Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-15
AN ALAEKAN ROMANCE
HOW JAFErr LINDEBERa WON
0oLDgAND A WIFE.
Accidental Discovery Of Rich Placer
Mines Of Great Wea1th-Defense
of,the discovery.

the coin of the realm, arrived in Washing
ton today. and is registered at the New
Willard. His greatest wealth, according
to his own statement, is but recently ac-
quired, for he is not registered as plain
"Jafet Lindeberg'' "Jafet Lindeberg and
wife" Around this bride and bridegroom
Is woven a romance that rivals the most
fantastic fiction and bedims the story OF
Aladdin and his wonderful lamp" for even
the bride is golden-haired.
According to the story, which Is gospel
among the "sourdoughs'' and pioneers of
Alaska, Lindeberg, in the fall of 1898. was
caring for the needs of herd OF reindeer
on some obscure arctic meadow, receiving
the magnificent stipend of - per month
and found which in that country means
enough bacon and beans to keep body and
soul together. One day while bordering
over his possible future he encountered an
other Swede, named Lindblom, who had de-
serted whaling vessel. where he had been
serving as a common seaman. The two be-
came friends, and Lindeberg determined to
forsake his flock for the uncertain quest or
gold.
Neither Lindeberg nor Lindblom knew
gold when they saw it, and to onset their
ignorance made the acquaintance of one
John Brynteson. tall and angular Swede,
whose life had been spent in the mines OF
Montana and Colorado. Brynteson was shy
on the only article of which his companions
sequently the firm was possessed of the es-
sential neutrality-suspicious. plus capital. Sup
plies were obtained and the three set out
ostensib1y for Norton sound, which bounds
the north of the Nome peninsula.
Greatest Placer Mines.
Lindeberg. Lindblom and Brynteson were
making good progress on their journey,
when one evening they decided to make
camp in a desolate little valley about four
miles from the Boring sea and a hundred
miles from Norton sound. One of the
three which one has never been determln-
ed. uncovered a nugget of gold while driy-
ing tent stake into the ground. Forthwith
was discovered the greatest placer mines in
the history of the world. and from that mo-
ment the. fortune of these three hardy
pioneers has increased from fifty pounds
of flour and a pot of beans to S50,G00O0O
and unlimited credit
For this condition of affairs Lindeberg
assumes no credit. but lots of comfort.
He good-naturedly admits the truth of
the adage, "a fool for luck" but argues
in his behalf that he has managed to hold
on to his wealth, which he CONSTITUTES to
be evidence of considerable common
sense. Those who know him declare he
has acquired as much through shrewd
manipulation of his properties and those
of the mining company, of which he Is
president as he acquired from the miners
luck
Romance and trouble were introduced
into Lindeberg's life at the same mo-
ment, and although he has fallen, pierced
to the quick by the dart of Dan Cupid,
he has surmounted the troubles and per-
manently established his title to half a
hundred mines In the vicinity of Anvil
creek. where, the first discovery was
made. 49, -
Story of the Discovery.
The story of the discovery sped over
the snow-c6vered hills like wildfire, and
within month 1000 excited miners were
hurrying hither and tkither up and down
the adjacent valleys, looking for the yell
low metal. Nine out of ten of this first
influx struck It rich, but human nature
must exert itself, and one morning Lin
deberg awcke to find other stakes driven
into his claim and his title challenged
Force and firearms were resorted to and
the squatterS evicted. But the Swedes
had few friends at that crucial time, and
no sooner was one fmpostor disposed OF
when another appeared.
Finally the now famous party of law
yers, professional claim jumpers and sub
sidized deputy sheriffs arrived on the scene,
under the leadership of men who have since
served time in. California prisons for at
tempting to defraud miners of their just
claims.
One Of these went out to Lindeberg s
claim, drove stake In one corner,
announced his ownership. and then APP
prevent Lindeberg or his partners from re-
moving any gold until the title had been
legally determined. The scheme, as it
afterward developed, was to delay litiga
tion make 1t as costly as possible, and
finally Judge NUyes was to decide in favor
of McKenzie's professional claim jumper
The mines in the meantime were to be
turned over to- receiver, and the brazeu
courage of the bench was demonstrated
when Mckenzie was appointed to tfis posi-
ton It was hoped to clean up half a mil
liam dollars while the case was being pro-
longed in court, all of which would be
taken charge of by the receiver.
But the three Swedes were not such fools
as the court presumed, and a special ennis
sary was dispatched to San Francisco and
William H. Metson Of the firm of Reddy.
Campbell & MetsOn was selected to go t.
Nome. Metson was one of those ideal
western lawyers who carry a ca1f-bound
volume in one hand and a six-shoeter in
the other. Without the combination OF
these two eminent authorities Nelson would
never have met with success in Alaska in
that strenuous summer of 1900
Nelson had a sister, and here is where
the romance comes In, for the bride who is
today registered at the New Willard is Mrs
Josephine Metson Lindeberg. Mr.. Metson
and the sister left Immediately for Nome
arriving there late in June, 1900. The three
Swedes greeted him with open arms and
told their troubles in full.
An Exciting Summer.
The story of the succeeding summer is
most thrilling. There were gun plays ga
lore, and Nelson's life threatened a dozen
times. The lawyer insisted upon justice,
however and t became known that his re-
volver was as ready as his advice. His eff
forts were awarded ultimately by the arrest
Of Judge Noyes, Mckenzie and several Of
their attorneys and subsidiaries They were
convicted in San Francisco, and the Swedes
again came into their own
While Metson was carrying on the war
Lindeberg would liuger in the office where
Miss Metson spent most of her time. He
was young, good Hooking and of admirable
physique, and sheTEwell, she was Impressed.
The two became friends. and Miss Metson
undertook to- teach Lindeberg better En-
glish than he had DIT his command when he
washed the dirt from that first Nome mug
get The story - told that the first SEN
tence he learned to write was 1T love Won -
but this is not a matter OF record
The Nelson's returned to San Francisco.
and Lindeberg followed He was enter.
tanned at the Metson home, and society
gave him its approval thanks to the tut