THIRD YEAR.
CHITIXA; ALASKA, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9,1913.
NUMBER 47.
RECENT NEWS OF SUSHANNA STRIKE
Cordova, September 6 |
News has arrived from Kennecott of a new discovery, on j
two creeks as yet unnamed, about 20 miles on this side of the
diggings. Arthur Powell, one of the stampeders from Kenne
cott, was returning for more grub and supplies for the winter,
leaving what little was left with his partners. “Chick” Nelson
and Walter Meder. Coining to a good-looking gravel country,
Powell, who is a prospector first, last and all the time, got out
his pan while his companions, Manager W. H. Seagrave and
Ed Turk, of the Kennecott Mines Company were preparing the
grub. Powell’s first pan showed colors. All three of the men
at once started to try their luck, with the surprising result that
they all got colors on every pan. taking dirt from high up on
the bench to the creek bed. In talking to an “Alaskan” repre
sentative, Powell said, “It is certainly as good looking country
as I have seen. While the claims that we have on Johnson and
our benches on Gold Hill all promise well. I must say that for
surface showings our new find is much more promising than
any of the others. I am here in Kennecott only sufficiently long
to get grub enough to get back, get the ground I want and
build a cabin, preparatory to sinking to bedrock this v.-inter.
There is plenty of wood and water on all of our claims, and we {
will at least give it a try and see whether the gold is all on the
surface or whether we really have something worth talking
about.”
One of the many trail incidents that proves the fallacy
of any other route to the Chisana but from McCarthy, is recited
by Mr. Sawyer. He says'that a doctor and S. Tanner went in
from White Horse with a fine moving picture outfit. By the
time they reached Solo creek they were out of provisions and
in crossing some of the many streams lost part of their camera
outfit. So they just mushed two or three days longer and
reached McCarthy, where they replenished their supplies and
started in to take trail pictures. They have 5,000 feet of film
and are again on their way in, expecting to return to McCarthy
and go home via Cordova, as the route is much shorter, and
certainly more pleasant to travel.
Cordova, September 5
The Chisana express arrived this afternoon shortly before
4 o’clock, bringing a number of returning stampeders. One
of the most optimistic of the men is possibly E. 0. Sawyer, Jr.,
correspondent for the Newspaper Enterprise Association. He
spent four days in the Chisana diggings, leaving there on the
2Sth of August. He spent his time m mushing over the
various creeks and examining the various claims on which
work was doing, himself panning on many.
Mr. Sawyer says that in his opinion a permanent and rich
camp will be established, as it is only because of the limited
amount of work done that there are not more known rich
claims. Good pay is generally known to have been found or.
six creeks, viz: Bonanza. Little Eldorado, Big Eldorado,
Glacier, Gold Run and Discovery Pup. He says that on various
other streams colors have been found in nearly every pan.
The biggest sum has been taken out by AY. E. James,
making a total to date of about $30,000, with the scarcity of
water practically compelling him to now close down. He has
been working five men shoveling in five lengths of sluice boxes.
The largest cleanup was $3,100, in one ..nd a hafl days. The
smallest was $1,450 in two days.
Joe McClellan, who is working a lay on Taylor’s fraction
on Bonanza between numbers two and three has five men
working and continues to take out $100 per day to the man.
Carl AVhitam refuses to hire help, other than one man. and
is not taking out very large sums. At present he is digging a
channel off pay streak in order to put in a long sluice. But from
this dirt he is getting $50 per day. AYhen he was on bed rock
lie took out sixteen ounces per day. Bob AViley is digging a
big ditch on Gold Run, while Best is doing work on Little
Eldorado. Oothers are doing some limited work and getting
good dirt. Particularly is this true at the mouth of Bonanza
where Hamshaw’s men are shovleing surface dirt and getting
good returns.
Mr. Sawyer says that there are about 500 men and 6 women
now in the camp, and that food supplies continue short. But
he believes that this condition will soon be relieved as he
passed ten different packing outfits, with 150 horses, taking
grub in for sale, while most of the individuals and parties now
going in have plenty of food to last them during the winter.
So soon as winter sets in teams will be hauling ample supplies.
Mr. Sawyer states that in his opinion the new route up the
Xizina river to Skolai creek will be far better than climbing
the pass. Most men now coming from the diggings use this
route and say that it is easy. The outgoing pack trains will
also go via Skolai creek until the new trail is located over the
Xizina and Chisana glaciers. Mr. Sawyer dislocated his left
knee by slipping on the ice as he was coming through Skolai.
He managed to walk to Breedman’s and rode from there to
McCarthy. This afternoon he was treated by Dr. Chase, who
says it is not a permanent injury.
