Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-01-24
FROM PARKWAY ALASKA.
A Story Which Began In the Gold
Diggtu's and Ended In Ellsworth.

Diggiu's and Ended In Ellsworth.
Ellsworth was the scene this morning
OF the last chapter Of a story which
opened In the Kiondike region mething
like two years ago.
Early in 1898, when the Klondike fever
was, at its height, twenty men, most OF
them residing in Hsverhili, Mass, or
vicinity, organized company to seek the
yellow dirt In Alaska.
By a contract which each OF the twenty
signed, IL any one OF them struck it rich,
their strike was TO go into the common
fund. of which each mans share would
be one-twen' ieth.
The expedition was fitted out and in
due season arrived in the gold region.
There they scattered, and were soon
scratching away at tough old AIsska's
frozen face, hoping to strike "pay dirt".
One of this party OF hopeful min
ers was John d. Ciimmin, ir., Of East
brook, Hancock county, Maine. Grim
min stskeo a claim on Myrtle Creek, ana
WIS soon pegging away.
The long winter dragged itself away.
and those of the original twenty who had
not already returned to the states, well
coined the returning spring as sffording
the opportunity to get away from the
land OF snow and ice and back W here they
could get a square meal. The yellow
CLEAN which had beckoned them on to
the COLO fields had faded into a DUH yellow
In their eyes.
But down on Myrtle creek John d.
Crimmin, IT,, OF Es.tbrook, Name, was
ssi'l scratching away, and finding little
OF the yellow metsi. But he wss hungry
Ms well rs the rest OF hi, fellows, W no had
been less fortunate than he, and he
iouged for good Old dinner down in
Maine. He was thinking of this dinner
when q man came along aud offered him
sonnet hing like as 600 for his claim. John
tucked the mon,y down into his trousers
pocket and struck for Maine.
Now, perhaps because he was 30 intent
on that Maine dinner he WAS to get, or
tor some Their reason, John evidently
frot all about the other miners
AID he contract he had signed to share
his strike with them. His memory failed
him even furt her than that, aud he for.
got " hat he sold his claim for, and W hen
he reported to headquarters in Haverbtll
he said he lhad sold out for 900. The
representatives. OF the company settled
" it'll him on that basis.
But away down In Alaska in q little
cabin on Myrtle creek. where the the.
tipthttcS WINS o. uSkfc uctoW LeTu, LueIc
WAS q man with better memory than
John Crimmin. He VAS thinking OF y
grievance he had against the same John
Crimmin. and one day when bis spirits
were as low as the thermometer he sat
down aud wrote to The represent ati ives o.
the mining company in Masssc husetts:
John did me, and he's going to do you"
and then he told them that John had
sold out his claim at profit.
This letter reached Hsverhiil after the
settlement With Crimmin, and represent
atives Of the company became interested
In his wherea bouts. John A. Peters, jr,,
OF Ellsworth, Was appealed to, ana finally
located Mr.. Crimmin in East brook.
Yesterday Mr.. Crimmin came to Els
wort b and was the CUES; OF Sheriff Hooper
at dinner and supper. During the day ne
met some representatives of the mining
company in Mr.. Peters office and talked
about Alaska gold mining.
As a result of that conference, Mr.
Crimmin and Sheriff Hooper early this
morning, W ben the wind was bowling out
of he north and the mercury was below
zero, took a drive which reminded Grim
min of Myrtle creek.
They went to East brook and back
When they reached Mr.. Peters office, Mr..
Crimmin counted out seven crisp uea
81 900 gold certificates, two 500 bills and
| = $50.
rnen he went back to East brook slone