Stikeen River journal., 1899-03-25
GENER AL NEWS.
A synopsis of Happenings m the Outside World as Cleaned
 from Exchanges.


 '.An assay of black sand found in the iiootallnqna river. Alaska made hy Dr. Willis C.. Everett of the Smith sonian institute. is said to show. that one ton of it carries 47177G worth of plat mum besides iron oxides. gold worth Sl02.I. two pounds of tin. two pounds ot copper and on" troy ounce of irod- osmine.
 The great value is said to be in T r yield of platinum. which is extensive, Hscd in electrical construction and d,r- t-tlN Platinum k found only in tn. rai mountians of Russia. from which Il is exported to this and other con,it- rirs. Chicago 'Tribanc.
 Ii Is HOW practically certain that tea freight steamers have been lost on ,h,. Atlantic during. recent storms. This involves the sacrifice of more than ..,,,u lives. and S2,o0o. ooO capital. Of ' that some of the ecreWs may have been picked up by ,low-eong sailing vessels. bound for far distant ports. or that one or two of the missing ships may still b.. drifting disabled from the usual lanes of ocean travel. but the probabil- ities are heavily against that hope.
 The Casca Is undergoing extensive repairs. preparatory for the new years work. to commence in May. She will run as she did last year. on the Stick inc. but it is expected the Nahleen and Sybel will be taken to the Yukon. Capt. Gray and Contractor ". ]. Ste phens were over at the yard yesterday making d survey of the Nahleen witt a view to getting ready for service. and with the two Works-that on the Casca and that on the Nahleen-yoin. on simultainously, together with the improvements being made iu the yard and the stray vessels that will be re- paired the yard give promise of being very busy for weeks to come. The Casca's repairs include new stem. considerable planking, new knucklcs and extra frames. s.-Nictoria Colonist.
 In a letter just received from Mr. Montague Martin. dated Glenora. Feb ruary 25th, he says:
 "Three weeks ago d case of scurvy was reported to Judge Porter. the sul- ferer being an unfortunate Klondker. Since that date quite an epidemic has broken out. which has necessitated Judge Porter opening a hospital, the headquarters being at Glenora.
 "Thirteen eases have come under Dr.. Layton $ care. Dr.. Layton is gradii-- ate of the College of Medicine, Detroit. Mich. and is d most efficient medical officer. Mr. Louis Watson has been put in as nurse and superintendent Mr. Watson has always d pleasant greeting and is kind and gentle in his manners. When 1 visited the hospital I was struck by the general checrfulncss of the humble sanitarium.
 'The hospital naturally, is merely a log cabin, but unlike most miners cabins. it has plenty of light, and an even tenn perature is kept up. The patients seemed to be having really good time they looked cheerful: color was return- ing to their cheeks, and satisfactory progress toward recovery was shown in the interest many were taking in the books and journals that had been sup piled them.
 "Malcolm Maclean, the head of the police. has deen instrumental in bring ing the patients in, one from the half- way house on the Teslin trail. one from the Hudson Bay post, several from the Taltan. three local. and one from Glac- fer creek. I think to Judge Porter much praise is due for his humane or ganization."