BIT OF LOCAL HISTOBY
(Communicated.)
Elliott L. Gaetz, who passed away at
Seattle on January 21st, and oi whose
death mention was made in The Post,
was a man who might he given special
notice here as he was one of the first
to play an important part in the devel
opment of Central Alaska.
Discovery claim, Eureka creek, Ram
part recording district, was staked in
Gaetz’s name. The ground was located
in the fall of 1808; pay was found on
the claim, and it goes down in the his
tory of Alaska as tho first paystreak to
be mined in the Taoana valley. Men
tion has beeu made where prospects
have been found at an earlier date than
recorded here, but Gaetz’s claim was
the first to be mired on a paying basis.
When the rich finds of the North
land began to reach the shores off the
Far East, Gaetz, who was ever an en
ergetic youth, had saved a considerable
sum from his earnings, and together
with a party of young men like him
self departed for the Rich Eldorado.
The “discovery” party, which was
seven in number, consisted of the fol
lowing old timers: Billy Welch, Wm.
Ramsey, Angus Hebb, Spires, Russell,
Moore, and our departed friend, Gaetz.
This party left the city of Boston in
the spring of 1898.
We will pass over the trials that
beset these hardy cheechacos in get
ting “through,” and will confine our
remarks to the locality in which they
first turned tlie moss on Alaska’s do
plain.
The party came up the Tanana in the
fall of ’98, and finding themselves at
the mouth of a large creek, steered
their craft up the stream to a favorable
landing place The creek was what is
now known as “Baker.”
A couple of the party were handy
with an axe, and before embarking on
their quest they all fell to and built a
large, roomy cabin—so large that it
was nicknamed “The Fort.”
> Most of the party had been trained
to city life and knew little or nothing
about handling an axe, found it a diffi
cult job to do the G. Washington act.
It has been said that their first efforts
left a mark on the standing timber
which was hard to tell from the gnaw
ings of beaver*—which were quite plen
tiful at that time.
The party, after finding themselves
COMING AND GOING
R. W. Calderhead and family re
turned last Saturday from a trip of two
weeks duration to Fairbanks.
Mrs. R. R. Stoddard and Mrs. Kay,
of Gibbon, passed through the Springs
early this week enroute to their old
home in New York state on a visit.
’‘Baby” Stoddard, a fine-looking young
ster of about three years, accompanied
the party.
“Bad” Karshner, the Hot Springs
juror, returned from Fairbanks last
Saturday, having been discharged from
further duty at court. Ho is now mak
ing ready for early vegetables at the
big hothouses.
Mrs. E. J. Ives and little daughter
Luella, of Sullivan cieek, spent several
days in town this week.
C. R. Corbusier, the energetic mail
superintendent, arrived from up-river
Tuesday last, after spending a week
looking over the various mail stations.
He journeyed as far as Washburn—
about 60 miles above Fairbanks. Mr.
Corbusier’s string of dogs and equip
ment is the finest outfit that has vis
ited the town this winter.
L. E. Anderson, of Sullivan creek,
was a visitor in town last Tuesday and
Wednesday.
Mrs. Krogh and daughter Bina ar
rived from Sullivan creek last week tc
t Attend the party at the Drake home,
and remained over for the St. Patrick’s
day ball. Mr. Krogh came in Satur
day and returned home on Sunday.
| FJ. A. Johnson, the well-known minei
of Sullivan creek, arrived in town last
Tuesday and remained for th© St. Pat
rick’s day ball.
James Preston Smith, a very popular
/‘little man” of Rampart, accompaniec
settled, commenced to work their way
up the creek and prospect. They soon
found themselves at the mouth of an
other creek. After much panning on
this tributary they found colors. This
creek they named “Eureka.” They
continued their way up Eureka creek,
panning as they went, till they reached
the mouth of another stream which
they named “Boston,” and here they
located good prospects, and sank thoir
first shaft. The party atdifferent times
worked Nos. 1 and 2 below discovery.
Later the party separated to work dif
ferent claims.
Gaetz and his two partners (Hebb
and Spires) branched out for them
selves, and later when pay dirt had
been found on Glen gulch, they bought
from Miss Garrett a divided one-half
interest in No. 4. The purchase proved
a profitable venture-.
Tt was shortly after they had cleaned
up the cream on No. 4 that Spires
dropped out, leaving the firm of Hebb
& Gaetz, and this partnership con
tinued during their many years to
gether, and only terminated in Gaetz
leaving the country for good.
Hebb & Gaetz were the first to mine
on Doric creek, and were the first dis
coverers of pay on Skookum gulch. On
the last-named creek these boys cleaned
up a comfortable homestake.
They were the first to work ground
in the Tanana valley by bedrock drain.
One cannot think of Gaetz without
associating him with hard work. He
was ever at it. Gaetz was a studious
fellow, had a pleasing disposition, and
was an entertaining talker. He had
for many years been a sufferer from
heart trouble, which ultimately re
| suited in his death.
