The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-20

and that they have exerted every EFFORT
since then to keep particulars of their con-
nection with Il a secret There S much OF
romance in this suddenly acquired wealth
OF a lot OF ignorant foreigners. They are
said TO have been. Brought here .rom
Northern Europe by the United States for
the purpose Of taking care Of the reindeer
in the north They knew nothing Of min
ing had never seen a mine. probably and
knew gold only in its coined form. WHOM
they were 50 fortunate as to receive their
allowance in that sort OF money. But tapt
stumbled onto ,hc fabulous riches Of 'hs
Nome, likely from information given boy
Iaplander, as not much faith is placed
the tale Of the shipwrick of either i.ini
olom or the PARTY, story has 1t that on.
them was told at St Michael by this rs.
known Lapander OF untold golden rich
on the Nome side Of the sound. and than
they went there to see if they could End IL
true. They rudcly stumbled onto the dis-
covery, and approaching the possibility OF
getting rich Immediately forsook their
work as reindeer tenders and wen; 10 gold
gathering
They knew little or nothing OF United
States mining laws, and therefore mistosk
for unhealthy interest the inquiries Of cut
siders. thinking that as they were aliens
something was going TO be done 70 deprive
them of their new-found wealth. They win
in sort Of general way tell Of the original
operations. but nobody can find out how
or by whom the first shovelful was un-
earthed nor IN whose personal name any
OF the property was located That f. my
own private business is the answer 70 all
direct questions. In che. evident fear that
the interrogation is a detective working
against them.
There is. however. no danger Of anybody
having the power to dispossess them by
this time. Under strict Interpretation on
the loose mining laws OF the United States.
an alien may discover and locate mining
property. and he viii confirm him in his
title If he afterward declares his intention
OF becoming an American citizen Az the
lucky Swedes have had attorneys without
number looking out for their interests
there is no doubt that they are now be-
coming citizens as rapidly as time enables
them TO flllfll the requirements These
Swedes possess the distinction of being the
first foreigners In the history Of this coun-
try to discover, locate and keep the hest
part of an original gold district
The party OF original developers went
back to the trading station. as has been
stated. but LindhIom returned 10 Nome
November %. 1895. and in the winter made
four trips over the ice 10 different rivers
along the coast. kittelsen and Linderberg
went to ST. Michael and reported what they
had found IN the new district while Hrynte-
sen and his followers went to the Unalaklik
mission station. where they spent the win
ter
Early Rush 10 Nome.
II was only a few weeks after these re-
ports reached outside settlements that
people were pouring In by the hundred Co
get possession OF some OF the reputed
riches of the new district Every able.
bodied and many crippled men within
hearing of the extravagant statements OF
the first settlers or the men who had
told, dropped everything and rushed To
Nome. People went from the lower Yu-
kon, over mountain and glacier and ice
crossed the mountains from kotxehue
rushed down the coast from as far to the
north Cape Prince of Wales ran
around the inner edge OF Norton sound
from st. Michael and crossed the Ice from
that ancient port. gathered there from
Goloyin bay and Council City. In few
weeks Nome was damned with hundreds
of sold-ihrsted prospeetors who stsked
creek. river. gulch and tundra even clear
up the sides and to the tops of mount
aims. II was believed that gold was
everywhere. and the land must be se-
cured at all hazards Thus by personal
location and power OF attorney. before
winter had fairly started. the whole coun.
try within twenty-five square miles was
The next spring. year ago the coming
spring. the prospectors began TO come out
as soon as they could find transportation
The novelty had died out. fuel was scarce
and. unable to work the property in the
winter many people came to the conclu-
sion that the district was a fake They
came with tales OF hardship and profit-
less work. such were brought from the
Copper river country a year and half
ago, and generally gave Nome black
an eve as their language could paint
Nome was therefore in general disfavor
IN the states.
But along IN early summer somebody
found gold IN the sandy beaches slonx
the front NJ Nome, and the later arrivals
brought mysterious tales Of the wealth
that anybody could get by simply taking
a fire shovel and a pan and digging up
the dirt from "everybody's land Tor II
was quickly learned that nobody had q
title 10 the tide lands. and the public in
terest aroused 10 such an extent That
the hsrd-luck stories lost their effect
Every boat that went from here after then
was loaded with eager men, old and
young experienced and inexperienced
who ionEed for the chance TO get st thar
hearr
Geld 70, E9eybody.
Later. reports from these began 10 come
hack. and a. then became generally known