The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-11-18
Back From Copper River.

L. l.. Oueitou, w dSnlugIOn pioneer,
returned on the Excelsior yesterday
from the Copper river district. With
ten others he made the trip from Ton
sina river down the Copper river to
Orca, distance of 210 miles, in an
open boat, and several times narrowly
escaped drowning. The party left
Tonsina river October 5, and at that
time the thermometer registered 5 de-
grees below zero. The river along the
edges was beginning to freeze, which
would indicate that by this time Cop
per river is closed for navigation.
Mr.. Shelton is we'll known among
the old settlers of the state, the town
ofShelton being named after his father.
Before going north he removed his
family to Orting, where they are at
present. In company with James
Marker, w. d. MCGEE and w. Bruce,
all of Tacoma, Mr.. Shelton left for the
Copper river country last March. After
prospecting for a short time on this
side OF the glacier they went across to
the country beyond. The poled up
the Copper river until Tonsina river
was reached, and once more went to
prospecting. The results were very
favorable, so much so that his three
partners will stay there and work the
ground this winter.
Like other prospectors of that coun-
try, they got on ground which was
very miry, and the winter is the only
time that it can be worked. Shortly
after finding colors on Tonsina river
the party went eighty miles in north
erly direction aud struck the Tazlina
river. They prospected, but did not
find anything. Others went further
on to some of the tributaries of the
Tazlina, and found plenty of color.
They thought that the ground was
very good and returned to their caches
at Lake Klutena and intended to work
the new ground this winter.
Mr.. Shelton and his party discover
ed new creek, which they named
Salmon creek and named the district
Shelton. Papers were brought out
and forwarded to Sltka, where they
will go on file. The ground is very
promising, and the party expects to
get good results. Another district was
organized on Quartz creek. A few
nuggets were found, and many pros
pectors have built log cabins and will
work there during the coming winter.
Mr.. Shelton is we'll pleased with the
country and will return there in the
spring.
In speaking of the situation in the
Copper river district, he said: "Out
OF the $500 who went in there about
| $50 remain. Most of them are win
tering at the following FIVE places:
Lake Klutena; five miles below the
lake at the rapids; Copper Center;
Tazlina river and Valdes. Out of all
who went in there were very few prac-
tical miners. To show you how much
they really knew about roughing it, /
will give you an incident. In going
down the river they would pile their,
boats full of stuff, and with man
steering and another with a pole they
would set off, The rivers are very
swift, and instead of taking oars they
would depend solely on the poles.
When one has only pole and the
boat is going pretty swift, there is
really no way to steer clear of the
many rocks In the streams. They
would go in boats not prepared for the
many difficulties, and the first thing
one would hear of them would be that
the boat had struck rock, capsized
and the outfits lost. All that could be
done then would be for the shipwreck-
ed to leave the country, and when
they arrived in the states they would
tell tales of hardships and give the
country black eye. Some of the peo-
pie would be SO utterly incapable of
taking their outfits in boats that they
would sit on top of the load and let
the boat take care OF itself.
ssWith the exception of the mosqul-
toes the country is very good one to
live in. The Indians are kind and
glad to see the white men. Of course
there are not many Indians in there,
only between 800 and 500, / was told.
The head of the tribe is called Nickel
Lie. He resides near the mouth of
abe Klutena river. A few miles below
him on the Copper is Stick Wong, the
trader for the tribe. Nickel-Lie in
formed me that few years ago a di-
sease broke out among the natives and
over one-half of the tribe died. The
winter before it was SO cold that many
of the wild animals died. If the pros
poets turn out all right this winter, as
is anticipated, next year will witness
a ew rush to that country.--P.-I.