The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-13

ious hurry to do n lot OF unnecessary |
things they would take time to pause |
and listen. He returned with a mug |
get found at Cape Nome whose value |
is seventy-fve cents. the only reward |
of his labors.
Ana yet after all this. Vetter wants |
to go back TO the Klondke!
Dr NCtter left Scranton March Il, |
1893. with a large party extensively |
equipped with every thing calculated |
to make life endurabe in the Elon-
dixie. They reached Seattle April 49, |
For various reasons the party separ-
ated at different points. Nearly all tho
Scranton residents returned months
ago. Finally but ono of the original
number remained with Mr. Netter
man named Sweet, who did not prove
TO be exactly what could be desired in
n bosom companion far from civiliza-
| tion. They left Kotzehue sound July
s. and going up the Selewik river came
upon q vessel which was destined to
play a prominent part in the doctors
| subsequent career
| 1t was the schooner Elk strand
ed, the stream being too low for further
| navigation at the time. The two men
| i'm their little boat pulled against the
| current up u Slllull'I llNtl WI 4 Illll-
drcd miles, where they hoped to strik,
| a find.
| UNDESIRABLE COMPANION.
Sometimes one walked along the
| stream towing the fral craft as the
| other steered. Usually the task of tow
| ing fell to The doctor who was re-
warded by complaints and grumbinPs
from his partner Frequently they
landed to prospect. Color as the
gold is called. was found constantly
| but not in paying quantities. BY hard
work n gold seeker might have secured
s? a day, bu5 probably no more. All
this time though in midsummer it
| was necessary tu wear oVercOats, AMI
it was impossible to walk unprotected
by rubber boots unless over frozen
ground so fun is the earth Of water.
Finally discouraged in their search
I'm that locality they turned about ana
went back down the river, stopping
again at the Elk which was n-Oored In
a lagoon. where they had left some
goods. The doctor had determined
To- part from his companion az soon as
they should go up the Selewik river,
where they had stored other goods.
They came across three men hired by
Major Ingraham of Seattle, and set
ont prospecting.
| Sweets conduct had become so men
aCing that the doctor determined to
attach himself to the other party.
which was a wise stroke, as it was but
short time when Sweet threatened
his life at the point of a revolver when
the doctor refused to divide the small
sum of money which he still possessed.
The doctor had purchased all the stores
together with the boat tent and stove.
and had also loaned his partner 5000.
The latter as final indication of HIS
malevoence. seized upon his bonefac-
tor as he had his arms Claspcd about
the boat oars and assaulted him fur
iously, endea voring TO push him over
board, and finished by brutally beating
the helpless man.
CLAD TO QUIT THEM.
The division of the stores was made
at last and the partner did secure the
coveted money. During the exciting
controversy the three prospeCtorS
looked on with APPARENT Indifference and
DR.. Notter considered himself lucky
to escape their company az they, with
his former partner travelled overland
aud he proceeded by boat.
| DR.. Netter rowed back down the river
as fast as possible in order to remove
| himself from the vicinity of his recent
companions. and worked tWenty-siX
hours out of thirty-three on the voy-
age. He reached the Elk Sept. Il. 1t
was l7j miles to Kotzehue mission, and
a perilous journey. The Elk was
anchored with provisions for winter.
and our traveller asked to cast his lot
with the crew. His lot was consider
able as he had a quantity Of stores of
various kinds, including medicines,
dried fruit. sugar tablets and condensed
milk. There was an original party of
ten; two had built a cabin up the river,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Bens We're also camp
ing farther up on another stream.
Mr.. Bens had been engineer of the
vessel Soon after he came to the
schooner for stores and complained of
illness, which was plainly scurvy.
q | There was no one sick on board when
he left to go over the divide with an
= other member of the party. DR.. Vet
ter knows nothing more of the sickness
and death of Mr.. Bens.
DR. Vetter suggested on his arrival
AT the schooner that they should set
to work and build a cabin on the land.
The others would not do this. Had
l. they followed this excellent advice they
might all have been living and also
, escaped the fearful srourge which over
! took them. SO the long. horrible win
ter was spent shut in the little cabin
> and fOrecastle when in its alright
. condition it became like the Black Hole
, Of Calcutta.
4 COLD WAS TERRIFIC.
There was an average temperature
. outside Of 2S degrees below zero. At
= times it was IS below. The causes Of
3 scuryy are dampness and too much OF