The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-29
LESS GOLD Than GLOON
MEN sTAMPEDED FROM CREEK TO
CREEK ON SINGLE MUG.
GET FIND
A NoRTHwEsTERNER's TRIALS

A N0RTHWESTERNER'S TRIALS
The Gold Finds Are SO Few That
Most of the Miners Are Discour-
nSed-A Fraud with S3 I'm a bot
tle-FOrty Below Zero for Weeks
at a Time-Lumber Is Very
High.
Mr.. Charles Donohue. one term sheriff
and one term register of deeds of st.
Croix county, Wisconsin, a brother-in-
law Of J. F. Goldrick, of St. Paul, writes
a discouraging letter from the Klondike
country Mr.. Donohue and brother
went to Alaska and the Northwest ter
ritories more than a year ago. His let
ter, printed below. shows that not only
he. but many other people are having a
hard time of 1t in the gold fields of the
far north. Mr.. Donohue says:
Thistle Creek, N. w T., Jan. D.
You see by the heading 1 am on the sup
posed famous Thistle Creek I hear 1t Is
doomed on the outside as being a bigger
find that Eldorado or Bonanza, and I
as much publicity as possible for the
benefit of those who are contemplating
coming here, and who are worked upon
by false representations published wholly
in the interest Of transportation compa-
MES and Quitting houses in the Western
cities.
Gold was discovered on this creek the
latter part Of September, and one nugget
was found worth about $6.10. There was
a big stampede, and the creek and all its
tributaries were staked. We were within
fifteen miles from here at the time, but
did not hear of the find until nearly ev-
seTythfng was taken. However, we got in
on Blueberry. which was considered at
the time as good as the main creek. That
was the 10th Of October, and Immediately
thereafter we moved our supplies here
and built cabin on the river, and also
built one on our claims about twenty
miles from here. so that we could pros
pect them through the winter. I have
been putting in my time building cabins.
If the creek proves good I will get paid
for my time; If not. 1 will get nothing.
1t is simply a game of chance, with fifty
to one against me.
There are about $50 men prospecting
their claims and probably 100 holes to bed
rock, and, while they are finding some
gold, there is but one hole on the creek
to date that will pay wages. No one knows
for a certainty whether his dump will
pay or not. so you see the prospect is
not very bright for this great Eldorado
This is the most promising thing that was
struck in the Northwest Territory last
season, though it was run over and pret-
ty thoroughly prospected by over 10000
people.
The real fact Of the case is there never
was a country so outrageously misrepre-
sented in regard to the gold deposit as
this has been. The real facts are that
there are not 800 paying claims in this
whole Northwest Territory so you can
figure the percentage Of people who made
anything out of mines by computing 5000
people who wintered here, $4,000 esti-
mated crossed the divide, making no
count of what came around the water
way which will easily swell the number
to between Sc. 900 and $4,000 people, which
divided by 300 gives you less than one
lucky one of each 200 Of the whole lot.
It Is true there is some very rich ground
on Eldorado and Bonanza, particularly
on the former, but no where else in this
great big frozen, worthless country has
anything been found that will pay to
work. There have been a. number of
creeks stampeded in this vicinity this
winter, but they were every one frauds,
grossly misrepresented by fakirs who got
up the stampede. I know fellow who
stampeded a creek called Balarat, by
showing gold he had in a bottle, about So.
which he said he got in five pans on the
surface. l prospected the same creek
from the head to the mouth, but could
not get color. I found out afterward
that this fraud was never within a mile
of the creek. At the time he got up this
excitement he borrowed this gold of a
party I am we'll acquainted with and for
got to give it back.
There are over 800 claims recorded On
the creek. This government Is $4,000
ahead by the steal. Some of the other
creeks that were stampeded were entirely
unknown quantities; SO that, if you see
them Duffed up in the Western papers,
you may know it is done to excite and
fool poor fellows back East, and get
what little money they have for outfit
ting and transporting them to the most
God-forsaken country on earth.
Carlisle Creek, Losaangelise Creek,
Coffee Creek, Black Hills Creek, in fact
| every creek that has been boomed-ex-
cept Thistle and Croggy-are frauds.
Cur lOWn business IS at q StanOSt1II.
| In fact there is none. Thousands of men
| are out Of employment and hundreds 60
| Ing out over the ice pulling their blan-
| kets and grub on hand sleds. You can
| imagine the hardship when 30 below is
| considered a nice day. We have had II
| 40 below for weeks at time, and as low
as Y. The first snow fell in October and
| we have not had wind enough since to
| shake 1t off the trees. Every tree and
| bush Is loaded, so that 1t is almost i'm
! possible to go through the woods. We
| had very little sun for about two months,
| but 1t is now coming back, and we are
already beginning to feel the effects.
LAUNDERING is all centered In Dawson.
There Is no market anywhere Else. There
are four or five little mills there and last
year they found ready market for their
output at from SIS to $10G per thousand.
The timber Is small. scrubby and grows
on islands in the Yukon and its tribu-
taries. There is little or no clear lum-
Der In it, but It makes good sound lum-
Der, as the knots are small and sound
They have paid as high as $50 per
thousand for logs delivered at the mills
DR.. Miller COnyaIescfnr