Mohave County miner., 1899-07-22
Alaska Gold Fields.

SILVER Belt: As l have considerable
time for the next three months, / will
endea cor to utilize some of it in writ
ing letters to the states.
On leaving Globe promised to write
to number of friends, and as it is
quite difficult task to get mail in and
out of this desolate country, will do
my utmost in trying to give you as
correct an account of the resources of
this country as possible, without pre-
judice or exaggeration, trusting you
will publish the same in the Belt for
the benefit of my numerous friends
who perhaps may have inclinations
OF coming up to this country, this
spring, and who would be interested in
hearing Fl ON some one they know, as
to the merits and demerits of the
country and future prospects of it de-
veloping into a mining country.
Oyster and l arrived at this place on
the llth day of August and were con-
tented to stop here as it was very
difficult matter to get up the Yukon
this far, on account of most all the
river boats, among which was the boat
on which we were to make our river
journey to Dawson, were lost in tow of
ocean steamers at sea.
We secured a couple of lots and
built cabin and cut up considerable
wood to make ourselves comfortable
during the winter, and stored away our
provisions. Then we went prospect
ing; we located couple of claims
about 40 miles from here on creek
called Rock creek, and after snow fell,
pulled couple of sled loads of camp
ing outfit, tools and provisions. We
then cut trail, built two cabins and
proceeded to develop. After arriving
at depth of 10 feet in two holes, we
were handicapped by water coming in
which made it impossible to do any
more work for awhile. Being out of
provis ions we came back to Rampant
and staid in town until Jan. /, think
ing that perhaps in the meantime our
ground would be sufficiently frozen so
that we would not be bothered any
more.
In starting out to camp we took
about a50 pounds on two sleds, the
trail being pretty good for - miles,
which is down the Yukon river on the
i.e, and from there we calculated to
take it in four loads inland. We were
about eight days making the 40 miles
and pretty badly worn out too.
You will hear people talking of pull
ing 200 and 300 pounds on sled, which
is utterly impossible. / find for a
man to pull sled all day, 100 pounds
is sufficient load, no matter whether
it is good trail or bad one, and a
malamute dog of 80 pounds will pull
as much as man weighing 175 pounds,
aud last longer at it.
After arriving at the camp on the
creek, we sank couple of holes and
struck bedrock but no gold. We had
some difficulty with wate., but when it
would show indications of being thaw-
ed through we would let it stand three
or four days before we would put in
another fire and it would tighten up
again so we could go through the wa
ter streak.
The thermometer would register 55
to 65 degrees below zero. Everything
was swapping and popping. During
the latter part of Nogenber we were
building cabin on claim and living
in tent; it was from 80 to 60 degrees
below all the time until we had the
cabin completed. At times in the
morning our blanket would be frozen
together and frost two inches thick on
the inside of the tent.
After we reached bedrock we were
taken with scurvy. We went to TAX
ing spruce tea and citric acid until we
became relieved enough to pull our
outfit back to Rampant, but / am not
entirely over the effects of it yet.
On our way to Rampant the last day
on the trail it was AZ degrees below Ze
ro and froze my face, nose and ears
but am somewhat recovered. Oyster
had his pankie on and saved himself
but mine was in our bed.
1t was very cold here this winter
from Nov. to March the mean TEN
perature (taken morning noon anc
night was 81 degrees below. Th'
coldest in this vicinity this winter wa