Gaetz shortly after leaving the coun
try settled in Seattle where he went
into business. He married a beautiful
girl from his home town, who was a
school ma’am. He leaves her and one
baby girl to mourn his loss. The widow
took his remains to Muscodubait, Nova
Scotia, the place of his birth.
Mr. Boothby, of the Rampart dis
trict, who was in Seattle at the time,
accompanied the remains and the be
reaved family to the old home.
Mrs. C. D. Carter, of Sullivan creok,
came in Wednesday to attend the ball.
by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank M.
Smith, arrived Tuesday afternoon and
attended the bis hall on Wednesday
night.
M. P. Fleischman, Rampart’s pion
eer postmaster and “crack” violinist,
who paid cur town a short visit, started
for home Thursday morning. Mr.
Fleischman lias resided in Rampart 12
years and this is the second time he has
been on the Tanana side of the divide,
and his first visit to Hot Springs.
F. W. Hawkins, of the Washington
Alaska bank of Fairbanks, has been a
visitor in the district during the pasl
week.
j Mayor and Mrs. Howard, of Kemper
| ville, were among the visitors at th<
j cakewalk and dance Wednesday night
Col. A. B. Ferguson (Democrat) anc
P. L. Palmer were arrivals in the city
| last Wednesday from Fairbanks,
j Ben Baker and Joe Egler, of Sullivar
j creek, were in attendance at the big
i ball on Wednesday.
Jim Jeffries to
Fight Mr. Johnson
San Francisco, March 19.—Jimnr
Coffrotbf the pugilistic matchmaker o
this city, announces that he is positivi
of pulling off a match for the cham
i pionship of the world in San Francisci
between Jim Jeffries and Jack Johnson
the new champion. It will require a
least four months time for Jeffries t<
get in condition for a championshi]
battle, and as be is making big mone
on his eastern theatrical tour, he is ii
no great hurry to fight.
Job Printing at the Post office.
JACK O’HARA
JAMES HIXNNEWELL
The Northern
SULLIVAN CITY
Again at the Old Stand in Our Brand-New Building.
We Carry Only the Best Wines, Liqnors and Cigars
Merchant Mormon
Under the Weather
George L. Morrison, the merchant,
has been confined * to hts room since.
Monday suffering with what i* thought!
to be an abscess of the ear, and up to
the present has been unable to reeeive
relief for any length of time.
One day in early winter while hand
ling some cases of goods in his ware
house several boxes toppled on him,
one of which hit him a good swift jolt
on the ear, which caused him to wear
his head in bandages for a couple of
weeks, but it was thought that he
would be no more troubled from the ac
cident. It is believed that he caught
cold last Sunday by a change of head
gear—a little “rushing of the season,
as it were.
Jerry Ford
Has Accident
Dr. Conley was called to Eureka
creek on Wednesday to attend Jerry
Ford, the roadhouse man, who was in
jured about a week ago while sledding
water with a dogteam. Tho water bar
rel in some manner become unbalanced
on the sled, and as it rolled off struck
Mr. Ford in the lower part of the stom
ach, causing him very painful injury.
Now in Fine
New Home.
The Northern saloon of Sullivan City
which was burned out of house and
home on the 14th of November, and
has since been conducted at Drum
mond’s roadhouse, is once more in a
fine new home of its own, and a suc
cessful opening was held therein last
Wednesday night at wiiich nearly all
the boys on the creek gathered and en
joyed an evening of hilarity. Messrs.
O’Hara & Hunnewell conduct a first
class saloon, and are popular with the
trade. _
Statements neatly printed—The ostP
The
Eagle Bar
Tin Piplar Resort for Miners While l» Rot Sprints
Gibson Rye
nor Moseley & Rockwell
.Stanley House.
HOT SPRINGS’ NEWEST HOTEL
Fine Furnished Rooms $1.50 and $1. Spring Bunks 50c|
FINE RESTAURANT IN CONNECTION OPEN DAY AND WIGHT
Warm Dog Houses F. B. Stanley]
Discovery Roadhouse
JIM DRUMMOND. PROP.
Good, Clean, Comfortable Beds.
Warm Horse and Doff Statius
SULLIVAN CITY
NO BAR
1 - ■
Patrick Has Went
Patrick J. MeKnight, who ha* been
spending the winter in this vicinity
erecting houses and enjoying an occa
sional stampede, on Tuesday morning
last hitched up his famous dog “Shep,”
and in company withCapt. Hugh Dailey,
departed'for Chena, where he will re-1
main until the opening of navigation.
Mr. McKnight left his Hot Springs
property in charge of Michael Kings
ton. _______________
Mr. and Mrs. James Larin, of the
Dugan creek roadh use, came to town
Wednesday to attend the ball.
First National Bank
Elects New Officers
The stockholders of the First Na
tional bank of Fairbanks at a meeting
held on March 6, elected the following:
officers:
President—C. J. Hurley.
Vice-President—John E. Bnonifleld.
Cashier—A. Bruninff
Directors—C. J. Hurley, John E. Bon*
nifield, A. Brunin£, William Brelle
Frank G. Manley and Henry Riley.
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