Iditarod pioneer., 1916-07-08
WE CAN LEARN SOMETHING
 FROM OUTSIDE ACCOUNTS
 OF THE TOLSTOI STAMPEDE

The Pioneer has been careful not to dis seminate misleading news with reference to the Tolstoi strike and while giving all the news obtainable on the subject, has not allowed the imagination of enthusiastic boosters to mislead the public. However, the private correspondent evidently got in his work, and Outside newspapers recently arrived contain some rather lurd stories of the alleged excitement. Taken as a whole, however, these stories are not so wild as some that have gone forth in previous years, and essential facts are not much dis tOrted. In the matter of detail there is material that will afford some amusement. The following is from the Seattle Times of May 21. The deplorable plight of the dredge whose employees all quit is not the least amusing feature of the story, and the fact that Andreafsky and Dishkaket are becoming depopulated will be startling news indeed as these places have been "depopu- lated' for some years:
 "Al of the men in the lower Yukon country are stampede crazy Thousands of mushers from all points of the compass are rushing to the Innoko district. Boob creek is the Mecca of the gcld-hunters. Marshall City, Idtarod, Andreafsky and Dishkaket, on the Yukon side, and George town, McGrath, Bear and other camps in the kuskokwim valley are becoming depop- ulated
 This is the news received from the North in the last mail by Leo Clifford, formerly associated with The Iditarod Pioneer, who reached Seattle about two weeks ago, after a long trip over the ice. In the same mail the Times received confirmation of the strike from correspondent who was in the KuSkokwim valley when the stampede started
 "The original discovery was made on Boob creek, rapidly followed by the discovery of gold on Mastodon, and quickly thereafter on Tolstoi, Hurst and Ledge creeks.
 "The general value of the ground so far uncovered is about &2.50 to the square foot Of bedrock. Every stampeder that returned to Iditarod considered the strike would make new big camp. One man said he didn't think much of it He is the man ager of a dredge Despite his pessimistic opinion, every one of the engineers, winch men and laborers quit and left for the new dgglngs as soon as they could get dog teams together
 Dave Strandberg of Iditarod and Jimmy Pitcher, who discovered Nugget gulch, at Nome are among the lucky ones Pitcher has two claims on Boob creek, and has found pay on both He Is operating from two shafts.
 Louis Nigalius former owner of the Alaska theater. in Seattle, rushed from Iditarod for the scene of the strike. He was followed by Earl Hunt, Earl Byers, Jimmy Riley and a hundred other old timers gathered from all points on the Yu- kon. It is believed that nearly 2000 men have started from different points, and dogs have risen in price nearly 200 per cent. Some of the lower Yukon camps have been depleted of dogs of every description.
 "A townsite has been laid out at the mouth of Boob creek Tie distance Ly water from Iditarod to Cooper, the new town, is several hundred miles, but the dig gings can be reached by dog team travelng across country in 8 sixty mile journey.
 According to a report received from Fairbanks last night, forty-one dog teams left Ruby City about two weeks ago. About
 
 fore the ice went out on the Tanana river, and others are leaving in boats"
 Interesting Account from Juneau
 The following from the Juneau Empire will be reiished by many, especially those who had not the ''get-up' to leave the city
 Idtarod looks like cyclone had struck it., according to letter dated April ? and received in Juneau in the last mail Every body who had the get-up left the city also Flat, for the new strike. The day the letter was mailed report reached Iditarod that the paystreak had been struck on Wilson creek, making four in the Tolstoi district Boob. Mastodon and Marsten Splendid prospects were reported on Ledge, Frisco and Tolstoi, some of the gravel running to S2 to the square foot. No one returning to Iditarod had knocked the new district, and those who did return only remained long enough to secure supplies and hit the trail again.
 "The report of the new strike reached Iditarod April 4. The next night free dance was to be given, but it was called off as every man who could had left on the stampede, and there was none left to dance with the women.
 "Jerry Baker, Ernest Beattie Si Atwell Jonas Brewis and Charlie Taylor, all well known oldtimers in the Interior, were among the stampeders. Henry Weir, Charlie Worden and Earl Hunt joined the stam peders several days later The Larson boys Harry Watson and "Blueberry Jimmy sent their power of attorney. Even Ton EboIIo,y o,J Mo+bor M,Ilo c+ap,DoJod, tbe letter says. Mother Mule is one of the best known four-fo animals in the In terior, and Tom Shallow, the owner, thinks so much of the brute that stall is built in the oneroom cabin, and there he keeps