Mr. Sawyer has brought out the most correct map of the
district. It was made by an engineer inside, and shows the
various streams and the well known claims. If possible Mr.
Sawyer will have some blue prints made in Cordova and will
give the public the benefit of the map. He will go to Seward
oji the Alameda tomorrow and likely make a visit to the
fMatanuska coal fields, where the government agents are now
! taking out coal for naval testing purposes.
Mr. Sawyer states that on the other slope of the hill from
Bonanza is Beaver creek, as long as Johnson but nearly 20 miles
distant. It has been prospected by James and other miners and
all found good dirt. There is considerable gravel and it is deep
diggings, James going down 20 feet and not reaching bed rock.
The creek has been practically all located and it is generally
believed that next spring some rich finds will be made. He
also states that a small creek, unnamed, between the diggings
and Solo cabin, has been entirely staked because some Kenne
cott men got good colors from every pan. others doing the same.
Mr. Sawyer met the expeditin sent out by the people of
Cordova and the Alaska Koad Commission, in charge of George
C. ITazelet. There were six men and 17 horses, with ample
supply of provisions. This party will mark the winter trail
over Xizina and Chisana glaciers. He says he also met J. E.
Barrett, an old timer in the interior. He stated that he had
often gone over both glaciers with dog teams and that it was
an easy matter. Mr. Barrett insists that the ITazelet expedition
will have no difficulty in establishing a short winter trail to
the headwaters of the Chisana. He says that the glaciers are
narrow but that in the center there are no crevices and the
going is easy. He does state, however, that relief stations
should be built alongside the hills so that in case of storms
travelers may find ample protection and shelter.
Cordova, September 4
From all parts of the Yukon river and its tributaries there
has already been a considerable exodus of mining men. A
number of old sourdoughs have heard the call and they were
unable to resist it long. Many have been in almost every
stampede since the Klondike was struck, and they feel that if
they can get enough provisions to last for the winter that they
are certain to get good returns for their patience and efforts.
Already six steamers have gone up the Tanana river from here,
carrying all kinds of people and supplies for the Chisana.
Yesterday the little steamer White Seal started off with 50
people, mostly men from the lower Yukon and some from
Xome.
In the outfits were two hand drills. Falcon Joslin. who
recently came in from Washington and Seattle is among the
passengers. He is taking with him a wireless outfit which he
had in operation at Kaltag. He expects to establish a wireless
station at the new diggings, so that the people this winter may
be in communication with the outside world. It will also be
the means of securing telegraphic news to be used in the
publication of a newspaper or two that will soon be established
in the interior. Reports from Dawson indicate that the old
timers there have unlimited faith in the development of the
Chisana into a big and permanent camp.
Cordova, September 3
A special train on the C. R. & X. W. Railway departed
this morning at 8 o’clock for McCarthy and will reach that
camj) this evening about 7 o’clock. Aboard were 51 stampeders
on their way to the new Chisana gold diggings. Most of them
are men who arrived in Seattle from Xome on the steamer
Victoria a few days ago. They are practical miners and
declare that from what they know to be a fact there has been
sufficient development in the new country to warrant a pros
pector in going there, providing he is prepared to remain at
least a few months. The fact that good pay has been found
on a number of creeks is sufficient to encourage these old sour
doughs from the north to again take a chance in a new
country. These men took with them 26 horses and tons of
provisions, expecting to arrange at McCarthy to have some of
their packing done with horses from there. Most of the men
who went in expect to remain through the winter, and felt
very much encouraged from the good news that they heard
after they reached Alaska. Another train will go out tomorrow
A report hah been circulated that four men were frozen
on Skolai pass, bu-t it cannot be verified. It is said that two
or three days ago there was somewhat of a blizzard and that
two men had their noses frozen. Another fatality, however,
that seems to have been verified, was the drowning of Dan
Crowley in the Xizina river on Sunday. He was returning
from the diggings and got caught in a swift current, losing his
footing and drowning before aid could be given. The unfor
tunate man came from Juneau and his friends there have
been notified
Among the passengers on the morning train was George
C. Hazelet. He took supplies and equipment sufficient to last
the expedition that he will direct in the work of establishing
a winter road over the Nizina and Chisana glaciers to the
headwaters of the Chisana river. He will secure the necessary
men at Chitina and McCarthy and expects to be absent three
or four weeks. They will go direct to the Nizina glacier and
with horses will immediately start locating a trail and do the
necessary' preliminary work. On the return trip from the new
diggings they* will do more permanent work. Mr. Hazelet is
confident that he will be able to establish this short winter
road to the new diggings.
