The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-15
At HIS TOUCH
ROCKS YIELDED
UP THEIR GOLD
A Klondike NabOb
Comes to This City.
WILLIAM LIGGETTS LUCK
THREE TIMES HE STRUCK GOLD
ON THE YUKON.
The Last Strike Melted Him Hun
dreds of Thousands in Nuggets
and Dust-His Ad-
ventures.
THREE TIMES HE STRUCK GOLD
ON THE YUKON.

On tha train from Portland there Will
arrive this morning in San Francisco one
of the most noted celebrities OF the
Klondike. The man in question is VIII
liam I.fggett formerly the partner OF
saltwater Bill, but now an independent
lv wealthy Ell Dorado king, with nun
dreds of thousands of yellow money at his
command. He is a quiet, unassuming
Croesus. with none of The swagger OF
Sviftwater Bill in his composition and a
deep-seated aversion to notorlety
Iiggett is just out from Dawson, hav-
ing reached Seattle four days ago. He
has had an adventurous nine years ca
reer in Central Alaska and the BRUSH
Northwest Territory, which reads very
nonch like a romance. The facts as given
ara cleaned from one of Liggett's COM
rades in Alaska.
In the spring of 1889 Liggett entered the
Yukon Valley for the first time, packing
his supplies on his own back over the
Chilkoot Pass. He was a farmers son,
from Buchanan, west virginia, but 1t dio
not take him long to secure profitable
placer claim on Forty Mile Creek, where
gold-digging had just commenced. Later
| he made an adventurous trip with the
Frank Leslie Exploring Expedition across
the heart of unknown Alaska to the
| Tanana River. The next year he located
| q claim on Birch Creek and cleaned up
$1,000 at the end of the first season. TAX Ak
-
! to Buchanan, West Virginia, and, sailed
| it down in real estate. Then ne went
| back to the Yukon for more, and trying
Miller Creek this time secured another
S6OO0 Out he came with this gold, again
| Sailing his profits down in West. Virginia
and for a third time returned TO the tn,
| Yukon. you see, l knew good thing
| when l saw it," remarked Liggett one
| day, land 1 thought that where national
| banks were lying around loose, was
| suitable place to be. l intended to stay
| by Alaska until l had secured a fortune
| If it took twenty years"
When the Klondilke gold was dicoyered
| Liggett was back on his Miller creek
claim. Hearing of the discovery after a
| lapse Of several weeks, he abandoned ms
claim and about $1,000 worth OF TOOLS ana
Started down the Yukon for Dawson;
When he arrived there all of the good
J, claims were staked. Liggett was not to
up Bonanza and finally Ell Dorado creeks.
| inspecting the various shafts. Reaching
No. Is, Fl Dorado, he jumped down the
shaft hastily glanced at tae and then
| turning to the owner of the claim offered
him $40 600 for it. No such price had been
named up to that time Ior i tne cHSplcest
cepted. Liggett was given an hour IN
which to make his offer good. He had
but s4S in his pocket, but ne was "a a rus
he made successful application for $4,000
| loan. Skipping back to the claim he
handed the $1,000 in dust to the the owner and
$35 900 should be paid within thirty days,
! and in default the $4,000 was to be forfeited
and the claim surrendeTed. Two hours
and two other partners to- assist him
in mining on the claim. The four of them
worked night and day, In shifts of two
seven days had elapsed. when they had
| the remaining s35 600 in hand and paid it
| to their creditor. Liggett had reserved