The Nome nugget., 1902-05-07
RUbIEES
 AT ROME: Discovery of Precious Stones Reported in DawscH. G0MgMG THIS WAY
Two Men Named L. K. rIarsten and Robert Smith, Now En Route to Nome, Say That T!iey FOund Rubies in Large Quantities Last Year.

Dawson. Y T., March 14.-L. R.
 Marsten and Robert Smith left today over the ice for Nome, and an exciting story has spread on the streets since 1 their departure, to the effect that they know something of the whereabouts of
 rich deposits of precious stones north of Nome and are going to try to locate the place.
 The exact location of the place where the precious stones exist is said hot to be known by the two men, but t!ty have some idea of where it is. and will make determined effort to find it, Some who have beard the report only laugh when they speak of it, while others look with wide open astOnisn- ment.
 The story, as Marsten related it here to friends, iS that while he and smith and man named Hall were lost north of Nome last summer they came on a place where there was q peculiar small stone in quantities on the ground. Since the stones had strange attrac- tion, they put few in their pockets. For days the men were lost. and had scarcely anything to eat, and Hall, who
 was an old man, succumbed. The others were rescued short time after. They gave away some Of the stones. but some they happened t0 keep. The
 went to San Francisco last fall, and on arrival there made some inquiries to satisfy their curiosity, and learned that the stones were rubeS.
 hnIcian l.. pn1ppAtCnl in T. . n n here that he sold one of the largest rubies for 5000 in San Francisco. Since he and his companions were in Il fog when they found the stones, and wandered quite q while before the fAI lifted. be was not certain as to the locality where the stones had been found.
 The expedition in which Smith, Hall and Marsten became lost started from Nome last July in slCop. They went to the Siberian coast. and while crulS- ing nOrthward were caught in storm and wrecked on the Siberian shore. Saving but a liltle of their food, they crossed to the Alaskan side in native canoe, and then started to make their way back by land 10 Nome. For days days and days they wandered, and finally, seeing they were doubling their tracks, after about week, divided into two parties. Hall, Smith and Marsten cane one way, and the others took q different route. Tie others have never been reported. 90 far as known. After short time the food of the Marsten party was exhausted. aud for thirteen days they wandered, hungry and starving. They killed a few pturmigan with stones, caught . fish in stream, and greedily devoured them. and gained some succor from buds of trees. Once, while in their wandering, they were enveloped in fog, and it was then the stones which proved to be rubies are reported to have been found.
 Marsten and Smith arrived in Daw- son short time ago over the ice from the outside, and today started to Nome with dogs. Marsten came to the Klon- dke in '98 and is said to have rescued q girl from drowning in Whitehorse rapids and atterward to have married her. He was then knwn as "E5ailor Bill, the man whose home is on the sea-" to say nothing of the salt air. ozone and some of the fishes which some believe light be associated with report of rubies or other precious stones.