^MINING a
F. DOUMONTIER, OF WHITE
HORSE, TELLS OF STRIKE
NEAR DALTON POST.
COT CLAIMS NEAR DISCOVERY.
Original Locators Are Reported to
Have Panned Out $100 Late Last
Fall According to Men That Are in
Region Now.
The story of the recent stampede
to the placer gold strike on a stream
about live miles north of west of Dal
ton Post, is told by Frank Doumontier
of the Commercial hotel, at White
horse, a pioneer of southern Yukon.
The Whitehorse newspaper quotes Mr
Doumontier as follows:
“Accompanied by three companions,
McKinnon, Haynes and Jones, I left
Whitehorse November 12 with dog
teams and an ample supply of grub
for a month. The route we had to
travel was about 150 miles to the dig
gings. The weather was very stormy
and the streams we had to cross so
high that it took us eight days to
make the trip between Whitehorse
and t.ho diggings.
Four Days on Creek.
“.We spent four days on the creek,
or rather river, on which discovery is
located, and staked four claims above
!
discovery at places which looked most
favorable to us for working to ad
vantage when the time comes. We
found good prospects, but at two and
a half feet down we were compelled
to desist by reason of water.
“The river, which has an unpro
nouncable Indian name, is a long
stream having its outlet on the Alas
ka coast at Yakutat bay. Its source
is two creeks, which join near where
the discovery of gold was made.
“While I would not advise anyone
to go into that country seeking gold,
I nevertheless firmly believe it to be
all right.
Panned Out $100.
“White men who were on the liver
at the time we reached there inform
ed us they had taken out .$100 in gold
dust with pans from their claims late
last fall. Below the junction of the
two creeks there is a flat 3,000 feet
wide and several miles long that looks
to me like a good hydraulic proposi
tion. Going in by way of Champagne
Landing the country is almost level,
and the river can be reached easily,
either in summer or winter, when
traveling is good.”
On his way back Mr. Doumontier
had quite a narrow escape from death
while crossing Aishik lake.
When he had almost given up hope
of getting through and had about i
made up his mind to abandon every
thing and make a desperate attempt
to reach shore, an Indian musher came
along and rendered the stampeder
such assistanc that he was enabled to
pull through.
WET MONEY HELPS
TO PAY DRY DEBTS
PRO-LIQUOR TREASURER GIVES
FUND MONEY LEFT AFTER EL
ECTION TO PROHIBITIONISTS.
SANTA FE, N. M., Jan. 5.—“Wet
money”—that is, funds contributed by
liquor interests—helped defeat the
pro-liquor propaganda through the
state in the recent campaign over a
constitutional prohibitory amendment,
which was approved by the people.
This became known recently, when
Jacob Levy, of Santa Fe, treasurer of
the pro-liquor organization, let it be
known he had turned over to the pro
hibitionists the baalnce remaining in
his treasury to aid in offsetting a de
ficit in the “dry” budget.
DISTRICT QUIET
THISJIUTER
FRED A. SWIFT, OF BETTLES,
SAYS THERE IS NO MINING
ON EXTENSIVE SCALE.
CANYON CREEK BEING WORKED
Stream Last Spring Was Reported to
Have Been Scene of Rich Strike,
but Nothing Big Has Yet Been Un
covered on it.
Fred A. Swift, of Betties, was an
arrival in Fairbanks recently from
the Ivoyukuk country.
Mr. Swift says that everything is
very quiet in his district now, and
there is very little doing, according to
the Fairbanks citizen.
A few men are prospecting a little,
but there is no mining on an exten
sive scale. Some twelve men are
working on Canyon creek, on the John
river, where some very good strikes
were made last spring, but nothing
big has been found yet.
Mr. Swift came out with the mail
carrier last month, and spent a few
weeks at Tanana and Nenana before
going to Fairbanks. He will soon re
turn to Betties.
A. G. CRISFIELD SAYS BETWEEN
7') AND 100 MEN ARE IN
COUNTRY NOW.
ALL SAID TO BE DOING WELL.
Lack of Transportation Facilities
Make Mining Difficult and Resi
dents Are Dependent on Small Boat
Service.
A. G. Crisfield says the Stewart riv
er country, seventy miles above Daw
son, is a most promising field to the
prospector, according to the Dawson
News. He himself has been there
eight years, and after doing his bit for
his country, Mi-. Crisfield is coming
back.
Between 75 and 100 men wer work
ing in the country this past summer
and all of them are doing well. The
Ivlesco Mining company operated a
dredge during the summer months,
and took out considerable placer gold.
