The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-25

Harry L. Jennings Of this city was
amcng the first to succumb to the
Klcndike fever after the reports OF the
remarkable finds at Dawson City We're
received here, and along in August OF
last year he was numbered among the
sold-seekers from Zion who set their
faces towards the frozen regions of
Alaska.
Intending to reach the new goiconda
by the water route, he took steamer to
s. Michaels, where he joined a party
in the construction of a small stern
Wheel steamer in which they embarked
fO~ the remainder of the journey. but
as good fortune would have it the boat
was caught in the ice at point about
400 miles below Dawson City, at a place
now called Woodwork, not far from
MinCok poStoffice. or what is better
known as Rampant City. which is now
his headquarters.
Since leaving St Michaels nothing has
been heard of the wanderer and seeker
after wealth galore until a few days
ago. when a letter was received from
him, dated at Woodwork. and posted
al Minook on Nov. "A. 1897.
The letter is a most interesting one,
and in it Mr.. Jennings gives the par
IlcUidlS OF MS experience since ledNlnS
the coast. and his legion of friends and
acquainTances IN Salt Lake will be
pleased to learn that he is enjoying ex-
ceilert health. and that he has been
blessed with q fair measure Of success,
with the indications that he is on the
road 20 fortune.
AT Woodwork. where the boat caught
in the ice. which is a point about so
miles below Minook. Mr.. Jennings built
himself a warm and comfortable cabin
before doing anything else. when he
Joined Il party of 30 and started out on
prospecting expedition on one or more
Of the tributaries of the Yukon. and on
Jackson creek, about 20 miles from his
camp he located a claim and found
that there were colors in the gravel.
Soon after he
FOUND 4 GOLD NUGGET
valued 1T p cents on his claim. and
this started a stampede for that local
ity. which is now pretty we'll staked
out, although no one has yet reached
bedrock on mis- G;gginss. The outlook
Is very faVorab bic however. as the aver
age is sc cents TO TIE pan. Mr.. Jen-
nireS built another cabin on Jackson
creek. and also made valuable promis-
ing locations on Hunter creek, in the
same nejshbcrhood.
Mr.. Jennings letter was written to !
his mother, and in it he states that it [
was his intention Ia build another cabin /
1t Minook. which is the first gold camp 4
struck in going UP the Yukon
He then goes on 70 say that there I
is considerable excitement on Little !
Ninook creek, and that the owner of |
No. in this camp had taken out one (
hve-ounce gold nugget and one weigh |
inE eight ounces. the pan in which the /
eighU-oGnce nugget was found contain |
iny gold dust ard nuggets to the value /
Of Sl9.75. while On this claim. the aver !
age yield was $50 4 day to the man. !
although bedrock had not been reached. 1
This gold. My. Jennings states. is of 1
higher grade than the product OF the /
Klondike diggingS. although not as /
plentiful SO fac as a. the Dawson City /
placeTs. although, in this respect. depth
may tell a different story. and Mr. /
Jennings is highly pleased and thor /
oUshly satisfied that he has struck it
all right. and that in due time he will |
have gold Ito throw at the birds" as
the saying is. and he is sanguine that .
in the new discoveries there is the MAX
ing of a good camp.
Mr.. Jennings looks upon the fact that
he was not able to reach Dawson CITY
as
BLESSING IN DISGUISE.
as word just received from there by
him was To the effect that there was a
great scarcity of provisions. and that
people were starving and suffering for
the necessarieS of life while al Wool
worth there was an aburdant supply
As to himself. he was in the best OF
health-neVer felt better or stronger in
his life. while the intense cold. the
Thermometer often registering 30 de-
grees beloy. did not seem to affect him
in the lea 81 anc would not anyone /
providing they used due precaution.
such as going as Lightly clothed as pos
sible while travelling. and the., wrap
ping up warmly when stopping, and at
the end of a journey always taking care
TO put on dry clothing al night.
1T Is no fun Mr.. Jennings went on
to say in his letter. TO pull sled all
day loaded with 200 pounds of provis-
ions and supplies, and TO break the trail
at the same time. and yet I have done
this. and would not feel as tired at
night IS l often have been at home af-
ter doing some light work. In fact. [
can run after dog team all day and
feel fresh and strong at night, and II
have acquired quite a reputation as a
man that is hard To down on the trail"
Already MinOCS is quite a camp and
NJ. Jennings expresses the belief that
he is ahead OF the swim. and that he is
the owner Of some pretty good ground:
and he says that people from above are
beginning to flock in. hunting for pro-
visions, one man. from Stewart river
stating that he had lots Of gold on his
claim but that he had To leave or
starve. and Mir. Jennings is talking of
returning with him when he goes back
TIE above extracts from the letter
above referred to were furnished The
Herald by his brother Joe Jennings.
cashier at DinwoOdey & Co. and the re- :
suit If the receipt Of the epistle is quite
likely 10 cause a vacancy in this es-
as Mr. Jennings has a /
touch of the gold fever. and il would
not be surprising, as soon as naviga-
ton opens on the Yukon. if Joe did not
join the throng that is now heading l
northward with the idea of joining his {
brother at Minook.
BOSTONIANS IN NERCUR