The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-11

s-.r the big tyee OF the lahu rlpes
~sstheastern Alaska, who left Tor the
| Va n the midnight sun on the last de-
| ss,,ure OF the Cottage CITY, recalis the
| ,-aHng story OF me Lost rocNer'
p-nsa eolconda hidden somewhere In
| Sss.,rssses OF Southeastern Alaska.
~ ,obody is able TO find. The chief
few days here upon his return
- washington. where he went to pour
~ ears Of the administration a tale
n - concerning the appropriation by
a.'ssr.s Of lands and fishing streams OF
a -ssIves of Alaska. He shook hands
~ n. Mckinley and appeared to be
-nrb elated over that fact. When he
~ home the Takus, the Auks, the Chill
IN the Hoonahs and the Sitkas will look
IAN MIN with awe. He is the frst Alaska
,spSsn 10 grasp the hand or president.
f%lef Johnson was introduced to Mr..
v<VInley by Senator Charles w. Fair
srTs Of Indiana, In reciprocation OF hos
staIIty extended TO the senator by the
fss1nsxuishel chief at his tcpee In Juneau
-, sa,fnmer when the senator made his
assSau trip. Chief Johnson lives In
fIs two-story house, which, In size, will
sstspe with many In any state in the
,en,oc There Is a long Flagstaff on the
,sisfs house, from which the American
~ floats perpetaally, and over the front
sser which faces the sea, Is an immense
sark raven, which is dead and stuffed.
.ncestry from the noble raven family.
Senator'S See His House.
Il vas in this conspicuous residence that
s.astor Fairbanks and Mrs. Fairbanks
IA senator Foster and Mrs. Foster were
"a introduced to dried salmon and had
M first sight of Indian felicity, for
jeanson had acquired. not long time be-
:efs' 1 chilkat bride to light his pipe and
xafna his moccasins for him.
i0f ia a Wanlth
4 the richest of Alaskas Indians. A
nv years ago he was suspected OF con-
section with the sudden death OF a ma
i've Of another tribe. and he gave a pot
sish which cost about 5000 TO square it.
current report says the expense was
kM IL the assessor could find all the
sszjth Of the chief he would probably
uassrih as much as $4,000. but assessors
rs IN unknown quantity in Alaska. and
ia natives are very secrctive with their
sesish, Chief Johnson made his money
b trading with the other Indians and IN
andlinx furs. He ~ also reported TO
naSs solitary visits to mysterious
rs@k the sands OF which are gold dust
sni the pebbles golden nuggets. Some
1sople say this creek Is the location of
Aht Lost Rocker" for which many pros
yctcJ In Alaska have hunted In vain
III many years. and to find which much
money has been spent In one way and an
shr One Alaska man. Doc" Null
ahy, who used TO keep saloon In Ju-
nsan, and At one time had lots OF money.
hu Lost all he had several times trying
"a md H. Mulcehy has not given II up
ya The story OF "the Lost Rocker" is a
thrilling and peculiar one.
The Lost Rocker.
n ~ spring Of 1874 two mirers left Sit
h "a Z prospecting expedition. taking
courss 20 the southeast, with the intention
Il prospecting some islands lying along the
c1oa. but with the ultimate object OF look
ns for placer on the main land. They
hund nothing on the islands. and while
rowing across Chatham shoals they were
sssrtaken by a storm, though they man
AGED 10 get ashore at the mouth OLA large
ueek They noticed that the creek bed
vas sirewn with quartz, and along the
hanks was some promising looking gravel:
they set to work prospecting the gravel
lars and were gratined TO find they would
NV There they pitched their camp.
As most Of the gold was fine, they fol-
ssed W the bed of the stream. expecting
y End the yellow metal eoarser and pos
any discover the fountain head OF the
Eseien sands Coaching all their provisions,
sstspt the little that would be needed on
Nv days trip, and after travelling two
tsss, they reached the crest OF divide.
a basin beyond and below lay a beau-
htel lake, with "A stream entering into TX
rom she west and an outlet TO the north.
iae prospectors camped that night on the
sxe shore There they again found gold,
me little stream flowing from the west.
Every painful Of gravel yielded a spoonful
coarse gold. Some nuggets weighed. as
tata A. an ounce. They had discovered
johanna, snd nobody knew u better than
70 limo was lost IN making a crude
sNsnfi and they were soon rocking cut
- yellow grains, They worked hard for
W. weeks taking out the gold. making
esas'onAi trips TO the cache for provis-
One day about noon as they were stop
sag aork 90 prepare dinner. and without
eeegat Of danger. they were nrsi on
~ Y lsa'Ans N ambush; one OF the pros
rxsefs dropped dead Ia his tracks The
~ sprang into the forest and was out
. ssm tetnre q second Volley could he
nsa ne reached tho cache aud canoe at
~ meash of the big creek and pat out
n. .,sm shote a. quickly as possible, with
Hienien 81 returning TO Sltka. lie
.ssshle lust IN tho intricate windinss OF
~ WSlAn passage. was picked up BY a
rseag shin, and Hnally landed at Port
pAasen'l When he arrived there he hal
~ q epatse guild 10 a belt around his
Hunting for the Cold.
Aaf neNt spring Tho prospector returned
VITA and Induced a party 60 return
~"a nim q The bonanza by thu lake
$3.50 are old rrospeciors In Alaska vet
~ fsmemhcF the FIRST Lost Rocker
s'sasaaeni When the party arrived at a
49, Rear Taku iplet. the miner dcsig
80 tRe mouth ~ large creek AS the
~ = AMI hia dsAa partner had entered.
~ pay Was found there The party
!. ~ias dissatisfied. as they had ntt~d out
We expedition NJ considerable eN-
ss sa1 Threatened g hang him fasy
5Setien ~ the spot ard ON returned
ska empty haudcd
s.e The mlpee died but to hts attend
-. MA Powers pioneer of t'aIt creek.
81