Alvali Eames, director of mails for this section of Alaska,
has been in communication with the postal department
concerning the establishment of a post office at Chisana and
the carrying of mail to the new gold placer diggings.
Cordova, September 8
The special train for McCarthy left this morning at 8
o’clock. Eighteen stampeders and considerable freight went
out. Most of the men relied on securing pack trains at the
end of the railroad to take their supplies to the Chisana, where
many expect to remain all winter.
One of the men going was T. G. Jones, now of Seattle, b t
who made a clean up of $150,000 in the Dawson country, lie
is a practical miner and expects to winter in the new diggings.
He had a specially constructed automobile, of narrow width,
built for himself at Seattle. It has ample power to run up hill
and cany about a ton of supplies. In his outfit is a portable
saw mill, which he hopes to get in and do considerable business
this winter furnishing lumber to the needy. Mr. Jones believes
that from what he has heard of the newly built road from
McCarthy that he will have but little difficulty in getting to the
Xizina glacier with his automobile. From there he expects to
follow the Hazelet party over the new road they are marking,
which crosses both the Xizina and Chisana glacier, coming out
at the headwaters of the Chisana river and but a few miles
from the center of the new diggings.
Word came to town yesterday afternoon that a fire had
been raging in the woods on part of Sourdough hill. For
possibly a mile, over toward the Xizina river side, the flames
burned much of the timber. As a result many of the charred
trees fell across the new corduroy road that had been built and
crashed through a few small bridges that had been built across
small streams. A crew of men went to work today and it is
expected that soon the damage will be repaired and that teams
can again be drawing supplies from McCarthy to the Xizina.
Alvah Fames, director of mails for this section of Alaska,
was a passenger this morning to McCarthy. He goes to arrange
to send a shipment of first-class mail to the Chisana gold
diggings. The department recently decided to inaugurate a
semi-monthly sendee from McCarthy to the Chisana country.
The mail will likely be carried by one of the packers* who is
now maintaining regular pack trains to the interior. A post
office will also be established at Chisana. For the past two
weeks Mr. Fames has been in communication with the postal
department and Delegate Wiekersham relative to an office in
the new country. It has finally been decided to create the
“Chisana” post office. Several days ago Mr. Fames was
requested to suggest the name of a man for postmaster. This
lie has not yet done, but may indicate that the United States
commissioner would be the proper person to look after the
duties for a time at least. His office will be centrally located
and most of the prospectors will have more or less business
with him, so that it would be a convenient place to go. The
compensation for a postmaster at Chisana will scarcely recom
pense him for the time necessary to attend to the duties.
It is reliably stated that Judge J. J. Finnegan, of Seward,
has been appointed United States commissioner for the White
River mining district, which includes the new Chisana
diggings. He will succeed M. E. Morgan, the present incum
bent who fell heir to the office before the rich diggings were
discovered.
Judge Finnegan left Cordova about four weeks ago for
Chisana, going in via McCarthy and Skolai pass. Before
starting he made application to Judge Fred M. Brown for the
[office and parties returning from the interior on today’s train
[ state that his commission and supplies are being taken to him
by a stampeder. This will be gratifying news to the army of
prospectors in the new camp, where Morgan and his deputy,
the notorious Healy, formerly of Chitina, have been conducting
the office in a high-handed manner.
Among the men on their way out via McCarthy are
Fletcher T. Hamshaw and J. H. Channing. Jr., who represent
big interests in the White river and Chisana countries. Mr.
Hamshaw went in by way of White Horse last June. As it took
him 22 days to reach his copper properties at the headwaters
of the White, he prefers tq come out over a route that will land
him in Cordova in four or five days from the diggings^. Mr.
Channing went in last month via McCarthy.
FAIRBANKS, Sept 5.—Bert Johnson, a freighter return
ing here from the new gold diggings, wires from Gulkana. He
states that there is much suffering’because of the lack of grub
and the inclement weather. Only eight men who are in a
position to board themselves have been able to go to work for
others. Grub is $1.50 per pound and hard to get. Johnson
advises stampeders to wait for the snow for by that time there
will be plenty of provisions in the country or it will at least
be easy to get it in with teams and wagons.
FAIRBANKS, Sept. 4.—All kinds of reports are being
received here concerning the new placer gold diggings in the
Chisana country. Many knocks are heard as to trails and the
extent of the gold finds. Returning stampeders and letters
received tell contradictory stories. As a result there are
hundreds of miners in the interior who have a strong inclina
tion to take a chance but have decided to await more detailed
information and greater development. But with another
element the seemingly undisputed fact that good pay has been
tound on at least five creeks has been enough to satisfy them
that the gold is there and that the history of other Alask?
camps is about to be repeated.