The Silver King mine, which is work
ing silver properties, is doing well.
Middlecotf is taking out a lot of pla
cer gold.
Mr. Crisfield says the transporta
tion facilities make the mining diffi
cult. In the summer time a small
mail boat makes the round trip about
every ten days.
The Stewart river country as a
whole is promising, and although
there are not many big mines at the
present time, Mr. Ci'isfield says the
ground has hardly been touched as
yet and offers wonderful opportunities
to the prospector.
BANANA MEN NEED SHIPS.
Government Is Requested to Allow
Use of Japanese Vessels.
HONOLULU, Jan. 4.—Banana ship
| pers here have requested the United
j States shipping board to suspend cer
j tain rules in order that they may be
allowed to ship thefr cargoes to the
j United States on Japanese liners.
They maintain that since the com
mandeering of a large number of
trans-Pacitic boats by the government
j immense banana cargoes are being de
nied shipment.
A Japanese line has signified its
willingness to handle the shipments it
the Japanese government assents.
OFFICIALS Ml
GOLD STRIKES
LATEST REPORT OF VALUABLE
DISCOVERY IS REPETITION
OF PREVIOUS CANARDS.
| NO PAY IS FOUND ANYWHERE.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 5.—
The United States geological survey,
department of the interior, has receiv
ed during the last few months a num
ber of letters asking about supposed
gold and platinum sands in the Adi
rondack mountains. It appears that
! the falsity of the statements concern
ing the possibility of working tliese
sands commercially has not been
made clear, even after thirty years of
effort.
In 1910 Dr. J. M. Clarke, the state j
geologist of New York, said, “the
traces of gold found there (in the Adi
rondacks) do not afford any adequate
basis for mining enterprise.”
This statement was reiterated in a
letter from Dr. Clarke to the national
research council, dated July 16, 1917,
from which the following extract >s
made:
Platinum in Small Quantities.
“Platinum has been known to exist
in small quantities in the sands of
northern New York, but the amount;
is imperceptible and determinable only'
with difficulty. The platinum story is
a veritable ‘chestnut,’ which has
grown exceedingly unpalatable with
the years. It has had a new birth this!
year, and 1 have already sent out no
tices to various ‘investors,’ advising
caution in regard to the matter. In
fact, within the last two months 1
have sent a carefully prepared state
ment to every newspaper printed in
the state of New York, urging that no
attention be given to tne present re
ports as to the alleged new processes;
of winning gold and platinum from
the sands of northern New York. Phil
tdelphia has been the hotbed of some
»f the worst propaganda regarding
fold and silver in New ^ ork that this
ountry has known, and I am speak
ng within limitations in saying that
millions "-f dollars have been wasted
pon
investment projects in New
'ork, floated by crooked companies
'.aiming to carry on their demonstra
ions right under the eye of the in
ending investor.
Regarded as Wicked.
“The story of these ‘gold crazes’—
one after another, iirst on the east
side of the Adirondacks, then on the
west side; at the present time in Her
kimer and St. Lawrence counties, i
while the Lewis county craze is not
even yet dead—is a perfectly wicked
one. * * * I have on my fibs the
! whole history of the transactions—
| sworn affidavits and confessions of
: eonart.nors in these gold and platinum
propaganda—ana I have been going
through this thing for the last thirty
i years, so I am speaking with some
| knowledge.”
The following is a copy of the press
I bulletin mentioned by Dr. Clarke, is
i sued by the state geological survey of
| New York May 22, 1917:
“Another effort to arouse interest
in the alleged gold-mining operations
in this state has been brought to the
attention of the state geologist, who
on several occasions has warned the
public against entering into schemes
of this sort.
All Have Been Exploited.
“The latest venture has its head
quarters in Herkimer county, but
nearly all sections of the Adirondacks
and various other parts of the state
have been exploited by promoters of
these ill-founded enterprises, which in
several instances have entailed very
serious financial losses to the deceived
investors. As an additional lure the
promoters are now advertising that
the sands contain platinum, whose
value exceeds many times that of
gold. The office of the state geologist
has been in touch with this matter
from the first and its records show
that there has never been any success
attained in such workings, which, at
best, contain only mere traces of the
precious metals.”
JAMES HEWETT IS ACQUITTED
IN JUNEAU OF STEALING
BRICK OF YELLOW METAL.
LOOT, WORTH $20,000, IS FOUND.
Exonerated Man’s Alleged Accom
plice, Michael Sheehan, Who Has j
Been in Jail Since Last April, Is
Restored to Liberty. s
Following a trial lasting a week in !
the United States district court at j
Juneau, James Hewett, a miner, was j
acquitted the other day of the charge
of having robbed two employes of the !
