Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-10-27

on shipboard when he came to this
country from Europe. All three set out
for the Yukon country, selecting the
overland route because it cost less and
their funds were limited. They started
on horseback. but their animals died OF
starvation. Then they took to boats on
the rivers of northern Canada. Which
flow toward Hudson bay and the
northwest The hardships they endured
were terrible. Scurvy killed the Hol-
lander and the Belgium youth died OF
exposure and lack Of proper food.
Spends Three Years With indians.
Left alone far from the habitations
of man Won Hammerstein was forced to
| live as best he could. He turned back
and making friends with the Canadian
Indians. who took him in, he lived with
them for three years. existing as they
existed, by hunting. trapping, and fish
ing.
IL was during this stay that Won
Hammerstein cruised along the Atha-
basca river and had his first sight OF
the asphaltum deposits north o. Fort
McMurray Won Hammerstein already
knew of these deposits. Sir Mckenzie,
the English explorer of the northwest,
for whom the Mckenzie river Is named,
had written of them as early In 1874.
Ten years ago there was no railroad
nearer than $50 miles and their isola-
ton, and difficulties of tran portation,
had kept prospectors out.
Returns to Local Land.
Returning 10 the states von Ham
rnerstei learned for the first time that
the Spanish American war had been
fought. Going TO the Indian territory
for a few
Years for exploitors of oil properties,
| but all the time he kept in mind the
lasphaltum deposits he had seen along
the banks of the Athabascaf river. In
| 1904 he returned to Fort McMurray. He
staked out claims, under the Canadian
flaws which az that time were much
more liberal than they are now. With
what money he had he started develop
inent When his money was exhausted
| ne applied to friends for help and they
grnbstaked him. Ruth and Willard got
Into the game in 1905, thru friends OF
theirs. who were already interested. In
| the subsequent years they and others
have furnished part of the money
that has made It possible to drag OIL
we'll boring machinery overland 3oU
miles.
Since then wells have been sunk, OIL
has been found, the property has been
surveyed and the boundaries defined
the worth of the property having to DE
proved before title could be secured
1t has only been within the last year
that the Canadian government has CIV
len title to the land.
Road is Being Built.
Now a railroad is under the course
of construction north from Edmonton
labout 900 miles to Fort McMurray
Part Of the right of way is graded ane
lit is expected the road will be finished
lin 1911. Won Hammersteln says the
supply of asphaltum and oil is mex
haustible. In places he says the asphai'
t,1nl crops out in immense banks front
ing the river In other places the
heavy tar like oils, that make up mucf
OF the basis of asphalturn, ooze out O
the ground in springs For many years
the Indians had known OF these ta'
springs and when necessity had urget
them they gathered tar from them t
stop the cracks of their canoes. TO
wears the Hudson Bay Company, whicl
has trading post at Fort McMurray
has tarred the roofs Of its building
with this raw product of the soil.
Count Won Hammerstein left Weo
nesday night for Minneapolis.