The Chitina leader., 1913-09-16

interestingly of how Carmack struck gold in the now famous Klondike, as follows:
 How the richest gold strike of American history was made because a prejudiced prospector had ob- jected to the presence of two red skin companions of George Car mack was the wonder-story-one that never grows old even to those who know its drift-with which the discoverer of the Klondike at ban quet in his honor held spellbound a group of his Northland associates of two decades past.
 The occasion was an observance of Discovery Day, the anniversary of the first gold strike in the Klon- dike, made by Carmack, August IT, 1896, participated in by members of Seattle Lodge of the Yukon Order of Pioneers. Carmack, who now lives in Seattle, was guest of honor.
 The gathering, which was held at The Rathskeller, was one unique in many respects. Not only were present more than a score of the best-known personages of the most spectacular gold rush of the century, but, as we'll, in the center of the group sat the most important figure of all the stampede's history-the man who started it.
 Carmack, who like most men of the great open places and frontier, is reserved and yields us treasures of personal reminiscence reluctantly, unexpectedly yielded to a request made that he devote his part of the speechmaking to a detailed first hand story of the great strike. Old timer-like, once he had agreed to the proposition he undertook to make the narrative complete work, be- ginning with his boyhood days.
 The veteran prospector went into the North in youths search of ad- venture more than with any purpose of mining and fortune hunting, when he first sailed up the southeastern coast quarter of century ago. In 1889 he became established in hunt ing, fishing, trapping and prospect ing about the Southwest In the several years following his migra- tions led him towards the interior but seldom more than week s journey. He had heard vague re- ports of mining activities 500 or 800 miles back from the coast, of the diggings at Circle and Forty-mile and had been Iured through his love of wanderlust by the tempting sweep of the mighty Yukon when he had happened upon it's headwaters. He knew he could launch a canoe upon the swift current and keep going for hundreds of miles always penetrating new and little explored regions. Forty Mile was on the way. Finally with friends he had made among the natives, he pulled up stakes and became a voyageur He landed in Fortymile and joined the little handful of white people settled there. Gold was the talk everywhere and the fever soon had him as new victim.
 One of his earliest big hikes I out of Fortymile took Carmack uI to the mouth of a river the Indians pronounced Throndak-the Klon. dike, for there it had been planned to make a big catch of fish with which, in Fortymile, grubstake l could be obtained Fishing proved to be poor, however, and Carmack gave it up. With Dawson Charlie and "Skookum Jim," his two Indian companions, he went back inland a few miles and there, on what now is known as Gold Run Creek, found veteran prospector, Bob Tender. son. The latter had been finding encouraging "dirt." Carmack pro- posed that he remain and do little prospecting. Henderson, gruff Scotchman, assented but told Car mack them damn Siwashes will have to get out; they can't stake in these diggings."
 Carmack's loyalty to his copper hued friends caused him to make a stand in their behalf. There was a row, and Carmack, with the Indians left the creek. On their return they