The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-07
D|ScOvERfR Of BONANZA.
LUCKY GEORGE CARNACk ExPESsr.
ED HERE On SHIP ROAN0kE.
In the Dirt Of the MOrld.famea
Creek. aad Today He II One OF
the NieAess Nen In the Country.

George ". csrmack. who on August II.
1855. stuck his shovel In the soidsn sArds
Of Bonanza cr~ek and demonstrated in q
few hours the wonderful richness az the
klordike country, Is likely TO he among
the kionaike miilionaires on board tho
Roanoke.
The discoverer 81 the Kiondike. accord
Ing 70 late arrivals from the interior. In
tended TO come out on one Of tho first
steamers for a short visit. As he is very
friendly TO the North American Trans
porsatson 4 Trading Company. 4. - be-
ueyed that he secured reservations ON
their frs; river steamer. It viii cost
money to come down on the first boat. fo-
ticket reservations were bringing al kinds
OK fancy prices for a month after this
river broke up. But Carnack has money.
and his friends here would not Be 0ngs
prised to see him walk down the Roam
okes sangisAnk when she lands at Yesier
dock.
Carmack has led an interesting life In
Alaska for twelve years past. For tho
first three years in Alaska he spent his
time prospecting the headwaSers OF the
Lewis ana ttuosaitiilua rtNtiS Spout
Lake Bennett. He fell in with two trusty
Indians during this time. and since then
they have been almost constant compar-
ions. They are known 'Skookum
jim and '-Tagish Charley He taught
them how 70 hunt for gold and made them
absolutely devoted to him. One summer.
on the Hootalinaua, one sack Of -four was
game they killed, all managed to pun
through.
Went tn the Yukon I'm fsSO.
lie frs, went down the Yukon In isSs
to Forty-Mlie and Fort Yukon. The
next year, ON Birch creek. he found
good claim, hut did not stay with 1t long.
He established trading post al FKe-Fin-
ger rapids. and later built the Mission
building at Fort Selkirk. Early IN August
II % he met his two Indian friends at the
mouth OF the Klonaike river, after having
been separated from them for several
years They fished for salmon in the
Kiondike for some time. and then decided
to GO over 10 Gold Bottom, where good
prospects had been found.
They were travelling up Bonanza creek
on their way to Gold Bottom when Car
mack CHANGED to notice a glitter Of gold
in the rim rock at the foot OF an old
birch tree He drove In his shovel. and
the firs, pan Of gravel disclosed several
coarse nuggets In half hour, with
the assistance OF his Indian companions.
he had cleaned up a shotgun cartridge
full of gold. the first ever taken from
Bonanza although many prospectous had
passed up and down the creek. disdaining
10 prospect where the appearances were
SO unfavorable.
Tmwish Charley ana skookum I'm.
Carmack stakcd discovery claim at
once with tho birch tree AZ corner.
'',ragish Charley took No. l below ana
.sSkookum JIM the flrst claim above.
They were of Immediately for Forty
Mile 10 spread the glad tldings and get =
supply OF grub for the winter They met
a party OF four weary miners returning
10 Forty Mile after q fruitless winter and
spring on the Upper Yukon and told them
OF the discovery. The four men were
the first to stampede. and since then there
has been no let up. Several other parties
were met on the way down the river. ana
all started for the new Eldorado.
Carmack celebrated his discovery on ar
irving Mt Forty-Miie. II is said, 10y get
ting the entire camp on spree. The
next day scores Of boats started W river
for the new creek. lie has looked well
after his claim and those OF his Indian
friends He now owns number or
valuable properties. This viii be his firss
visit TO the States since he struck u rich.
and wherever he goes he will he the OBJ
tect OF a grea, deal of interest. Hts FOR
mer home ,s al Port Costa. Cal. and he
will visit there on this trip.