Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-10-05
ROMANCE OF GOLD.
Death of KIondyke King Recalls Wis
ions of Fabulous Wealth.

Death Of KIondyke King Recalls Wis.,
ions of Fabulous Wealth.
Like the story Of the life Of the
Montezuma, who had lost his great
er wealth, yet was building again in
the way of an enchanted adventurer,
reads the life Of Alexander McDon-
aid, known in the north for long
time as the king Of all Klondyke
kings, and affectionately referred to
here as "Big Alex" or the big
Moose" The fact Mr.. Mcdonald, on
his claim near here, died last week,
has brought about a revival In stories
Of the life and fortune and misfor-
tunes of big Alex"
From Angus Camerson Of Dawson
much Is learned of the early life Of
Mr.. Mcdonald. He was born in q lit
tie settlement called Ashdale, two
miles from the head Of Loeb, Aber
county Of Antagonist, in the province
of Nova Scotia In the family were
six sons, Of which Alex was the
fourth and four daughters. His
fathers name was William McDon-
aid, who with William Chisholm, faith
er of Thomas Chisholm, came from the
highlands of Scotland, Mcdonald, Sr,
settled on a good piece Of land and In
time became one Of the wealthiest
farmers in this section.
Alex had arrived at mans estate,
was 2S years old before he left the
parental roof. His first venture away
from home was in the state Of Penn
sylvania, where he went into the
logging business, but failing to meet
with the success he desired, he dispos-
ed Of his scanty interests and departed
for Montana, where he had his first
experience in mining the precious
metals.
From Montana he drifted to Colo
RADIO, first working for wages In the
mines adjacent to Leadville, and soon
afterward going to Aspen. 1t was at
the latter place where he acquired
the education that made him one OF
the best quartz miners ever in the
north. For twelve years he remain
ed here, working all the time and
generally for wages. Having finally
saved up little grub stake, he secur-
ed a lease on a piece OF property In
the camp that was of unknown Value.
Sinking for the lead was undertaken,
and at about the same time his little
bank account was exhausted, the heav-
H., t..
1t was in 1895 that Mr.. Mcdonald
came inside, landing at Forty-Mile
and proceeding within few days to
Miller and Glacier creeks, which at
that time were the principal points OF
attraction in that district. That same
summer Pete Wyberg had arrived at
San Francisco with 257 pounds or
gold in an old tin trunk that In a rev
years he had taken from claim on
Miller and it had caused a consider
able talk among the old placer Hii-
ners of California.
Joe Barrette was on Miller at the
time of Alexis arrival For a short
period he worked for wages, but as
soon as he had acquired knowledge
of mining in the north he secured a
lay, which yielded but small recon-
pense for the labor involved. In the
cleanup of the spring Of '96 he had
$500 left after paying his bills, and
that poke the bulk Of the summer was
cashed in Joe Barrette's cabin.
Cormack's strike was made August
16 that same year, the news was NOT
reaching the Sixty-Mile district until
meantime had left in July for the
outside. taking a small boat from
Forty Mile to Circle, where he caught
steamer, and in connection with this
brief tale of the early life Of the
Klondyke it may be of interest to
know how near Joe came to owning
one of the richest claims on Eldora-
do.
A few weeks later came the discov-
cry that electrified the world, ana
this same man NORM made the run
from Miller creek to the klondyke IN
company with Alex Mcdonald. The
former staked, but Alex did not; in
fact. strange as 1t may appear OF all
the hundreds of claims that have been
owned in the Klondyke and adjacent
territory by big Alex he never staked
one himself.
The ground staked by NORM was
none other than 22 Eldorado, which
afterward was to become famous as
part of the estate Of Alex Caldor, so
long in litigation. NORM made his
location early in September and with
in a month had sold half interest to
Billy Haze for $3.50. He returned to
Circle for the winter, selling the 9TH
er half to Duncan Mcdonald for a
song, end the entire claim passing
into the hands of Mcdonald and Cal
der in September, 1897, at big fig
ure. From that day to this Joe Bar
rette hes never seen NORM and thus a
fortune slipped through his fingers.
Dawson letter in Seattle Post-1ntel-
! lligencer.