Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-01-31
Correspondence.
"From Parkway Acknowledgements.
tn fss Editor of The American.

rum dT-hWdy fAAska -AppeuulNs
To the Editor of The american:
In last weeks issue of your paper ap-
peared an article entitled "From Far
Away Alaska, which purports to give
the story Of the experiences OF John ID.
Crimmin, ir., in Alaska, the final chapter
OF which ended in Ellsworth last Wednes-
day morning.
While the story as given has some foun-
dation in fact, 1t is misleading in some
important particulars, and, unintention-
ally no doubt, reflects somew hat upon the
integrity and good faith OF Mr.. Crimmin.
As the latter is weil-known Hancock
county boy, and the son OF hight re-
spected citizen of Esstbrook / feel 1t my
duty, as the eleventh hour counsel flor
Mr.. Crimmin in the s'iast chapter, to ex.
plain some things in connection swith
your article for the farther enlig htenment
of the readers of the "onIy COUNTY
paper.
In the first place Mr.. Crimmin did not
agree to share anything with the miners
who endured with him the hardships of
the KIondike. II he bad, the result would
N
organized at Haverhill (under the laws of
Maine which seems to be the prolific
source of many of these irresponsible cor
porations) to fit out an expedition to
search for gold in the Klondike region.
This corporation organized in the early
part OF 1898 under the imposing name OF
the Centrifugal Pump & Mining Co.
dfrD 70 ka - e.
Crimmin, it's pumping" department has
done a good business. You may be sure,
however, that its guiding spirits had
no idea of exposing themselves to
the dangers Of the trip, No, like Artemas
Ward, they were perfectly willing to
sacrifice all the wives relations and take
the lions share OF the profits while toast
ing their feet before open CRATES in their
cosy offices in Haverhili.
Accordingly the corporation made con-
tracts with twenty persons, mostly
dummies, whereby the corporation was to
furnish transportation, food, etc., for the
expedition during period OF eighteen
months, in consideration whereof all
claims staked were to be the property OF
to have only one forty fifth part Of one
twentieth OF the proceeds.
Now in the contracts made between the
dummies" and the corporation, each
dummy had the right to send a proxy or
substitute, and Mr.. Crimmin went as sub.
stitute for one, Marion Foster Durant.
Not content with binding him for a Pc
81 - al he ha
tract also contained a provision that II,
after the expiration of this term, MIR.
Crimmin remained in Alaska or the
British possessions, or ever returned
thereto, then one-third OF all be should
discover or make should belong to Mrs.
Durant. The latter, of course, was simply
a representative of the corporation, TO
which she Immediately assigned her con-
tract with Crimmin.
To show the confidence reposed In
Crimmin, let me say that the corporation
sent him to Seattle to build a steamer and
arrange all details for starting the ex-
petition, which he did. The expedition,
consisting OF twenty men, went to the
Kiondike in the spring OF 1898, and
stayed there until the spring OF 1899. when
but tao or three OF the party remained,
the others having either died or returned
without making any strike. With true
down-esst grit, Crimmin remained, and
in April, 1899, struck psy art on Myrtle
Creek, and Immediately staked out his
claim under the law. Two her men dis
pu,ed his claim, but they were quickly
disposed of by a miners court.
In June, 1899. it WAS found that provis-
ions were running low. and Crimmin sent
word by courier to the steamer which was
the base of supplies, asking Tor more food.
The answer came back that he could have
none, and could go to place where the
climate is presumably much warmer than
that of Alaska.
Is it any wonder that he then longsd for
a good old dinner down in Maine? Grim
min had 10 desire to make such sudden
change from Alaska to sheoi aud think
ing, rightly in my opinion, that the COM
pany's contract had been broken, sold out
his claim in August, came to New York,