The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17
COVENANT WINS
NINE At NOME
Famous "No. 8" Upon Anvil
Creek and S250,O00 Go to
Swedish Missions by Award
ARBITRATORS SO DECREE
Long Contention Secures Not
Less Than S350,00O for
Evangelization Of Alaska


Walter H. Soderberg has received a
dispatch from Chicago from N Soder-
berg. which contains news that will
be Of interest TO every Scandinavian in
the United States, to every miner and
tpersOn interested in mining in the
Nome district and to countless others
who have watched the progress Of
somewhat unusual proceedings.
The essential point contained in the
dispatch is that the arbitrators ap-
pointed TO determine rival claims to
the famous mining claim. NO.
Above" on Anvil Creek, have decided,
at Chicago, that TO the Swedish Evan
gelical Covenant Of America OF Chi
cago belongs the property, and with
the decision goes an award Of S26S GOO
for gold taken from the claim. This
sum is supposed TO be recover
able. The property is estimated 10
have at least Sl00. 600 Of value remain
ing in il, so that the decision gives to
the Swedish Society practically $685. 500
for the purpose OF prosecuting mission
ary work among the natives Of Alaska.
There is quite a story connected with
the famous mining claim, its discov-
cry and operation In the arbitration
that has lust come 10 a close, p. H.
Anderson and the White Star Mining
Gompany and Claes w. johnson Of
thicago were the parties nominally in
terested. Back Of them was the Swed-
ish religious society and its hope Of
converting TO Christianity the natives
OF Alaska. The original idea in the
"a
Greek was TO provide means TO carry
on the missionary work among the
Eskimos. The mining land in the
claims is l32Ox600 feet in dimensions.
The Swedish Evangelical Covenant Ct
America Of Chicago some years ago
established a missionary station at
GoloVin Bay ard also other mission
stations in Alaska. The Rev. Or. y.
c.. 5ultberg was given charge OF the
Goiovin Bay station. There were build
ines, boats and other cOnveniences at
iilat place Tor carrying on missionary
work Among the picturesque acces-
sOries Was a herd Of reindeer Holt
berg made uD the frst party that Wis
tied the Nome district. which was in
1asS. On that occasion no claims We're
staked out Retiring to GOlovin Bay.
another party L. visit Nome was plan
he'd by Hultberg.. He was taken iu
and he soon after left Alaska To return
\ the United States. He left p H.
derson in charge of the mission sta
ton at Golovin Bay.
FIRST CLAIMS STAKED.
The second party from Golovin Bay
went TO Nome in September, 1898 On
-
party staked for themselves and for
their friends and associates. Then, ac-
cording 10 the story that has formed
the basis Of the decision just rendered
IN Chicago. the minds Of the visiting
Swedes turned TO the idea of stalking
for the benefit OF the missionary work
among the natives in Alaska. A claim
was staked out for p. H. Anderson.
The famous No. g" was intended for
the benefit Of the mission work. This
claim was set aside in the name Of
two Eskimo boys called Constantine
and Gabriel by the Swedes. Before the
claims We're recorded advice was re-
ceived that EskimOs could not hold
the property and that it was better
10 relocate in the name of a citizen
OF the United States. Accordingly No.
was locat ted in the name Of L. w.
Price Of Sonora. Cal. by G. w. Price,
an attorney. Soon after this il was
conveyed to p. Il. Anderson, who was
in charge Of the missionary station at
Golovin Bay.
The claim proved to be very rich.
II has produced hundreds Of thou
sands OF dollars. possibly $4,000
above the cost OF production. Out of
this grew the controversy that has
stirred the Scandinavians in the United
States and has figured in the delibera-
tions I'm one annual conference Of the
Swedish Evangelical Covenant of
America. Anderson held on TO. the
property standing in his name and to
much OF the proceeds therefrom.
Walter y. Soderberg and the Rev. DR..
became interested. Soder-
berg suggested a visit TO Chicago and
the facts relating 10 the location of
the no. 9" claim were discussed thor
oughly. In the meantime the claim
had been worked between three and
four years by Anderson. He donated
at different times something like
y 1000 in total to the Swedish Evan
gelcal Covenant. Suit was threatened
lDi AiAE ItlDNtIN OL Ait ullIt. Dul lflS
was obviated by a binding agreement
on the part OF the parties in interest to
abide by any decision that should be
reached by arbitration.
ESKIMOS BRING SUIT.
One OF the early developments was
a suit in behalf of the Eskimo boy,
Constantine, and the heirs Of the other
Eskimo boy, Gabriel. The last named
lad il reported to have died in desti-
tuition IN Nome. This suit was dis
posed OF by compromise. The claim |
I'm dispute was conveyed by Anderson |
TO DR.. claes w. Johnson Of Chicago. /
who al AIRED in the subsequent pro- /
ceedings as the absolute owner OF the |
White Star Mining Company, TO which |
the mine WAS conveyed. Last June.
AZ the annual conference of the Swed- I
Ish Evangelical Covenant. the mining /
property was talked about and it was
decided TO proceed to get possession /
of Il.
After some time a plan for the for
nation Of an arbitration board was !