Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-08
GOLD-HUNTERS BACK,
Richmond Men Return from the
Alaskan Treasure Fields,
THINK THEY HAVE A FORTUNE
Hope Their Claims Will Make Them
MilliOnairoS.
DANGER, uARDsHIrs, AND SUCCESS.

1hey VIII Go BACK.

DR.. r. f. Franklin and Mr.. George IT.
Griffith, two young men Of Richmond who
left here last April to seek a fortune in
Alaska, returned to this city Sunday
night
81 do not know whether we came back
millionaires. or not" said Dr. Franklin,
in his room at the Jefferson, last night,
in reply TO a question from a Dispatch
reporter. 81 think we located some very
valuable claims, which should make us a
fortune. 1t remains to be seen whether
we get millions out of them. But whether
We ever get millions or not, it is certain
we had experiences worth a fortune to
u.s." and Mr.. Griffith, seated opposite,
nodded a vigorous assent. and three
stories, agreed with them.
Leaving here April 3d. and Seattle May
18th, the two argonauts reached Kotze-
bue sound, north Of Bering strait, and
COO miles above the point where the
Yukon empties into the Pacific, after be-
ing out forty-seven days. at this point
they Joined a party of six others, and,
with four boats, they set off up the Noa-
TEX river in search of gold in the unex-
plored region about it's source.
A ROUGH TRIP Up.
eve had a terrible trip OF it up" said
the Doctor "The river is very rapid.
and we had to pull the boats, which were
loaded down with supplies. The country
is very rugged down to the rlver-banks.
and / tell you the work was something
awful. 1t took MS twenty-seven days to
get up the 800 miles we went, but it took
us only about twenty-four hours to come
back. We didn't get any gold. either.
one man found a little nugget, worth
cents. That was all the gold found. 1t
was extremely dangerous work coming
back down the Noatek, and more than
once as we were shooting the steep
rapids, where to have the boat strike one
of the black rocks sticking up out OF the
water meant the drowning Of all on board,
L about gave up hope of seeing Richmond
again.
but we pulled through safely. and
then we spent some time prospecting on
Golofnin bay. about sixty-fve miles north
of ST. Mchaels. Here We had luck l
think the claims which We located
will be Of great value.
THE country about Golofnin bay y
much better than along the Noatek. 1t
is fairly well timbered, chiefly with
spruce. and there is considerable vegeta-
ton. Turnips grow to an immense size.
and potatoes and cabbage do well"
GAME PLENTIFUL BUT SMALL.
Regarding the game. DR.. Franklin and
Mr.. Griffith said that the most OF II =
small The lynx, the mink, and the fox
are trapped and shot, and the bed in the
Doctors room was covered with the pelts
of AL these The Doctor also has seve-
raj skins of the white fox that are beau
tiful. almost beyond comparison All
the fur of animals i'm this climate are
very heavy and very silky. There are
also immense numbers OF geese, ducks,
and ptarmlgan about Golofnin.
1--WE saw millions OF FISH, SAID MT.
| Griffith. sometimes the bottom OF the
river is absolutely covered with them.
| The waters are filed with beautiful
mountain trout, grayling, and salmon, all
| growing to a size much larger than they
| ever reach i'm this climate Ana theh
| the gentlemen told some fish stories.
Regarding their fare while in the North,
the travellers said they enjoyed I'M
| mensely seal and walrus steak. l know
| IN does not sound tempting" said NJ.
| Griffith. but l never ate porterhouse
| that was sweeter." .
Dr Franklin and Mr. Griffith lived
chiefly. however. upon supplies taken
| from home. including eyaporated CAD
| baee potatnes. and onions, and crystal
| lized eggs. All these articles they pro-
| nouuced delicious, especially the latter.
DISCOVERY OF GEMS.
| However valuable may prove the goid
CLAIMS staked off by Mr.. Griffith and Or.
Franklin, it Is not improbable that a
| discovery OF bed Of gems OF q very
neculiar character may prove 10 be worth
more. Or. Franklin has number OF
| specimens of these in his possession uuii
| red stones the size of peach seed, WIN
| facets like diamonds, and in the centre d
| dun fire. when held TO the light. Nneh
| in San Francisco a few weeks ago the
Doctor had one of these cut and polished
| and 10 every appearance il Is magnlfl-
cent ruby of the first quality. The gems
are found embedded in gray rock much
like plums in a fruit cake. The finders
| will not divulge the location OF their
| treasure, but they are very hopefui OF lts
| proving of immense value.
| lrhev propose going back 10 Alaska next
wear. and developing all their claims, OF
| selling. IL offered satisfactory prices
| They left ST. Michaels September 9th, and
at that time the river was freezing nI
| behind them, so 1t viii not De possible
20 get into the country again before next
| May.
| Meanwhile. the returned gold-hunters
arc having a good time with their friends
| IN Richmond. and 1t is possible that the
| daIIehts OF civilization in the finest city
| I'm America will prove so seductive that
| they cannot be again enticed into the
| Arctic regions. even by the prospect o!
| millions OF gold.