Mohave County miner., 1901-11-23
The Gold Excitement in British Col
umbia.


umbia.
A new gold excitement of consider.
British Columbia The story as con-
densed from the San Francisco Exam
iner runs about as follows: Four or
five years ago James Sheppard, the
original discoverer, wandered up to
the head of Horsefly river with party
of hunting Indians. While there he
stumbled onto some excellent placer
ground, which he proceeded to pros
pect. With only pan for washing he
soon cleared up some zoos in gold.
Coming out he kept his discovery a
close secret, marketed his gold on the
coast and then took trip to England.
A year or two ago he returned to Van.
couver, dead broke, but resolved to re-
visit the diggings. Having no means
TO procure an outfit he told the story
to ce tain people in Vancouver and be.
sought them to grub stake him. At
length two men named Campbell and
Strisky set out to prove the truth or
falsity of his tale. They found the
place and also that it was richer than
the old Cariboo mines which became
so famous years ago. Their supplies
becoming exhausted they returned and
related the news. A miner whom they
staked has since been fishing out 25S
an hour with only hollow log for a
sluice.
The Horsehy district is at the head
waters of the river, and until Shep.
pard's advent no white man had pen.
etrated that region. The only way to
get in is via the Canadian Pacific to
Ashcroft, thence by stage to within
forty miles of Horsefiy lake, whence
the trail is extremely difficult, as it is
surrounded by precipitous mountains,
over which supply pack trains can be
taken only with extreme difficulty
and peril. When reached, however,
the country is fairly open, and
travelling good. The placer diggings
are in considerable area of unpros-
pected territory containing many
creeks and benches.
The first reports of the richness of
the country began to reach Vancouver
about the middle of last month, and
we're confirmed by later examination
by experienced men. Up to the last of
October, only four men had come in
with reports. The latest party to 60
there consisted of Robert Mes bitt, an
American, and Frank l.. Reynolds. |
They met Campbell and several others
several creeks in the region, all carry
ing gold, but owing to shortage of sup
plies, they had no chance to thorough
ly prospect them. On Eureka creek .
Campbell declared one could make POS /
an hour by simply panning from the |
creek bed. Other creeks showed even
better indications, and the benches |
were also rich in gold All accounts /
agreed that it was very rich country, |
and when supplies can be taken in and |
proper sluices built, the yields would .
be large.
William creek, during the old boom
at Cariboo, was extremely rich, yield /
ing several millions. The pros pectors
Of the horsefiy field express the opin.
ion that it will prove equally remuner-
ative. 1t has already attracted great
deal of attention in British Colum bia,
and crowds are fastening to Horsefly
despite the difficulties confronting
them. 1t is question, however, wheth.
er it is not too late to accomplish any.
thing before next spring. But the rush
has begun, and the Klondike furor
is likely to be repeated, regardless of
winter and hard trails.