Chichagoff mine of a gold brick val
ued at $20,000.
1 he verdict, says the Juneau Dis- i
patch, was received with a smile by
the defendant and a slight demonstra
tion of approval in the court room fol- ;
lowed the announcement of the deci
sion of the jury.
Sunday night, March 19, 1917, two
employes of the Chichagoff company
rooming over the store retired with a
gold brick prepared for shipment in
their room. About 1:30 a. m. two
masked men enterd the room, trussed
and gagged the two employes and es
caped with the gold brick.
Gold Brick Recovered.
Eventually the gold brick was re
cover'd secreted in a hole on the bank
of the bay north of Chichagoff.
The handkerchiefs and one mask
used at the robbery bore similar laun
dry marks to those on Hewrett’s appa
rel. It had been ascertained that
Hewett, who was employed at the
Chichagolf mine, had not worked the
shift before the robbery, an unusual
occurrence. Also a flash light used
during the robbery was of design sim
ilar to the one owned by Hewett. Wit
nesses differed regarding identifica
tion of a coat and hat worn at the
hold-up. Several witnesses testified
that they belonged to Hewett. Other
witnesses were equally positive that
they did not. In fact, one witness
testified under oath that he owned the
hat in question.
Admitted Laundry Marks.
The defense admitted that the laun
dry marks were Hewett’s with the
exception of the mark on the mask, i
The defense also admitted Hewett did
not work the shift. The defense said
the presence of bad gas where Hew
ett was to work the Sunday shift pre
ceding the robbery accounted for his
not working.
Hewett established without question
that he is a hard-working miner, even
the superintendent of the mine freely
admitted this on the stand.
The defense maintained Hewett was
asleep in his cabin on the night of the
robbery and that he was a victim of
circumstances or of a detective plot.
Following the verdict of acquittal
in the Hewett case, the United States
district attorney at Juneau moved for
the dismissal of the indictment
against Michael Sheehan, also a min
er, who was charged with having been
Hewett’s partner in the alleged rob
bery. Sheehan was released from
jail. He had been held in custody
since last April.
BROAD PASS TRAIL
IS PLAINLY MARKED
The winter trail between Indian
river and the water shed on the north
side of the Broad Pass has been
staked and plainly marked, according
I to a statement made today by H. F.
Dose, district engineer for the Alaskan
Engineering commission in charge of
the work.
Mr. Dose will leave in about ten
days for California, where he will
spend the rest of the winter.
The trail has been extensively trav
eled this winter by persons coming
from Nenana and the Fairbanks coun
try.
Mr. Dose has been at work mark
ing and staking the trail for the last
three weeks.
GOVERNOR J. F. A. STRONG, IN
HIS ANNUAL REPORT, PAYS
TRIBUTE TO MINER.
OLD GUILD IS DISAPPEARING.
Territorial Executive Says That Un
usually Difficult Conditions Obtain
in Northland and It Has Been Only
Superficially Examined.
Governor J. F. A. Strong, of Alas
ka, in his annual report, pays a tri
bute to the old time prospector. The
governor says:
“Thorough prospecting is a thing
indispensable in a mining country. To
the pioneer prospector is due ths dis
covery of many of the great mines
that have made the western United
States notable in mining history. The
prospector is essentially a creature
of the wanderlust. He has left his
mark in many mihingr regions of the
world. In many states of the west he
may still be seen usually with his
burro and pack, traveling the track
less desert, looking for float rock with
a careful and experienced eye and
examining it closely with the aid of a
glass, pick and hammer.
Guild Is Rapidly Disappearing.
“But it is a matter of current com
ment that the guild of old-time pros
pectors is rapidly disappearing,
though not yet quite extinct. New
methods are now employed, and the
new type of prospector, with some
scientific attainment, looks for not
only gold, silver, and copper, but for
the rare metals as well, and he con
nects frequently with the assay office.
But the passing of the old-time pros
pector is to be deplored, for after all
he filled a place in mining history
that will not soon be forgotten.
‘Trospecting in Alaska is a much
more difficult matter than in the min
ing states of the west. There ledges
are found with less search, although
prospecting in any country is attend
ed by many hardships. In Alaska the
ground is covered by a heavy growth
of moss and, added to this, in the
coastal regions, especially, is a jungle
like gorwth, almost impenetrable, all
combining to make the prospector's
work difficult and at times hazardous
and always discouarging.
Only Superficially Prospected.
