Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-21
BOUND FOR THE GOLD FIELD
Organised Body Of Waahingtonians to Start
Tuesday for Alaska
Capital Stock OF Five Thousand Dol.
lars Paid In and Part Of Sup
plies Purchased.


tonians to go to the gold fields of Alaska
will leave here next Tuesday. going direct
to Seattle. which will be reached about the
4th of February. The men will go to work
at once They will not remain at Seattle
until the tide turns toward Dawson City.
neither will they attempt to 20 to Dawson
City, at least not for months to come.
They propose to prospect in new fields, UNI
der information which they claim is of
great value, and which they hope will re-
suit in fortunes for each.
There are ten men, and they are organ
lied under the title of the "Co-operatfve
Prospecting Company" The capital stock
OF the company is 5000, divided into ten
parts of fifty shares of SO each to every
member. The ten men own an equal
amount Of stock. and every cent of the cap
ital is paid in. The signed articles of
agreement have been recorded in this city,
and copies of 1t are held by the members.
The company is made up of the following,
all young men of robust helth and enter
prising disposition:
DR.. r. I. Smith, treasury employee; DIR.
Harry Cockerille, dentist; s. E. Cross ma
chinist; J. s. Randall, bookbinder; Edgar
Myers, tile setter; ]. L. Sumner, shoemak-
CT; Robert H. Wade, c. H. Claudy, a we'll
known athlete; R. 1. Dennison, Insurance
agent; d. II. Allen, mechanic. Harry
cochran OF the Cochran Hotel is a super
llumerary, having asked to go with the
company at the last minute.
The object of the company is to do a
trading, prospecting and mining business,
but the chief aim is, of course, to make a
fortune in the gold fields of Alaska The
articles of agreement fix the life Of the
company at eighteen months, to be extend
ed II deemed advisable. All expenses are
to be borne out of the company treasury
and all profits are to be shared equally.
In going on such a mission, and facing so
many dangers, 1t was decided that the ma
jority should rule on all questions submit
ted There are no officers, as generally
known, manager and assistant manager
transacting the business of the company.
The manager Is to have charge of the
books and business, but cannot pay out
money except on vote of the company.
In fact, every thing is in the hands of the
majority. In addition to these officers is a
storekeeper, who is to have charge of the
provisions and stores of the expedition.
He will issue the rations and shall see TO
their preservation.
Amy member of the company who with
draws before the time fixed will do so at
lis own loss as the money he has paid in
will go to the other members. unless ma
iority decides to the contrary. One Of the
articles of the company provides:
Each member shall take oath that he will
abide, to the best of his ability, by the
articles of agreement, as well as all rules
and amendments adopted pursuant thereto,
and all decisions rendered in accordance
Herewith.
ANY member who willfully or Intention
ally violates his oath shall be dealt with as
a majority Of the company may elect. II
the conduct of any member shall become
such as in the judgment Of the majority
warrants his dismissal from the company,
and they so vote, such action shall operate
to terminate his rights as member. He
property and rights Of the company as the
majority shall determine. and their deci-
sion shall be accepted as final"
How 1t Was Started.
The idea Of such a company originated
with DIR. r. I. Smith, treasury employee.
He was once in Alaska. He has been elect
ed manager for the company. J. s.. Ran
dali is assistant manager, and DR.. Cock
Grille is storekeeper. The enterprise was
inaugurated last July, when meetings of
young men interested were held at intervals.
Fifteen men at first expressed desire to
go, but five dropped out, leaving the num-
Der named. For five or six months meet
ings have been held several times week
at the headquarters Of the company, 10O6 F
street. These meetings were of great use
fulness in preparing the members for the
work ahead. Lectures on geology, miner
alogy and mining laws have been delivered
by different persons possessing expert
knowledge of these subjects. A number of
the lecturers have been old and experienced
miners. The study of mineralogy was aid
ed by collection of minerals, and talks on
modern methods of mining. Models of
sluice boxes were fixed up in the rooms
What the Manager Says.
"Our intention, now" said DR.. Smith to
Star reporter, sis to go direct to the mouth
of the Copper river. after leaving Seattle,
and we will spend no more time in that
city than is necessary to complete our out
fits. We will prospect around the mouth
of the Copper river and Cooks inlet. You
see we can begin in February, because this
is on the southwestern coast Of Alaska
which is bathed by the Japanese current
preventing ice in large or inconvenient
quantities. We will find fish and game
plentiful. Just as soon as the ice breaks in
the Copper river we will begin our journey
up that stream to the interior, where we
are confident Of striking 1t rich in new
fields. I have talked with men from that
section who found gold in paying quanti-
ties"
The journey up the Copper river will be
made in boats built in sections When the
party finally reaches q point where 1t de-
Cfdes to camp and begin prospecting the
boats will be taken to pieces and turned in
to sluice boxes. If the prospecting within
radius Of five miles reveals no paying
quantities of gold the sluice boxes will
continued in this way. A small dory will
go ahead of the boats will anchor, and the
boats will be pulled up the stream by ropes
Among Hostile Indians.
DIR. Smith says the section of Alaska to
be explored by the company has not been
visited by many white men because the
Indians are somewhat hostile. They will
not attack a camp Of five or ten men, but
fight smaller parties and run them out of
the country. DR.. Smith believes this is a
good evidence of riches In the country as
the Indiana sell gold for what they want
To protect themselves the party will be
literally provided with rifles, shotguns
pistols and ammunition.
Equipment of the Party.
The party will be well equipped. A medi-
cine chest will be provided, in addition to
other things. A large supply Of tobacco
has already been laid In. The groceries
will be kept in canvas bags. These bags
we're bought by the company some time
ago and made waterproof by preparation
Of linseed oil and parafine wax Provis-
Ions will be packed in these. A dental out
fit and shoemaker's outfit are to be taken
along.
Many of the things needed have been
bought here. Two members of the COM
pany went to Chicago Monday to buy other
supplies there. They will join the COM