The Alaska daily empire., 1916-05-04
DROSPECTORS ARE RUSHING
 TO NEW FIELD

from Ophir on Sunday last with me news of a strike in the lnnoko dis trict, and as news continued to drift in from other sources, by Wednes- day there had developed a full aedged stampede to the new discoy- cry which threatened to depopulate the entire Iditarod district of an the able-bodied mon who could get away says the Iditarod Pioneer which has just arrived at Juneau in the malls. Probably for tho first time in the history of the city the streets were practically free from dogs, every available animal being requisitioned for hauling supplies, and those who have been agitotinig for 8 dogless city had Q chance to see how their ideas would work out fl put into execution.
 By Wednesday morning tho stam- pede fever was at it's height, but all day Thursday and on Friday, more men and teams were leaving for the scene of the new discovery. It was current talk that had the election for city councilmen been set for day later there would scarcely have been sufficient men left to hold an election.
 Arrivals from Ophir reported a similar condition in that lively little town, but the Innoko stampeders had a start oi several days over their Iditarod brethren. By this time there must be hundreds at the scene of the excitement, and by to- morrow or next day returning mush- CTS may give more definite infor- nation regarding the prospective new camp.
 Origin Of the Stampede
 The news that started the stam- pede was brought to Ophir on the night of March 29 by Andy Schwartz dahl, who claimed that he had found pay on Mastodon Creek. about ten miles from It's mouth. It was on a tributary of Mastodon creek-Boob creek-that excellent prospects were recently discovered which resulted in small stampede from Ophir Boob is tributary of Mastodon which is a tributary of the Tolstoi. the latter forming Q junction with the Ditna and flowing into the h. noko few miles above Dishakaket
 Mir. Schwartzdahl exhibited gold which he had banned from his claim, which was flat and heavy and had run through three feet of gravel. His pannings had shown results Of anywhere from 10 cents to 30 cents This was on shallow bench ground, averaging about ten feet in depth. The creek bed Is said to be wet ground. and there has been little or no prospecting there.
 More Good News
 The news of the find spread rap- idly in Ophir, and ,by morning Of the 3Oth the male population was noticeable for It's absence. Most of the male residents were lon their way, and dog teams were at prem ium.
 To add to the existing excitement. what was deemed to be reliable news came that Greer & McNulty. on Boob creek. the scene of the re- cent stampede, had struck pay. Re ports were that they had three feet of gravel that banned anywhere from cents to S5 cents. The dirt seemed. to be getting better AS they proceed ed with their drift. There were al- ready about twenty men on that creek. with three small boilers. The ground was ssid to be all frozen, and there was depth of thirty-five feet to bedrock.
 Latest Reports
 Mastodon creek is about thirty miles from Ophir by the trail, and about sixty-two miles from Iditarod The creek is said to be about flf- teen to twenty miles in length. Re ports differ It is said that small gasoline craft can get within four or five miles Of the new strike. The distance from Iditarod by water, however. is several hundred miles.
 Besides Mastodon and Boob creeks which have been the Mecca of the stampeders, Hurst creek, which is likewise Q tributary of Mastodon. has been staked for Q considerable dis tance.
 The reports are to the effect that the two places in which pay has been struck are four or five miles apart. There has been no develop ment work. and of course no pay streak has been lined up.
 Sure Sternberg, who has been spending the winter on the Outside, returned on Wednesday last. He heard repoEts of the strike while at Ophir. and joined the stampede. lie and his partner. Sir Norris. staked on Hurst>creek. Sure confirmed the report that good pay had been found as stated above. On Boob creek. he said, there was little gravel. running from few inches to three feet. He says the general impression D is that the find is a most promising one.
 Billy Richardson. a well-known old timer. also on his way to Iditarod from the Outside. arrived here last Thursday after having visited the new diggings, and staked on Hurst creek. He also was well impressed with the outlook on Mastodon.
 The district in which the new find was made has for years been con- sidered @ promising district by pros pectors, and men who know the country believe that there is every possibility of a rich mining country being openeS up.