The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-28
SOMEBODY'S SAWMILL
A Complete Abandoned Lumber Plant
I'm the Wilds of Alaska.

The steamer Boscowitz, the last TO
arrive from the north. brings details of
one of the strangest mysteries con-
nected with the exploration and devel-
opment Of Alaska For several months
b Canadian government has had la
borers at work surveying and putting
in a telegraph line from Vancouver to
Dawson.
A few days ago, while working near
the old nea trail in a dense forest
about 100 miles from the coast, where
1t was thought white men had never
been before. the surveying party, that
was several days ahead CT the pole and
wire men, made a strange and CHASTITY
discovery. AS they were working their
way through the forest they came TO a
heavily timbered marsh. and near the
center of this marsh they suddenly
came upon a tract of several acres on
which all the timber a been cut.
Near one side OF the clearing was a
saw mill, still In a good state OF pres
ervation. The machinery a evil
IDENTIFY not been disturbed since these
premises were vacated by operators.
With the exception of a little rust on
some Of the bearings, h engine
seemed to be ready to fire up and start
at a moments notice. The boiler was
in good condition, n in different
pdllS VI liz lllll "CIC SIOSSSol Sd"Sr
can't hooks, axes, beetles. wedges. a
blacsmith's forge with all it's appur-
~tenances, a kit of carpenters tools
n other implements used around a
completely equipped sawmill. The lum
Der Of the mill itself a evidently been
cut on the spot, and there were several
thousand feet of lumber which, to all
appearances, had been cut about three
years.
Near the sawmin was a shed that had
evidently been used for horses, and at
intervals of a few feet our the shed
were the skeletons Of II horses, most of
them, judging from the bones, being
large animals. The bones were entirely
| free from flesh, indicating that they
had been there at least two summers.
They We're lying in such positions as to
show that they had never been dis
turbed by man. Lying beside the skel-
etonS were weather beaten ropes and
straps, the remains of the pack blank
cts and a quantity of half decayed flour
and other provisions that had rolled
from the backs Of the horses.
Near the mill were three small cabins
constructed Of logs and sawed lumber,
and carefully stored away was a guam
tity Of provisions, canned goods, bacon
and flour. The hunks on the walls con-
tanned a small quantity of bedding, and
a grindstone and several pairs of over
alls were found in one corner of one OF
them.
Search was made, but no human
skeletons were found The discovery
was made about forty mile. off the ole
Juneau Indian trail, and ell conditions
point to the conclusion tina. the clear
ing was made three years g and the
horses persisted the latter part of the
same season. The trees were blaZed or
four sides, Indicating that the party in
some mysterious way had separated
and We're unable to get together again
The members Of the surveying party
think that if the forest were searched
the skeletons of the former owners OF
the camp would be found The theory
of murder by the Indians is not enter
tanned, for in that case the provisions
and tools would surely have beer
taken It is estimated that the engine
boiler, circular saw and the rest of thu
mill outfit, when new, must have cos
at least So, 000.-Seattle Cor. Chicago
Record.