Amador ledger., 1902-03-21
Prospecting in Alaska.

Opposite our camp on the south side
of Nome river is the famous rich Dex-
ter creek. 1t is one of the richest
around Nome, only being exceeded in
richness by Anvil and Snow creeks.
1t was on this creek that the Peek
brothers from Mokelumne Hill worked
on a lay giving 20 per cent for the
privilege. One day in strolling up the
creek, | asked man mining upon No.
where the Peek brothers were work.
ing. "Do you see that house there, -
he said, pointing his finger to a house
standing near the creek, that is the
Peek brothers house, st is a rich
claim, sir" he continued, ''the richest
on the creek. They are taking out
thousand dollars day. 1t is hard for
man to be compelled to give up 500
of it though" he said with smile.
Rain had been falling steadily and
heavily for several days, which made
it very disagreeable to move. Two
men came to our tents, with their blan-
kets strapped upon their backs, on
their way to the Kougrock. Their
rubber blankets kept out the rain from
their bedding, otherwise they would
have been, to use a phrase, Sloppy
wet" They stopped at our tent long
enough to light their pipes, when
shouldering their load they clambored
up the hillside, off to the left of us,
and were soon lost to view behind the
ragged cliffs. The next morning we
put our things in the boat and again
towed it up the crooked fiat stream
that, snake-like, came struggling on,
out from the great ragged range of
mountains that rose blue, grim, and
snow-capped in the distance. On our
route we came upon a nice piece of
level ground of black loan covered
with thick growth of brush of the
laurel species. There were or 5 hun
dred acres in the tract l looked at it
with regret that l could not possess
it and have the climate of California to
favor me. 1t certainly was land, bar
ring the climate, as rich as the alluyial
deposit of the Nile. Who knows but
what some one in the future will turn
1t into some tillable use. When we
struck our camp the clouds had lifted,
and the sun pale ind fiaring was drop
ping behind low gap in the ragged
mountains in the west. Our watches
pointed to half past two in the morning.
In this part of Alaska for three months
in the year it is all day; never darker
than cloudy day in California. Before
us arose many detached, lowering
peaks. Off to our right stood rough
and uneven mountain, with great slabs
of slate and limestone lying in every
conceivable shape upon it's sides. Water
clear as crystal came bounding, leap
lug, and Gathering as it fell, and leaped
through its numerous chasms and
gorges. The next day we shouldered
our picks and shovels and started in to
prospect some of the tributaries of
Nome river. We found a few colors,
but not sufficient to pay The country
was exceedingly desolate and wild. It
was in this desolate range only month
or two before that prospector saw a
polar bear sitting upon his launches,
and like Alexander Selkirk, as he sup
posed, Monarch of all he surveyed" :"
The fool slipped up within 80 or 40
yards of the animal and fired a load of
No. 5 shot into his bearship. The in
furiated beast seeing the man, rushed |
upon him, threw him to the ground, |
and was in the act of grabbing him by
the throat when ut this juncture
another passing prospector seeing tho |
situation drew up his 30-30 Winchester |
and planted an explosive ball in the |
BEARS head, nearly tearing it from his
shoulders, and thus saved the man.
The country at the head of Nome |
river is very rough; jagged peaks raise
themselves out of huge masses of lime |
stone that cling ragged and shapeless, |
and in chaotic confusion. Hooded in |
snow their extreme peaks stand ghost
ly and solemn in the distance, with fog
hanging at times round their tops in |
drapery folds, as if mantling them in
film-like fabric, lifting them into weird |
and magnificent grandeur amid their |
lonliness and silent solitude.
CHAS. S. BELL.