The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-02
Government Exploring Party Gets
Colors on Every Greek.
CAPT. AeERcRoMBlE RETURNS
HIS Party 81 Miles Out and Must Have
pack Trsfns-Cooper, Of Colorado.
GETS IS Cents Per Pan ON the
Tonafna Three Hundred and
Thfrty-eight Paying Claims ON
the Clutches Near yalles Pass.

The steamer Valencia arrived in port at
o'clock last evening from Copper river
and Cook inlet with . number OF passen-
gers. including Capt. AbercroEnbie and
DR.. John s. Kulp OF the United States
army Capt. Abercrombie is at the
head OF the Copper river exploration par
ty and is back after a pack train. The
government outfit IS now sixty-seven
miles in the interior. He brings the graft
flying news that all the prospective min
ers who started over the glacier are now
well 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 it has proven
the country to be rich in god. He reports
that good finds have been made on the
Tonsina and Konssna rivers. Monte Girls
to and Solomon gulches are being worked
near Valdes by q number OF miners.
Capt. Abercrombie saved a 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 q 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 had
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 a 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. ]. Cooper. of Cripple Greek. at the
head of large party. is reported by Capt.
Abercrombie to have made a rich strike
on the Tonsina. They We're getting 10
cents TO the pan from surface dirt. The
water Is not yet low enough to enable
them to reach bedrock. A surveyor named
Willard had built sluiee boxes on the
Tonsina where he found coarse gold. He
is preparing to work the bars. According
to Capt. Abercrombie thirty-eight claims
have been staked out on Monte Cristo
and Solomon gulches, 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 II impossible
to keep shafts free from water. The men
were making from $3.50 10 $3.50 per day.
When seen by a Post-Intelllgencer re-
porter last night. Capt. Abercrombie said
regarding the passes:
THE snow is practically gone from
valdes glacier and the trail used this
winter by over 5000 prospective miners,
will never be used again. The side of the
glacier near Copper river IS badly honey
comhed and the snow entirely gone.
Nearly every one is at Lake Tasnuna.
They can do little without pack horses
very slow.
"Abercrombie pass across the glacier is
now being used. The number that had
gone over up 10 the time left was $50
Packer Young, OF Salt Lake. had esgh-
teen horses at work and carries outfits to
the summit at four cents per pound 1t
IS forty-six miles 10 Copper river over
the Abercromb!e pass and the elevation
~ the summit is but 1900 feet In August
the prospectors Will use the Lowe river
pass. which cuts through the mountains
ar an elevation Of 900 feet Some four
teen miles OF trail viii have 20 be cut
through slate. hut the trail can be used
until the snow begins to slide next wear.
II expect TO go back north in about ten
days II can get a pack train together In
that time. We can go no further until We
get IL We pulled our outfits In on sleds
until the snow melted away. Then we
were stuck. will go In over Ahercrou-
bic pass. / tell you It's hard luck TO be
stationed up In Alaska when all this war
"a going on. My regiment Is now down
in Mobile and IS likely 20 go 10 Cuba any
time. while / have nothing in sight bu.
a winter OF hard work IN the interior OF
Alaska. Net a single line 81 fighting in
prospect unless the Swedes ard the Indians
start war"
The Valencia left valdes May q and
Cook inlet May e. She had a pleasan.
trip down. Purser Macondray reports
that ten lives were believed 20 have been
lost in the Summit snowside, told OF ex-
elusiveiy IN the Post-!ntel.igencer Two
bodies only have been recovered beside
ere man who died on the Morgan City.
Seven outfits were found near the sum
nit whose owners did not appear 10 claim.
them. TIE men were camping together.
and st Is believed that they lost their lives
M3oondray id roe learn their names.
The Valencia had the following pass
euEfrz.