The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1900-06-21
THE ALPHA LANDED
Had No Trouble Getting to
Cape Nome May as.
DID NOT TOUCH AT ST. MICHAEL
Brought Back Four Passengers, With
aQusrter OF = MiIlion-Ciai,ns
Richer Than Reported.

Vancouver, B. c.. June l9.-That
the gold fields Of Cape Nome are richer
and more productive than has yet been
represented, is the story brought down
by the steamer Alpha, which arrived
from the North tonight. From single
claim, worked by 30 men in the employ
of Jack Brady, SIS, 900 was taken out
In one week and the same claim panned
out $50, 900 within month. As an
earnest OF Cape Nome's golden pro-
ductiveness. the Alpha brought down
$3.50. 900 in gold dust. There were
five passengers on board, and the dust
belonged to four OF them, in the fol-
lowing amounts:
Jack Gill. of Seattle. $145, 900; J.C.
Monaghan, of Denver, $40, 900; Frank
Green, of Kansas City, $50. 900; Glen
Tinsley. an old Dawson miner, who
went to Nome last year, $35, ZOO.
Unusual interest has followed the
Alpha's trip, not only because she was
the first steamer to sail for Cape Nome,
but more especially on account OF pos
sibility of international complications,
the Alpha being q Canadian bottom
and Home not being a SUPPORT of en-.
thy. But the skipper had no trouble
with the customs regulations. He
sailed from Vancouver on April 8,
clearing for st. Michael. He says he
was 80 menaced with icebergs as he
approached st. Michael that he pro-
ceeded directly to Nome, landing l53
passengers and their supplies on the
beach on May 25. and sailing for Van
couver on May 80.
The Alpha was carried by the ice to
the Siberian coast, and for five days was
packed in the ice unable to move.
She finally made Nunivak island, where
she found the San Francisco whalers.
Alexander and jeanette, with about
100 passengers each, also trying to
reach Nome. After spending three
days more in very heavy ice near Pri-
byloff islands. the Alpha finally made
Nome, whittier the Alexander had pre-
ceded her two days. So overjoyed
were the miners at the double arrival
of the Alexander and the Alpha that q
civic holiday WAS declared. and the
Canadian boat was received with sa-
lutes. all the customs regulations being
waived, although as she had cleared
from Vancouver for st. Michael the
discharge Of her freight was in direct
contradiction of the custom laws.
Nome was rather dull during March
and April. work being entirely sus-
pended on account Of cold weather.
Several times during the winter the
settlement Narrowly escaped total de-
struction by fire. All the buildings
are said to be tlimsey structures. and
no fire protection is afforded.
The extent of the gold d-producing area
of Nome seems much greater than was
at first supposed, and all over the coun-
try mec are reported to be washing
from l5 to 25 cents to the pan in gold.
Golden Gate and Mascot creek are
turning out we'll. Topcock is the big
gets find of the season, where il is con.
sidered nothing remarkable for a miner
to make $50 q day on many of the
claims. although the gold is found in
intermittent streaks. 1t was on Top
cock creek that $50, 900 was cleaned up
in 80 days. Topcock Is 15 miles from
the sea, and 80 miles south of Nome.
One thousand people are working there
now, and there have been clean ups
from $25, 900 to $780, 900 on 1OO-foot
claims,