld Fields
Party Well -pisasea With seattle.


Blakeiey VIII saa ts1e Ea.ter part ~ this
week or early in the next Tor xakutst
bay on the southeast coast q Alaska.
These Argonauts hope 10 find a Land thick
with placer beds studded with nuggets Of
pure gold. and mountain ranges ribbed
with Lodges Of rich quartz. They nave
their faces set toward new country.
They have consTegatea In Seattle IN par
ties ranging IN size from fifteen 70 bfty.
from many states OF the Union. Actuated
by a common impulse. these pilgrims to
the land Of gold have formed Themselves
into compact body OF hardy men. pre-
pared TO surmount the most formidable
difficulties Ia their quest for tie golden
fleece
The expedition II headed for the country
lying at the aeadwateFs OF the White
river IN American territory. Following a
new route into the gold fields. which has
been explored by two o. three men who
haze lived In the valley of the Yukon,
they hope Ia make their way from tide
water through steep glacial walls untii
they have found county that IL believed
to possess but few obstacles 70 the pros
pector. IT Is claimed BY the men who are
TO guide the party 10 ths new treasure
land that after "a distance OF 100 10
miles from the coast Of Alaska is attained
q number Of routes lie before the Traveller.
BY one OF which The Yukon valley can be
reached by second Route. IL Is said,
lies an easy entrance 10 the Tanana river /
country, and should neither Of these roads
please the gold hunters third remains.
By which, It IL claimed BY those familiar
with the country. the heacwAters OF the
Chittyna river can be reached. ana by
travelling down that stream the Copper
river Is accessible
The largest single Party IL the Biakeiey
expedition Is from woscester Aiasa II
consists of forty-three men. led by Capt. 9.
a. Wilkinson. veteran Of the war ~ ghe
rebellion and a man who has much
of life on the frontier 10 British Columbia.
Another party OF tweaty4three men and
obs woman Is from ST. Paul. MINI. head
ed by John Norman and James Norris.
One party Of eleven halls from Washing
ton ID. C. and there are several individusi 4
bands of fortuna hunters from various
states In the East. numbering from five ~
fifteen men.
OutGtted In seattle.
The greater part OF these parties have
outftted here. AZ "a total cost OF between
$4,000 and sss.Ooo The Worcester party
OF for,y-three men was organized SIX
months ago and includes representatives,
Of many professions and business pur-
suits. 1t IL Incorporated under the title
OF the Worcester and Northwestern Min
Ing and TTadifg Company. capt. Nnkin-
son Is president Of the company and the
leader Of the party lie is a wealthy
candy manufa ciufer and merchant Of
Worcester. To Post-iutelIlgenccr re-
porter he said yesterday.
We determined when wc organized the
Worcester party not - 80 10 the klon-
dixie. but 20 tn oar fortune 10 American
territory. We were Booked 50 SSH for the
mouth Of the Copper river on the steamer
Alliance. bat owing - the delay In the
arrival of that vessel we Cancelled our res
ervations fer passage and chartered the
brlgahtinc Biakeley.
ut was after We had examined the re-
port Of Lieut. Alien. who explored the
Copper river country. ana other official
documents - Washington. That We deter
mined to make fof that country rather
than TO SO - the Yukon proper. am in-
formed however that after We reach the
head Of The White river a route may bc
followed leading Ia the Yukon in case We
find It desirable 10 change our base Of
. operations
! 1--WE have secured The services as guide
Of Pref. a ". Hill ef this city who
spent several years a missionary on the
coast Of Alaska aud who has two sons
now In THAI country He f. uu8er corr
tract 10 lead IA 70 the interior OF Asaska
wv. have secured all ~ our provisions
and harlwars ia Seattle and have faund
that tho merchants Of ibis city carry ev-
srythins required Ter fTavel or residence
IN the North ard At prices tnaf make n a
distinct advantage 81 purchase here our
clethlnS and lubhsT sec9s were na8uuFac-
tured - order - enc x tho largest cstau-
nshnaents in ire East We baVe been
VII treated heTe ana are thoroughly stt-
fsised, Oar supplies q provisions are tal-
culated a. last as a,shseen martha
The Woye.sfer patlv shy gives thc go.-
lowirg aceoun, u The departure 81 the
Wilkinson party: