The San Francisco call., 1898-03-27
TO LOOK FOR AN ISLAND OF COLD The Schooner Free Trade Fitted Out for the
 Expedition.
Two English Capitalists and a Mining Expert Are Going
 Along.
Untold Millions Are to Be Found in the Quartz Ledges of the
 New Fl Dorado.

An expedition backed by British cap ital starts north in a few days in search of an Island of Gold.' No money has been spared in putting everything in first-class shape. and the promoters are confident Of success. The quartz lodges to be found cropping out all over the island are said to be fabulously rich and large pieces of rock can be broken off with hammer in which the gold can be seen in streaks all through it. When the rock is broken by hammer the various fragments are said to hold together by threads of gold. The isl- and was discovered by the captain of a sealing schooner two years ago and it is he who will lead the fortune hunters to the new Fl Dorado.
 The schooner Free Trade, purchased from John H. Prien a few weeks ago, has been thoroughly fitted out for the expedition. She was put on the ways, and every one of her blanks bored to test their soundness. She has been braced thoroughly throughout, house has been built on deck, new sails have been bent and no expense spared in putting the schooner into first-class shape to carry the expedition to Alas kan waters. The cabin has been fitted up luXuriously. A bathroom has been built especially for the accommodation of the two English capitalists who will go up or her, and patent washstands have been put in each stateroom.
 The schooner will be commanded by Captain Charles A. Moore, and he will be accompanied by the Hon. H. Talbot Watson, Hon. George Page and an English mining expert. The capitalists will be accompanied by their valets, and as the cruise is expected to last about two months everything in the way of greater comforts is being taken along. Among the cargo will be two live sheepn several young pigs, turkeys. chickens, ducks and geese. All the fish required will be caught in Bering Sea, as the schooner is bound for one of the islands in the Aleutian group. Tobacco and cigars have been shipped in plenty and the lockers will not be destitute of champagne and other liquors.
 Captain Moore knows the exact loca- tion of the Island of Gold" and has a very good idea as to it's wealth. While cruising in Alaskan waters he one day landed on the island and while clamber- ing over it saw the croppings, with the gold plainly visible to the naked eye. The quartz seemed to be rotten and all along the face of the lodges pieces of the rock could be seen suspended by threads of gold. He made as good an investigation as time would permit and on his return to the sealing schooner took the latitude and longitude of the spot. On his return to San Francisco he tried to interest capitalists in his discovery. but in a measure failed. Those who were ready to go into the venture wanted to have everything their way, and so far as the captain could see he was to get all the glory and they were to get all the profits. After two months of waiting he gave up in disgust and went to England. He arrived there on a Tuesday. made all his arrangements with the Hons. Wat son and Page and was on his way back to America on the steamer Paris the following Saturday. He was followed soon after by the two capitalists. and they are now at the Palace Hctel awaiting the departure of the Free Trade.