The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-05
Rich Beach Mining of Last Year
Cause of Great Stampede.
EVERYTHING MUCH ovsRDoNs
Very Little Prospecting Yet Done
I'm n Land of Golden Promfse-
Unusual Dry season Prevents
Washing Up of Rich Dfrt-wiii A.
steel Predicts q solid Cnmp when
Conditions Get More Settled.

But few months since Nome was the
seductive name that awakened the minds
OF men throughout the states and In the
KLpndike region. and even across the At
laffic. to the great mineral possibilities OF
the Arctic North, under the domain OF
Uncle Sam. Things were sent broadcast
OF the immense wealth washed from the
sands along the shore OF Bering sea.
Many seemingly exaggerated stories found
verificstion In the records OF the govern
rnent assay Office at Seattle. where the
couple OF million dollars in dust was de-
posted FINALLY II was generally accept
ed az well founded fact that the beach
ut Cape Nome had, in a season OF snort
duration, given fortunes OF varying mag
nitude to small army OF happy and sue
cessftII gold seekers. who had scarce ex-
tended their operations beyond the shore
line
Courageous and adventurous men IN
every walk OF life. and from every state
in the Union. felt impeIIed to seek an
easy road to rapid wealth, They saw, as
in a prophetic yision. the goddess OF for
tune, in all the alIurIng brilliancy OF gold
en- garb. reckoning them to the far North
land From her throne on the golden
sands she seemed 20 invitingly hold forth
the key that would open the gates of
vast storehouse OF virgin gold. to which
all might have access.
Ample facilities were apparently ar
ranged to accord the multitude who might
70 desire. passage 10 the promised land
beyond the Pacific. But the host that
gtormed Seattle and other departing
points, was In numbers greater even than
the most extravagant calculations. As a
result, In scarce more than four weeks
the little town OF Nome had Its winter
habltation of a couple OF thousand peo-
- .txIs Ia.
about $500. These migratory spirits In
Guided men and women OF all classes and
ages, and their arrival and subsequent
picturesque and thrilling experiences I'm
the short space OF time exceeded any
similar episode In the history of mining
stampedes.
These soldiers OF fortune went forth
from their respective homes buoyed up
with the fondest hopes and imhued with
the positive idea that tho reward to be
melted out to them would he OF most
generous nature Many OF those who went
to separate the golden fecks from the
dress OF the earth believed that the great
country back from the shore line and
along the rivers and creeks would thus
crafty their most extravagant desires.
Others felt content to reap a harvest from
the miles OF beach that they knew had
already enriched so many men. Then a
every imaginable kind OF mercantile and
professional occupation. The gamblers.
soubrettes and sports of every variety
naturally followed In tho wake OF an APP
parently ensured camp of wealth. And
they are nearly all stiil there forming
such an unique panorama OF individuals,
With their accputrements OF machinery,
supplies and outfits beyond description.
that would prove OF surprising interest
even at the Parts exposition
Hut. alas. fond hopes in great multi
tnde have turned to gall. Nome has been
transformed In a few weeks to an exist
enee OF bitter disappointment. Ruin and
shattered ambition. crushed and humil-
s'es y msnnooa impovsrished and heart
stalk broadcast with the large element
on indolent throughout the young city,
Loudly proolaimina their misfortune. mixed
Thousands are ready to flee as from n
peNilence, many having experienced 'cold
iert before they even put forth an Ell
iolt 70 accomplish that which they sac
iineed mitch 20 attain. Instead 81 reap
ing harvest OF gold. cruel disappoInt-
nient mas alone been meted out 10 80 many
mat mos, direful conclusion IL jumped
AZ. ana reason knows no consideration
Nome has haen oyerdone And herein
ira the principal cause for the extntlng
distress Various other conditions can
aifn o. attributed 10 this seeming blight
beach digginss that we're So wondrans
fieH last summer seem 10 have been com
paratiNely worked cut Willing panttnt
snd hundreds Of men have been prevented
ttvn Working claims by reason 81 the
numerous rektaking. bogus sale OF prop-
sety and other complicated status of
ownership. Tho unusual dry season has
u.s. u.,n NEST serious drawback scores
81 creeks that NOW show comparatlVciv
iittie sign II development would otherwis,,
hs Nl.iHink kQ9d returns. but for the
SCARCITY of water, u also prevents The
washine w Of dumps that und0uh,edly
are faeulonsiy rich IN gold AS consr
aNehre no dust 20 speak uf ia hyought
int the city from the surroundings dis
the ether from tbs money brought ints
me country rather than that gaken from
A. 70 district eegrs has been held 80,
, s.m W. ny " untt Angus, q. a horde %
brilliant and mediocre LAWYERS have h.en
almost eniiTNN without fees Caias are
sfsanent AMI pncumonia occasional etbvr-
Wis. ne health ot the community Is *.
y.ftienAsly xeed and scvorai Hundreds
81 ghyrsciaHs arr c0rrespanainlrfV A.
rre<tej Ahaat twenty Gases "a suaaglr.,x
dcssioped, oat Heath Ofieer or Can
s .sss ne that = Was 81 llsht form and
taet ne Favorable state Of weather ana
tApi Jarvis precautionary methods kSr,
y from sprpaalnx. chile an the afeirfsA
s4v eHNaiasctng Restaurants. saiaans
Sad S&mtliBE halls are evsrvtrhere -,
numerous thai patrenaxr ~ limited alrnNs,
~ AHeFNft AhAeness Merchants who bave
lafsH wie.ks ard are under heavy axpeY.se
nav made ne money as yet. as the small
Nalefs ant tfntarr arr undoFsctMnx thor,
While mhay OUTFITS were hraakh "a lnto ~
country Ans 50 Il sues with aiaaast every
haslneee venture tumhsr has fallsn 4.
prace frum kfla 90 SO per ;hatssrs $500
has gradpsiiy dropped te IS per f@n 49,
Nsr offered 80 tons ~ 50
tnsiNaf cf EpiuE nus rFnspa-flns mas,
OF me new cumers simply anchored thqr,.
q HIsalfI 80 a
hue nfa cry ~ mssfertuna without r,sL
ms an eifeft ~ taneat their psnAt1f',,
They are now hooking 70 Gen. RanANu ~
sise them suecer THIS blur S1f ssii, y,
s.laier rssrets ths fast. bas publicly st9f'
~ shAt ne ceuld 30 nothing toward fur.
nisAsrx food or assisting the tn,fis~nf !,
reoHrs IRE transportation 20 their gorfs.,
homes. Without authority 10 state otser.
visa ~ dopt Wish 90 inspire hope n, g,,.r
whe would rather becagna e6vcrnrrsrl
chsFKrA thAn ~ o. Wnr& 90 he3p shsrn.
rSsVva There arc truly uaanF Ass.r,sgss
cases where enfortanatss viii rsautIrs = =
distance. and q 4 believed tha, Ger. Rsn.