The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-10-14

anchor and and It gold-plated was the
essence Of this experience, and II 30
excited several men that they tmmedi-
ateIy proposed to abide their time and
then organize an expedition to get the
precious metal. News Of this and other
experiences has already reached towns
on the Pacific coast and rush of for
tune hunters has already begun, and
Captain Moon believes that IL the pre-
Nminary and rather crude mining |
should show any encouragement
TERRA del Fuego will become q center
of world interest, and that that long
| uninhabited and desolate region will,
like the Klondike, become thriving
| community. 4&
| The lightship took course through
Smiths channel in the straits and one
night was anchored in Columbian
cove in nineteen fathoms Of water,
with the ships stern within fifty feet
of the rocky promontory. SO deep was
the water in the region that it was
necessary to put the vessel close TO
the rocks in order to get bottom Tor
the anchor.
When the anchor was hove to the
bow next morning 1t was completely
covered with yellow metallic stain.
Among the crew was q miner working
his way to Dawson City, and a man
Of many years. experience in the gold
! fields of the world. He gave the stain
on the anchor close and critical 1nspec-
ton and announced positively that the
anchor was covered with gold stain
/ and that 1t had all night been hooked
, In a stratum of gold. The miner sale
= that with proper tools men could make
l fortunes getting out the gold that must
4 be In large quantities to show such
UNIQUE evidence. The miner immedi-
ately changed his plan about going to
q Dawson and said that he would stop
q In San Francisco to try and get some
J. one to grubstake him and start an ex
'. petition to Terra del Fuego for gold
In his letter 1t Is apparent that Captain
Moon Is also slightly touched with thu
:: gold fever, and Il would not be sur
- prising to hear that the veteran mar
- liner has Joined the expedition.
y Captain Moons letter is dated from
20 CaIlao, Peru, and tells in charming
sailor fashion Of the wonders Of thu
y passage through the straits. The light
10 ship spent six days in the straits ant
Le Smiths channel.
70 It was Captain Moons first trtl
a through Smiths channel, as on hi
u previous voyage he had negotiate
Cape Horn by way Of the straits an
II Cape PILES. Every night the vesse
m anchored and the sturdy captain fel
u a touch of sentiment when he refec
10, ed on the vastness of the universe an
Is, the smallness Of man. These thought
et were encouraged by the enormot
mountains rising boldly out Of the sc
ce and the magnificent scenery that the
OIL produced. With peaks ice and sno
te: capped, the mountains were verdai
as for about two-thirds Of their h5igi
I'd from the sea.
:er There was no house nor sign
le- jewellers .n this vast loneliness, WI
&c exception of occasional glimps
ma Of canoe with four or Ave huge Pat
e., CONAN savages, who would appear
JUS a most mysterious manner from Il
nd MANY caverns that lined the beac
ot. Seamen implicitly believe the tales
ar. cannibalism extant against these
The gantic savages and they regard the
with no friendly eye.
10 The balance of Captain Moons Il
vn, ICE 'ellS h"l 'n0A