The Wrangell sentinel., 1921-05-12
Tom Hankin and Dick Inkster Return
 From Trip Into Liard River Country
 Where They Made Startling Discov- cries. = Found Many Places Where the Gravel Surface Was Soaked With Oil.-Samples' Received by Sentinel Sent to a Geologist for Examination.

spread among them, so there was nothing to do but start in, which l did after apologizing to my partner for the racket 1 was about to. start. The Natives evidently seemed de- lighted with my performance as l was applauded and encored al every turn. No grand opera star ever had such an appreciative audience as I had Tn that tightly packed log hut in the lonely northern wilds. I sang them anything that happen ed to, come into my mind, from My Home in Tennessee to Rule Brittania." "
 The tea drinking tendencies of the Indians are enormous, drinking it as they do.. at any time they can get it. They made sad inroads into our sugar sack and tea supply. However. we were able to get more at the post" where there is a large stock of everything necessary for the grub box on such trip. The prices are necessarily high at such place, and, plus the high cost of living, comes rather high. Sugar is 50 cents per pound, flour, three pounds for a dollar.
 We met with courtesy and kind ness from all those with whom we came in contact on our journey. We averaged about 30 miles day with our dog team. It was one of the best dog teams I have ever owned, and l have had many.
 The country is comparatively flat after passing down the Dease river, and mountains can only be seen in the far distance. Game is plentiful and we had no trouble in keeping ourselves supplied with moose meat but there is such thing as know ing how, and it takes a lifetime to learn about the wilds and how to get the best of 1t.
 1 must mention that in getting our samples, we could not help get ting clay and other foreign matter mixed with it. When 1 washed the shovel that 1 had heen digging with the surface of the water became inn mediately covered with an oily sub- stance resemb bling the colors of the rainbow. In places the gravel ap. pears to be soaked with oil, but not enough to get it up without taking up the dirt as we'll.
 The colors and consistency oi the oil varies at different spots, some being thin and light colored, and in other places dark and heavy that is very thick from a greenish black to a dark brown. It seeps out along the foot of the bank al short distances apart as far as we could see where the snow is oil The rock formation is of a shaley character from gray to blue-gray color.
 We did not prospect for gold but there were many places l should have liked to try, but our time and supplies were limited and it was hardly the season for that kind o work as everything was still trozer up. but with proper exploration there is no doubt that this great northland will yet reveal wealtt that will be surprise to the world It is not too difficult of access there. being a downstream water way from Dease Lake into the verN heart of the Lizard country with !; few short portages. Dease Lax is reached from Telegraph Creel 1 by a first class four foot trail, ant Telegraph Greek is reached hy rive gas boat from Wrangell, Alaska The distance from Telegraph Creel to Dease is 72 miles.
 T. E. Hankin.