The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-22
ANACONDA NEWS
FROM PEACE RIVER.
Anaconda Man Returns From Trip to
the Far North.

Anaconda Man Returns From Trip to
the Far North.
Gus Grote, a resident of this city. return
ed home yesterday after 14-months trip
to the Peace river, situated in British Co
lumbia and the Northwest Territories.
Mr.. Grote is delighted with the prospects
there and says that it will be "a great
country in the near future. He intends to
return to Peace river next spring.
1--WE came back by the Edmonton wa
ter route, leaving on May TO- and we had
not much trouble" said Mr.. Cote last
evening Several friends and myself
went there prospecting and we didn
make anything, but we intend going back
and then we may have different story TO
tell The reports that have been sent out
that a large number of cattle have been
drowned at Peace river were untrue. All
the cattle was slaughtered, and when
left there were 10000 pounds of dry meat
laying around.
I'VE wintered at Fort Graham, 60 miles
UP the Finlay river, and we had good
time. except during the spring. when 1t
was impossible to get any provisions. 1t
is not "A hard country in which to get pro-
visions and they sell at reasonable price.
Flour is SIS a sack, bacon 40 cents pound
and everything else is 80 cents pound
We did not have any fresh meat for eight
months until an Indian came around, and
we bought some at a very reasonable
price. Hunting is very scarce around there
and there is no fur. 1t is not good place
for trapping.
There We're many cases of scurVy
about Peace river, particularly below Ora
ham Tom Gill of Helena died of scurvy
25 miles above the Rocky mountain port
age Captain Pontine of Ontario died of
the disease 40 miles above the portage.
Two men died at St. John, but | don't be-
leve it was from scuryy. Captain Pom
tine and a party of six men were all at
tackled with the disease Cnd one of them
died The other five crawled on their
hands and knees. but We're unable to bury
him. so they wrapped him up in bian-
ket and waited until an inspector came
along and took him away.
1.-THE country Is very cold. Our ther-
mometer froZe at 80 in January and re-
manned there for seven days. The snow
is five feet Deep The bitterness of the
weather is very hard on horses, as is
shown by the fact that only three out of
more than 100 horses lived. The horses at
St Johns did very well.
II think that the Peace river will be a
good mining country some day. 1t will be
particularly good at the head of Fin.ay
river where there is good quartz and
good indications. On the Nation river a
party found gold bearing quartz and $1,000
was taken out, which goes to show that
there is gold there.
Il have heard many reports about the
Edmonton trail to the Klondike and from
this / should judge that is not good
road. 1t is no way to go to the klondike.
1t is too expensive and it requires too
much packing. The trail is good as far as
ST. John and there is good feed, but after
that the mountain road is very rough. l
think that it would be cheaper to take a
steamer and go to Klondike by way of
water. / think the easiest way is around
the coast by the ocean route, as 1t saves
time and money. l don't know of any
thing that occurred on the trail beyond
the Peace river waters