The Chitina leader. [volume] (Chitina, Alaska) 1910-1928, 1914-03-03

neman, who is in Cordova to attend
the term of court which convenes
here tomorrow, has received word
from Deputy Marshal James War
dell, of Katalla, that James Hick-
for3, prospector, is believed to
have persisted. Hickford, who Is an
Australian miner, left Yaktaga
beach to go to Katalla intending to
take the steamer there for the states.
He has not been heard from since,
although several persons have COW
cred the route over which he must
have passed. He had supplies for
ten days only and must have starved
to death unless he reached some
camp. 1t is feared that he was
drowned while crossing some of the
streams which are dangerous at this
season of the year.
III a letter that has just been re-
ceived in Fairbanks from Art
Marsh, who is in Johnson City in
the Shushanna district, it is ex-
planned that there are now 400
cabins at that place, and that the
prospects are good for an active
season there.
The owners of ground are de-
handing 40 per cent of the gold
taken from their claims, when
asked by prospective operators for
terms. The cost of getting freight
shipped in over the glacier is As
cents pound.
Sam Shucklin, former mer-
chant of Fairbanks, has a store at
Johnson City, and is shipping his
supplies by dog team a distance of
70 miles. Mr.. Shucklin started last
fall to take goods to the Shushanna
district, and was snowbound when
70 miles away. He is drawing from
this store as he needs the supplies.
1t is explained in Mr.. Marsh's
letter that the people who SIAM
peded to Ladue creek, which is in
the British territory, are now re-
turning to the Shushanna district,
declaring that Ladue creek is a
frost. Fairbanks Citizen.
The problem of getting out lum-
Der for sluicing the coming season is
now confronting some of those who
plan to work on the pay creeks in
the heart of the Shushanna. Recent
arrivale report some of the men IN
the camp are whipsawing lumber.
They have peeled their mackinaws
and have gotten down to the drag
in good old KIondike fashion.
1t is understood the whipsawed
lumber brings Is to 20 cents foot
or $3.50 to $500 a thousand in the
camp. This is not considered ex-
cessive considering the cost Of ma
terial laid down in the camp under
present conditions.
Some who will operate on
Bonanza in the canyon this spring
are considering the likelihood OF
being washed out by freshets. 1t
is understood that prior to the 18th
ofNune heavy flood of water goes
down Little Eldorado and Bonanza
to Johnson, and it is feared it viii
carry everything before it.
Heavy rains n summer, it is
feared, also may cause floods of
water to rush down the canyons,
and possibly take out sluice boxes,
and fill workings with tailings. But
the boys on the rich ground are
willing to take chances, and will
prepare as best they can against the
contingencies. Most of the places in
the Bonanza canyon are narrow,
wide enough for only one or two
'sluice boxes to be set up parallel
and leave room for the men to
work. 1t was early in May when
the James party found the gold On
Bonanza last year, and the snow
then was not all off the ground.
Sluicing is expected to begin in
June.
1t is understood some of the pros
pectors sinking on O'Brien creek are
down so far they are thawing no
longer with wood fires, but are
using hot rocks.
John ". Swift, paymaster of the
government party which is trans
porting the coal from the Matanuska
fields to Knik, was in Seward re-
Gently and told of the unpleasant
mess which had occurred between
Il 1Dalton and himself. He denied
LaA.,f any blows had been struck and
Stated that the matter had been
greatly exaggerated. Everything was
moving along nicely with every pros
beet of landing the last of the 900
hons of coal on the beach at Knik
before the middle of March.
Mr.. Swift explained that the con-
fflict between Dalton and himself
Aarose over the fact that he had been
himited to an expenditure of $4,000
per month and that the expenses of
1.-THE first month were in excess of
$4,000. When he demonstrated with
SDalton, the latter had told him he
f'would do as he d pleased
and he did. The paymaster denies
That he dismissed any of the men or
otherwise attemptd to hinder Dali
ION in setting out the coal. The sum
allowed by the navy department.
f75,OOO, to mine the 800 tons of
bal in the Matanuska fields and
/ Transport 1t to tidewater had been
Exhausted. Mr.. Swift explained the
matter to the men engaged on the
work but they all decided to stay on
The Job and trust to Uncle Sam MAX
ing good on their wages. 1t is esti-
mated that it will require about
k12.O00 to finish the work and it
HAS for the purpose of taking the
halter up with the department by
,Eire that Mr.. Swift came out to
Seward.
4 It is feared that a tragedy has
Aheen enacted on Long Bay whereby
llRen Howell and Arthur DeRoche
fsay have lost their lives. The men
" ksnt TO Long Bay, which is about