The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-25
BOUND FOR THE
GOLD FIELDS.
Big Party OF Easterners Arrive ON
Their Way to the YukOn-Hope
TO Make Their Fortunes.


A party of men from st. James, Mimi.
arrived in the city yesterday from ST.
Paul with a very complete and expensive
mining outfit, and VIII leave for the klo--
dixie on June l. The members OF the
party represent enough trades TO run .
town. They will take a two years supply
OF provisions and during that time expect
either to find enough gold TO enrich them
selves, or at least TO have made sufficient
Investigation TO be convinced that their
me,hc1 OF mining IS . failure
1t is the intention Of the party TO mine
the bottom OF the smaller streams along
the upper Yukon The theory OF the party
IS that all gold has been taken and Is now
being carried 10 river beds. and that all
OF the placer mines thus far discovered
were once river beds One of the party
who was interviewed yesterday said:
We believe that there is a large amount
of gold in the river beds OF the Klondike-
Yukon territory, and as there has been no
means yet devised 10 secure that gold. 1t
still remains there. We believe that We
have hit upon the right method to get at
this undiscovered wealth and IL We are not
successful, We Will be greatly disap-
pointed party. A.,
I'VE are well prepared to carry our
method into execution. Our mining outfit
was purchased by ourselves, and the people
who are interested in our project at a
cost of $4,000. 1t includes a boat, sixteen
feet beam. seventy feet long, drawing
only fourteen inches OF water when loaded.
Our boat is also constructed SO that it can
be used as a dredge.
1t is propelled by steam and Ave engines
are carried. The boat viii, be put together
a st. Michael and from there we expect
TO go up the Yukon river without any
difficulty. When We arrive at a favorable
rocking tributary, where we think there Is
a possibility OF gold existing in the bed of
i, our boat will be anchored. the dredge
put TO work. and the bottom VIII be
cleaned of sand down TO bedrock. where
nuggets and grains of gold are supposed
to be concealed. When this Is done an
experienced diver. who accompanies us.
will be put to work. 1t will be his duty to
take 10 the bottom Of the stream one
hundred electric lights of sixteen candle
power each and make a thorough and
exhaustive exploration. The diver will be
equipped with all necessary Appliances to
get the gold, including small pick and
shovel and receptacle. With the lights
TO show him where 1t is, the diver will
be able TO search out and secure all of
the gold that may be concealed in the So
called pockets at the bottom OF the river.
"Our party consists of II. D. Stoner and
Robert Burgess, both mining experts;
William Manning, engineer: Bud Morri-
son. machinist and engineer; Capt. John
McGregor. river pilot: Thomas Anderson,
mining superintendent; George Cronch,
secretary; Joseph Sperl. experienced diver;
]. T. Fisher, general superintendent;
David Rempel, assistant superintendent:
w T. Bordeno. in charge OF commissary.
Mr.. Fisher is the owner OF. the largest
hotel at ST. James, and Mr.. Bordeno, is
a banker and one OF the hackers Of the
enterprise.
Our company is known as the st.
James-A.aska Gold Mining Company and
We are Incorporated under the laws of the
state Of Minnesota. Included in our equip
ment IS three steam engines, besides thu
tow which are to be used to propei the
boat, portable sawnill. an electric light
plant, centrifugal, pump. an elevator
dredge lifting a square yard OF sand
every minute. one divers outfit, picks and
large number OF other tools. The outfit
weighs ninety-two tons and the cost OF
having IL shipped from Seattle to ST.
Michael will be 5000. Our company has
a prospector now In Alaska and he is cross
ing to the destination Of the party via
Hooper's bay and the great glaciers.
We will purchase portion of our out
fit in Seattle