Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-08

Mr. Bridgeman, Member of the
Party, Returns Home, Disguised
With the Enterprise.
Mrs. F. A. Benjamin has received a
letter from her husband written at st.
Michaels, July IA, which contains some
news which will be OF interest to the
friends Of the Alaskan gold hunters.
Among other things. he says:
Am getting ready to go to Golovin
Bay with Ferguson, who has rich
claim there and is after more and I
want some too. Had good success at
Nome and we got half a dozen claims
near the ones which are 80 rich, only
on other creeks. One of the 9ich claims
took out 81, 700 in two days and one mug
get was worth $18.57 and we hope our
claims will be o. K. later on when we
have time to work them. All the boys
go to Nome for a few weeks and then
come over to Golovin Bay. which Is on
the way here from Nome, where we will
probably spend the winter SO as to be
near our claims and be on hand If any
new strikes turn out which will surely.
as the sea shore itself Is full of fine
gold and is staked for claims for 30
miles. Nome and Golovin Bay are GER
tainly rich ground and we will not go to
| Clear Creek till next year as that will
keep and we want to get all we can OF
this before we leave. Write me here as
we can get mail by boat every two
weeks ana every month in winter"
The tone of the letter would not suggest
that Mr.. Benjamin Is Disguised with
| all of Alaska at any rate.
Mrs. w. NJ. Sherlock Is OF the
opinion that her husband has
lreconsidered his determination to re-
turn home and has remained In Alaska.
In his last letter he said he was coming
home IL he did not find something good
lat Nome. Messrs. Hiatt, Bridgeman
and Thomas and wife We're to be with
him. They were in San Francisco the
last OF July but Mr.. Sherlock was not
with them so it Is improbable he will
return before spring. If then.
BRIDGEMAN RETURNS.
The Ottumwa Courier announces the
return Of Mr.. Bridgeman to that place,
and he is evidently disgusted with the
country. In an Interview he says con-
corning the Clear Creek country and
the members Of the Marshalltown
party:
&C. w. Bridgeman. member of the
Walsh -Starbuck expedition to Alaska,
returned yesterday morning from the
gold field, where he has been engaged
| in prospecting for the past eighteen
months. Mr.. Bridaeman when seen at
the home of his brother. F. F. Bridge
man, by Courier reporter today, re-
marked that he had vowed that he
never would be interviewed by re-
porter again on the subject of Alaska
He condescended, however, to state a
few facts as they really exist in the So
called new Eldorado.
Mr.. Bridgemen says that the condi-
tons relative to the gold situation in
Alaska are very much exaggerated in
almost every report that he has seen
in the United States. This is true. even
concerning the Dawson district and es-
pecially so regarding the koyukuk
l.country. The Clear Creek expedition
was made in the latter territory, and
Mr.. Bridgeman says there never was a
greater failure There is absolutely
nothing there as far as has been dis
II
of the party who prospected what was
thought at the time to be one of the
greatest finds in Alaska He disap-
proves the exaggerated reports that
are sent out regarding the country and
considers that it is great injustice to
uninformed parties who many times
are induced to go to Alaska on the
strength OF what they hear about Just
ncaS .ojl IL
the failing Of many Alaska prospectors
who. when they found that they had
been stuck would endeavor to ge,
somebody else into il. IL they could. He
did not consider that this was always
done in dishonest manner. for the
prospectors still entertain hope tina,
they will eventually make something
out of their claims Mr.. Bridgemar
said that the report that pay dirt val.
ued at from 10 to 20 cents per pan had
been taken out of the Clear Greek
claims was untrue. all reports to the
CONTRARY Notwithstanding"
Billy Michaels. of Marshalltown
was with Mr.. Bridgeman when he
started out. They left Clear Creek in
May and went to st. AIichaels. where
Michaels found new outfit awaiting
l
left Mr.. Bridgeman and went to Cape
Nome and Mr.. Bridgeman came on out
accompanied by man from Massa-
chusetts. Out of the thirty-eight sur
yiving members of the Iowa party
nearly every one of them has either
returned or is on the way. The orig
inal party consisted of thirty-nine
members, one of the members having
been drowned in Lake Bennett.
While al st. Michaels.' said Mr.
Bridgeman, I met number of the
boys who are located there tempora
rily. I saw Con Doran, who is gettinl
along nicely. and expects to return
home soon. A. e. Parks came out a:
far as st. Michaels with me, and Their,
embarked on a steamer plying be
tween st. NIichaels and Dawson. H,
expected to work on this steamer a few
months, and then come home. Johr
T. Emerson. who is employed by tn,
N. A. T. company at ST. Michaels, viii
be out soon. John is enjoying the hes
of health. William Sherlock, of Mar
shalltown. who is also member of tn,
party. and is now at ST. Michaels, ex
poets to return to Iowa very soon"
I'm speaking of the Walsh-Starbucl
party. whose history of disorganizatiol