Douglas Island news., 1902-01-08

company WlGn COl. NOrQeCh, W0A0 0h route to the coast from Dawson, had narrow escape from death on Dec. 24th. Near Selwyn there is an open piece of very swift water for 1900 feet. Here they concluded to quench their thirst. At the head of this break in the river they threw themselves flat on the ice and proceeded to satisfy their thirst. Suddenly there was crash in their rear and before they realized their peril they were shooting down stream at ex- press speed on cake of ice 10x20feet: towards the lower end of the gorge where the water disappeared under the ice in cloud of spray and foam. An other danger threatened. As they were forced to lie almost motionless their cloths began to freeze to the ice. Craig was the first to discover this, and called to his companion that their only hope of escape was to keep free, and the instant the cake struck to slide off onto the solid ice below. By cautious ly raising first one side of their bodies and then the other they managed to keep their equilibrium as we'll as to keep their clothing from sticking to the ice. Although it seemed ages to them it was only very short time un- til the foe on which they were riding was thrown with violence against the icy rampant below and the men were shot as if from a catapult onto the solid ice. far beyond the danger line. They sprang to their feet with feeling of devout thankfulness at their mlrac- uIous escape and turning saw the cake of ice that had proven their salvation had been splintered into a thousand pieces by the force of the impact and in very short time had utterly disap peared in the wild vortex of angry waters.
 A big legal fight is on to prove the non.existence of creek in the district. Conglomerate creek staked not long ago, proved to be rich. Some of the original stakers there, staked one claim we'll down the stream and then went far up stream and staked second time. They called the upper portion of the stream Stowe creek, which, if allowed, would justify them in having two claims each. Jumpers have restaked some of the Stowe creek claims, and contend that since the original stakers exercised their right for one claim on the lower part of the creek, they are not entitled to a second right on another part. This is in the Klondike district, where the jumpers are numerous. As high as S1 to the pan has been obtained on Conglomerate. A gulch or draw runs off from claim No. 39 on Conglom- crate and the original stakers claim that this draw is the head of Conglom- crate and that the so-called Stowe is a tributary. The jumpers say the draw contains no water and Stowe is part ot the main stream. It remains for the court to decide if Stowe is tributary or part of the main stream, and on it's decision hangs the fate of5he jumpers.
 Nearly all of the creeks in the newly discovered placer district of the Koyu- kuk, are very shallow, narrow and swift. On Emma creek, which, howev- or. is one of the oldest and best known streams of the district, there are count less boulderS. One can travel the full length of the stream by stepping from boulder to boulder. The rock is as green as emerald and as hard as flint. The handling of these boulders is what makes it very expensive to work even the rich ground.
 Peter Dow, the discoverer of Ham mond creek, in the Koyukuk district, says that the Koyukuk is the best poor mans camp in the world. The ground is shallow and can be prospected in al most no time compared with the Klon- dike. Because of the ground being shallow, the camp never will be Klon- dike, but it will be very rich. Much ground in the district would pay we'll now if supplies were to be had at lower rates. But the cost of getting supplies into camp makes it impossible to work anything that will not yield as a rule more than s1O to SI2 per day.
 skagway has had cyclone. The Guide says that it struck the side of the hill on the east side of the city,