“And Alaska has been only super
ficially prospected, even in the well
known zones. It has been but
scratched here and there in places less
difficult of access and near bases of
supply. Although the real prospector
may be found in the remoter regions,
for the reasons that have been stated,
prospecting in the old way promises
to become soon a lost art.
“In some mining countries the pros
pector receives governmental aid and
encouragement, but in this country he
has made his own way, fought his own
battles, borne his own burdens, satis
fied if he were in a measure success
ful. But the tale of a successful pros
pector is soon told. Seldom has he pro
fited from his years of labor. Ihose
who came after him frequently secur
ed the reward that should have been
his.”
fame and shyness.
In his book, “A Soldier’s Memories,”
Sir George YYmnghusband tells a typ
ical story of Rudyard Kipling and Ce
cil Rhodes.
It was during the Boer war, when
they came to camp and introduced
themselves unconventionally. As they
were leaving the soldiers gathered to
see and cheer them.
Said Cecil Rhodes hastily:
“Take off your cap; they are cheer
ing you.”
Said Rudyard Kipling:
“No, they are not. They ax*e cheer-,
ing you. Take off your cap.”
Then someone at their elbow sug
gested :
“I think they are cheering you
both.”
Whereupon both, clinging close to
gether for support, shyly took off
their caps.
COMMERCIAL CLUB OF INTr
IOR CAMP ADOPTS RESOLU
TIONS ON SUBJECT.
URGES MORE LIBERAL POLIO.
Argument Is Advanced that Alaska
Should Be Accorded at Least
Favorable Treatment by Federa
Government as States.
| With the hope of effecting a change
in the present coal land laws ap
plicable to Alaska, the Fairbanks
| Commercial club has drawn up reso
lutions and forwarded them to Wash
ington, that they may be considered
at this session of congress, in con
nection with the Walsh bill, which
provides a very liberal policy with re
ference to coal and oil lands in the
states.
“No person or corporation can do
more now than secure a lease to
ground in Alaska and few are willing
go to any great expense to get the
! lease or to start operations on such
basis, says iv« Fairbanks News-Min
er. “The club feels tn«v there would >
be a number of investors, if the gov
ernment would allow them to secure
title to the ground, that they might
work it for years.”
The resolution of the Fairbanks
Commercial club forwarded to Dele
gate in Congress Charles A. Sulzer.
with the request that he take the mat
ter up at the proper time, is as
follows:
“Whereas, there is now pending in
the senate of tire United States, sen
ate bill No. 2812, the so-called Walsh
bill, being a bill to encourage and pro
mote the mining of coal, phosphate,
oil, gas, potassium and sodium on the \
public domain;
I>tecriminat^s on Alaska.
; “And, whereas, section 2 of said
bill discriminates against Alaska m
that it provides that coal land claim
ants in any state of the union may
have the right to enter and purchase
coal lands, thereby denying to the
Alaskan a privilege accorded to coal
land locators in the states;
“And, whereas, with the thousands
of acres of good steam, stove and
coking coal lands situated at various
places in Alaska the opening and de
velopment of which have been retard
ed for years by the withdrawal of land
from entry and purchase, and by the!
enacting of a leasing law containing
such stringent terms and restrictions
that only one or two responsible part
ies have applied for a lease thereunder
or have attempted to open and develop
coal lands sin®® leasing law went
into effect, it now becomes urgent and
necessary that Alaska be given most
liberal laws to encourage and secure
the development of its coal and oil re
sources, especially at this time when
the necessities of war demand produc
tion in these lines;
“Now, therefore, be it resolved,
1 That Fairbanks Commercial club
through its executice board respect -
! fully urge that congress amer*d sen
ate bill 2812 in *uch manner that
Alaska will receive as fair treatment
I in respect to admiring title to coal
j and oil land? and the development
thereof as the states of the union;
“That copies of this resolution be
| transmitted to Hon. Charels A. Sul
zer, delegate to congress from Alas
ka, Falcon Joslin, National Council
lor and delegate for this body in
1 Chamber of Commerce of the United
: States of America, and to the Seattle
Chamber of Commerce and Commer
cial dub, with the request that they
urge the claims of Alaska in this
behalf.”
I CROWDING MINERS MAIM GIRL.
SHAMOIvIN, Pa., Jan. 7.-*-Crowded
I from the front steps of a moving
street car by miners eager to alight
before the ca rstopped, Irene Kusma
aged 12, returning from school a
Mont Carmel, was thrown under a
moving car. Her left foot was terribl
mangled, necessitating amputation.
f