The Dickinson press., 1898-09-03
4 COMFORTABLE FORTUNE.

WHIST u. 6. Beckett and Two Otter Dick.
iasoa Gentlemen Have ObtaiNed for Their
Toll and Patience the Past Elshteea
Months Ia AIaske.
There was general rejoicing in Dickin-
son last Sunday night when it was known
that Hugh F. Beckett was to arrive on
No. 2 from Alaska. Especially was this
so at the Beckett residence on Barnes
street, where a wife, three boys and a lit
tie girl awaited his return. Mr.. Beckett
one of the best known men in Stark
county, having come here with the earli-
est settlers. He is a man much respect
ed, and it has been the belief among his
acquaintances that if any persons found
wealth in Alaska it would be he and his
two associates-all honest, steady, hard
working men.
1t was in February, 1897, that H. F..
Beckett, Welton Mcdonald and Smith
Dobson set out for the Klondike district
in Alaska. Mr.. Beckett in company with
Harry Gruschus, had spent u months in
Alaska in 1896, on Forty Mile and
O'Brien creeks, and after coming out
learned of the riches of the Klondike
country. The party went in overland
via Chilcoot pass. At the head of the
lakes they built a scow and aoated down
to Dawson City, arriving the first of June.
Dawson then had a population of 1000.
1t has a population now of 10000 to 49,
600.
August list, Sulphur creek was staked
and Mr.. Beckett was one of the first men
on the ground. Dave Foote, a former
partner of MI. Beckett in Dickinson, who
had spent the previous winter in Dawson,
was also there, taking Noe Mr.. Beckett
took No. $ and selected 7 and 4for
Messrs.M Nc Donald and Dobson, who we're
to be out from Dawson in a day or two;
but before Mr.. Beckett could get his part
ners 1.-THE three Dickinson men are in
partnership to the claims other pros;
pectors had come down the stream and
lost no time in stalking. They had
prospected every foot of the land for 50
miles along Sulphur and were satisfied
to take Nos. 4 and 7. MI. McDohald
took No. 66 on Sulphur creek and Mt.
Dobson took II below the fork on
Eureka Before taking these claims
the party had bought for $1,000 No. &c
A below on Bonanza creek and had
done some work on the fraction.
Last winter Mr.. Foote joined the
Dickinson party in building a log cabin
on the division line between Nos. 5 and
E on Sulphur, where the four men mined
on the two claims, dividing the profits
of the cleanup. Seven shafts we're sunk
on Mr.. Becket's claim, and the work ol
the winter was more for the purpose Of
prospecting and finding as definitely a:
possible the true worth of the mine.
than for getting out the greatest guam
tity possible of the precious metal. Mr.
Beckett does not make any Statement
regarding the value of their spring clean
up, but it must have been a large amount
running into the thousands tor each man
since it is an established fact that til,
high values placed on Sulphur propertie
are largely based on the Beckett part,
dumps. During February, Big Alex Nc
Donald, one of the richest men in Alask;
today, paid 100000 in cash for No. 2, ad
joining Mr.. Foote'S claim. This was be
fore the cleanup and since that tim
Sulphur property has advanced in pric
a great deal and many claims hav'
changed hands. Expert agents of
German syndicate, which is ~investini
100000 in Alaska mines, have take
an option on No. 5 for $4,000. The
have until the list of January in which t
report to headquarters in Berlin and Sc
cure the property at the above figures
) Mr.. Foote has also given the same kin
of an option on No. 6. Mr.. Beckett say
that from the extensive prospecting tia
has been done on No. 5 he knows tina
;, $4,000 is far below its true value; bu
inasmuch as his company has two othe
claims and a fraction-all rich in gol
5 lit might be as we'll for them to di
. pose of one and hold the balance:
On No. 80 "A two men worked thre
' months and a half on a lay last white
. The cleanup gave nearly $4,000 wort
:. of gold, which made Messrs. Becke
I Mcdonald and Dobson a little less tha
$1,000 as their share. This fraction
about 4 the size of a full claim, ar
r Mr.. Beckett says that he knows that
a would hold out at the same rate for
years.
This summer Smith Dobson bui
: a log cabin on No. II. Welton McDo
q aid, who. by the way, is a healthier ar
heavier man now than when he left tn
town, remains in Alaska another yea
at least, to look after the propertie
. Smith Dobson is on his way home, ha'
: ing stopped off at Anaconda to visit h
E brother, Rev. Chas. E. Dobson.
s In 81 the Beckett party bought a TOW
lot, pretty we'll out, in Dawson for SIC
A log cabin, I6x2o, was erected, viii,
0 would rent for $50 per month. The ci
n built out to this lot and tits now vall,
. at $4,000. This was not the only THU
). in which their foresight was good: Tn
= took in a stock of drugs, cigars, toba
co and provisions, etc, amounting
is 5000 pounds in all, and sold what tn
II did not need at agood advance. The
dog team-worthless dogs picked up
the streets of Dickinson-brought the
: $500.