Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-03-28

berlng Sea separates North America
from Asia and where the Thermometers
varies from zero to 20 degrees below in
wintcr. lie had heard from Eskiinos
In settlement about 100 miles from
Cape Nome that gold had in FORMER
years been found in several creeks near
the Cape. The missionary impaired
this news 10 some prospectors. This
was In October, 1898. The miners were
eager to get to the scenes Mt once. De-
spite the bitterly cold weather, the deep
snow and the forming ice. the party,
which comprised five Scandinavians.
made the journey across Norton Sound
and explored several creeks around
Cape Nome. In freezing temperature
the men made several hundred trlal
paintings In different spots along creek
branches and some remarkably rich
gravel was found. The finders decided
that it would not do to leave such
claims for others TO occupy so they de-
clded to remain there all winter. But
in some way the news of the rich flnd-
tngs spread along the western coast of
Alaska and hungry prospectors, In spite
Of the terrors of the winter season.
| started on foot 300 aud 400 miles for
the new diggings. When spring came
900 men were camped along the banks
of tho many streams that flow into the
sen about Cape Nome.
1 When navigation reopened OH the
Yukon River aud travel was resumed
In the spring the story of the discovery
of gold spread faster and faster. A
general stampede of Alaskan miners
and prospectors was begun for the new
Eldorndo. By June 1900 people were
at the new gold camp, a month later
there were 5000. and by August the
population reached 1000. The same
scenes that have followed the springing
up of mining towns In the West were
enacted. Gambling dens started. dance
halls were opened. By August. the
town had a main street, a city govern
ment with a mayor and two n,arshals
and several general merchandise stores.
Any one Of the buildings could be
duplicated in the States for $500. At
first the miners gave their attention
getting gold from the banks of water
courses among the hills back of the
seashore. until a st. Louis miner, John
1 w. Peters. noticed the peculiar bluisl,
color OF tile seashore, PANIED some of
the sand and found 1t rich with gold.
He kept Ills find secret and took I'm
a claim along the surf, to the ridicule
Of the other miners. Within two weeks
every foot OF the sand for ten miles
north of Nome was staked out. BY
October every inch Of the beach for
thirty-thrce miles northwest of Nome
was staked and the limits of the area
claimed for placer mining were being
pushed onward six and eight miles a
! week.
Prospectors Make FOrtunes,.
1 Several l,ig fortunes have been made
by those who secured good claims.
Rev. Joseph Anderson. who first direct
ed the miners to Cape Nome. Inns made
fully 100000. Gabriel Price, young
Californian, is the richest man in
Nome, although less than 80 years old.
He went to the dIgglngs about a year
ago. enduring severe privations. He
has located three claims. bought aud
sold others, and also bought real estate
for song that he has sold for fabulous
prices. John Brlndcnscn, ono Of the
five Scandinavian discoveries OF Cape
Nome. has $4,000 In a Seattle bank
and two claims which are good for at
least $4,000 for almost decade. He
has also an interest In two other rich
claims. Edward NJ. Bottume, q brick
maker of Rochester. N. y. has nude
$4,000 out Of a small pnrt of his claim
on tile beach, while Carl Winkler. who
was a porter in a Los Angeles Hotel a
couple of years ago, has n Claim that
Inns yielded him over S32. 900 since May.
The beach sands yielded about ST ,0OO.-
600 from July to October. aud they
have scarcely been touched. There
are dozens of square miles Of the beach
remaining which are likely to contain
wealth beyond the widest dreams. The
Interior country has been but little OK
plored. and no one has tho faintest idea
how much gold is locked up there. The
cost Of living III Nome is high. and the
winter, climate too rugged for any but
the most rugged constitutions.
tits believed that the season OF No
at Nome will add $1O.00O.OOO to tile
worlds wealth. and many miners place
| 1t as high as $4,000. 900.