The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-02
Government Exploring Party Gets
Colcrs on Every Greek.
CAPT. AeERcRoMB.E RETURNS
HIS Party 81 Miles Dat and Must Have
Pack frafns-Cooper. Of Colorado,
Gets - Cents Per Pan ON the
Tonssaa Three Hundred and
Thfrty-eight Paying Claims On
the Clutches Near values Pass.

The steamer Valencia arrived in port at
O'Clock last evening from Copper river
and Cook inlet with a number OF passen-
gers, including Capt. Abercrombie and
DR. .Tohn s. Kulp Of the United States
army. Capt. Abercrombie is at the
head Of the Copper river exploration par
ty and is back after pack train The
government OUTFIT IS now sixty-seven
miles irr the interior. He brings the graft
flying news tina, all the prospective min
ers who started over the glacier are now
we'll across or encamped on the lakes.
Abercrombie pass is now being used
across the glacier
Capt Abercrombie says that his expedi-
ton has prospected every river running
into the Copper. from the Tasnuna to
the Tonsina, and that in every one gold
was found. He says that IL has proven
the country to be rich in god. He reports
that good finds have been made on the
Tonsina and Konsina rivers. Monte Girls
to and Solomon CLUTCHES are being worked
near yaldes by number of miners.
Capt Abercrombie saved Brooklyn
car conductor, charged with thieving,
from receiving fifty lashes at Valdes The
man had been accused OF stealing some
property found in his tent. He claimed
TO have purchased II but had no way of
proving his claim and was sentenced to
fifty lashes. The Federal officers inter-
fered and brought the man back with
them on the Valencia.
Capt. Abercrombie last heard from his
party in the interior the day before the
Valencia sailed. A government guide NAM
ed Robe came back with dispatches from
Lieut.. Guy Preston Some men Rad
robbed an Indian cache of some furs and
had been arrested by a guide named Gu
mac. They had been compelled to pro-
duce the stolen property. and guide
named Rafferty, sent out to find the In
dams that the property might be returned
to them. The officers consider ii very es-
sential to the safety OF the thousands
going into the interior that the Indians
be kept peaceable.
T.. j. Cooper. of Cripple Creek, at the
head of large party, is reported by Capt.
a
on the Tonsina. They were getting IS
cents to the pan from surface dirt. The
water Is not yet low enough to enable
them to reach bedrock. surveyor named
Willard had built slu,ce boxes on the
Tonsina where ne found coarse gold. He
is preparing to work the bars. According
to Capt. Abercrombia thirty-eight claims
have been stsked out on Monte Cristo
and Solomon guehes. running into Val
des bay. The gold was being taken out
from the surface dirt. as the three feet
of snow on the ground made 1t impossible
TO keep shafts free from water. The men
were making from $3.50 to $40 per day
When seen by a Post-Inte!lgencer re-
porter last night. Capt. Abercrombie said
regarding the passes:
The snow IS practically gone from
Valles glacier and the trail used this
winter by over 5000 prospective miners.
viii never be used again. The side of the
glacier near Copper river Is badly honey
combed and the snow entirely gone
Nearly every one is al Lake Tasnuna
They can do little without pack horses
and their progress from now on vii, be
very slow.
"Abercrombse pass across the glacier is
now being used. The number that had
gone over up 10 the time | left was 30
Packer Young. OF Salt Lake had eigh-
teen horses at work and carries outfits 10
the summit at four cents per pound II
: IN
the Abercromb.c pass and the elevation
at the summit is but 1850 feet. In August
the prospectors Will use the Lowe river
pass, which cuts through the mountains
at an elevation Of go feet Some four
teen miles of trail viii have to be cut
through slate, but the trail can he used
untH the snow begins 20 slide next year.
4 expect 10 go back north in about ten
days If can get pack train together in
that time. We can go no further until we
get IL. We pulled orr outfits in on sleds
until the snow melted away. Then we
were stuck. J will go in over Abercronl-
he pass. tell you its hard luck 10 be
stationed up in Alaska when all this war
Is going or. Ny regiment Is now down
IN Mobile. and Is likely 10 go 10 Cuba any
time, while | have nothing In sight but
winter OF bard work in the interior OF
Alaska. Not single line OF fghtfnE IN
prospect unless the swedes and the Indians
start a war
The Valencia left yaldes May n and
Cook inlet May q. She had a pleasant
trip down. Purser Macondray reports
that ten lives were believed 10 have been
lost in ire Summit snowsj:ie. told OF ex-
c!usive!y Ia the Post-fnteI'igeneer. Two
bodies only have been recovered beside
the man who died on the Morgan CITY.
Seve2 outfits we're found near the sun-
nit whose owners did not APPEAR "a claim
them The men were camping together.
and 4 5 believed that they lost their lives.
Ma>oadray did sot learn their names.
The Valencia bad the following pass
anrarS.