The Worcester spy., 1899-09-14
POOR MIKE BRISS0TlTE.
Professor Hill, the Guide of the Worcester
Party, Dies From Exhaustion-A Ter
rble and Tragic Story of Hard
ship and Privations In the
Alaskan Gold Fields.

were lost and starving. The dog found
his way to where California party was
camped. They got the letter but before
the two men were found they were
frozen to death
Prof. Hill. the original guide of the
Worcester party, died from hardship,
exposure and exhaustion. He gave him
as decent burial as we could afford
near where he lay, and then buried a
big Siwash Indian who died of scurvy.
Nearly everybody had scurvy did not
have it, and think I can stand this cli-
mate as well as most of men.
But l have some pains in my arms
probably rheumatism or sprains from
pack carrying. We have no doctors here
or. any professors, but can learn a
great deal from the Indians, and the
bears and even the owls here can teach
lessons i'll wisdom and sound philos-
ophy, and | listen to their reasoning. I
am well and strong and have lived a
temperate and very frugal life. In COM
ing out 1 lived ten consecutive days on
wheat flapjacks. Sc l think l could live
cheap enough to work for any corpora
! tion.
About the gold l went after: 1t is
somewhat Elusive; something like Capt
| Kidds treasure which a great many
men nearly found but not quite But I
| have this satisfaction of seeing gold,
and have washed it out, but not in great
/ Quantities. | have two claims which l
think will be all right ! have brought
/ the stuff here and sen. some to the gov
ernment mint at Seattle for assay and
expect by the 9th of September to have
report. have fallen m with mining ex-
| perts looking for copper. l can locate
copper quick and have found marble in
plenty. and onyx as good as Mexican.
There are hundreds of miners coming
| out to the coast now. None have done
we'll. This Yu2atat is quite a place.
There is government recording office
here where we can record claims. Not
very far from mere found gold in the
quartz, but could not work 1t to pay
without machinery; also platinum
There is some excitement yet about
| gold.
The missionary here is going to take
a trip with me. We have everything
ready for start. Even missionaries will
turn aside after the present evil world
and covet that which destroys. The
missionary establishment is a good
thing for men going in the country. This
| is country chat will try mems souls
! l hardly dare look back upon all the
miseries and sufferings we have passed
through. l feel better now that it is all
/ over and / am at the coast and could
| take steamer for Seattle any week.
| l am living on the fat of the land. or
rather the fat Of the sea; have plenty
of CLAIMS and seal oil.
Before leave here intend to go to
Cook Inlet and l am not sure whether
l will go to Seattle and stay this winter
or go TO some friends in Montana to
enjoy that fine climate where the ther-
mometer seldom registers lower than so
! degrees below zero
| About the richest man I see here is
an Indian from the coast, VINO has
thought in some seal and other skins
and sold them for $1,000. If he is not
the richest he walks around most in
dependent with his hands in his pockets
and puts on millionaire airs.
In any event | shall stay in civiliza-
ton this winter and go back to the
! Klondike in the spring