Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 29, Number 15, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 8 October 1898 — Page 6

ALASKA RESOURCES.

RICH PLACER GOLD DEPOSITS ON THE KOYUKUK RIVER.

Captnln Healy Di«cover» Copper Mine* at the Honda of the Tanina and Copper River*—Intercut!*!*? Detail* of Exploration and Adventure.

[Special Correspondence.]

DAWSON CITY, Aug. 21.—There is much interest here in the strike made last spring by J. J. Healy's party of rich deposits of copper on the headwaters of the Tanina river. Alaska was discovered in the year 1741 BF. Bering, after whom Bering sea and strait were named. A Iargtf trading company was inaugurated by the Rossians, after the manner of the Hudson Bay company, and Barnoff, a great trader and fighter, was pat in charge of the c'om-

EXI'LOKINO AN ALASKAN STREAM. pany. He founded Sitka and learned thcro was copper in great quantities on the headwaters of tho Copper river. Indians, or rather native Alaskans, brought it to him and traded with Barnoff, who manufactured bells and othor implements from this coppor. Natives rofnsod to show the Russkms where tho coppor was. More than ono expedition was sent out to find it, but they were destroyed by the natives.

Barnoff brought cattle and other food supplies from tho California coast. Ho built tip a great trading company, which was protected by tho Russian government. Barnoff built his vessols at St. Paul, on the Kadiak islands, near Cook inlet. He afterward moved to Sitka and established his headquarters there. The natives, who wero then muoh more numerous than now, did not want the whito man to get into the interior, where tho coppor is located, as it would dostroy their chances of traffic with tho whites. They brought down and sold tons of copper to the Russians.

Mr. Healy first saw the copper from tho Copper river in 1880 and has been trying to locato it ever Bince. He succeeded only last spring. He has been shown spocimons of tho metal in large and Bmnll pieces by the nativos every year sinoo his attention was first called to it, but tho natives have persistently refused to reveal its whereabouts.

Fourteen years ago General Miles, then in command of tho department of tho Pacific coast, sent Lion tenant Allen to explore the Coppor river and its sources. Two years prior to that time Schwatka went into that portion of the great watershed near tho source of tho White river, but failed to mako any important discoveries. When Lieutenant4 Allen went on his expedition, there wero only a few of the natives on the liuo of his march, and he met with no resistance from them. Indeed ho was aided by them in many ways. The native Alaskans wero very numerous in that section previous to the year 1844, during Barnoff's reign, but in tho years 1844 and 1845 the smallpox nearly extinguished 80 different tribes in Alaska, including those ou tho Yukon river. They have never increased incumbers much since and are divided up into small tribes scattered along tho Yukon and its tributaries and ou the Copper, Kuskokwini and othor streams.

The Wells-Arkell party sent in an expedition aiming to roach tho great watershed in the years 1887-8, but failed of its purpose. The Smithsonian institute also sent in tui expedition in 1891 and found some copper near the head waters of the Whito river.

Lieutenant Allen went up the Copper river, but did not reach its source, moving northward and crossing a divide to the Tiiniua river about 100 miles from its source. He then went down the Tanina, which is a very large stream, reaching the Yukon, when ho extended his explorations to the Koyukuk, which is now attracting many hundreds of gold seekers. Rich placer deposits have been found on the Kos ukok several hundreds of miles from its mouth. The river is navigable for steamboats for 600 to 700 miles. A trading post has been established at Arctic City, and in another year there is little doubt that the yield of the precious metal from that section will astonish the world.

Lieutenant Allen, ascending the Copper river, observed a good sized stream emptying into it from the east. It was so highly impregnated with copper that fish could not live in the water. Instead of pursuing this stream to its source, which doubtless heads iu the Copper region, he diverged to the northwest, going on to the Tanina river, as stated.

It would seem that the copper is found in a radius of 100 to 150 miles, covering the sources of the Tanina, Copper, White and other rivers, but chiefly at the head of the Tanina and Copper rivers.

Mr. Healy's party left here with four whito men and seven native*. All the hitter but one deserted tho party before reaching the Tanina. One staid with them, but through fear of bis people refused to actually point out the exact locality of the copper. It was found on the high mountains right at the head of the Tanina river, aotne «ev*n or

eight miles above timber line. It was first found on the surface in placer and along the small streams heading in the high range. Much of it had been washed down several miles. It was thus easily tr.fned by the party to the high reefs on the mountains, where the veins contained qnartz and much native copper, car rying some gold and silver. The reefs or veins are large and can be traced for several miles. They are rich in the different forms in which copper is found in nature. Hundreds of tons of native copper can be gathered on the surface of the ground for several miles.

To utilize this immense wealth of copper a railroad will have to be built from some point on the Alaskan coast to the mines, say approximately about 200 miles. Mr. Healy and his associates, the Weares and Cudahys of Chicago, have this in contemplation.

Mr. Healy has outfitted quite a large party of white men equipped with ample supplies to last all next winter and sent them in via the White river. The greater part of this party will remain in there the coming winter and do more or less work on all their locations and make new ones. Great credit is due to Mr. Healy and his indomitable push and energy in bringing this region to the knowledge of the world. The time will come when it will furnish the world with its copper. Doubtless thor ough exploration of that region will show the existence of gold and other metals in great quantities. Alaska is a vast country and in mineral resources is destined to be to the United States what Australia and southern Afrioa are and have been to England.

When Secretary Seward in 1867 bought Alaska from Rugsia for the sum of $7,200,000 and was muoh berated by many of the American people for his extravagance, they little dreamed that we were acquiring a country destined to furnish the United States and the world for centuries with its chief supply of gold and copper.

Mr. Healy and his associates first attempted to get into this country via the mouth of the Yukon river in 1892. Prior to that time the Alaska Commercial company had been in exclusive possession for 20 years. Before Mr. Healy's advent two other companies had attempted to get a foothold, but the Alaska Commercial company, feeling doubtless that they wero entitled to it by divine right, managed by all manner of obstruction and persecution to drive them out.

Thoy attempted the same taotics with Mr. Healy, threatening him with annihilation if he attempted to establish himself in the interior. He put his first boat together, the Portius B. Weare, at St. Michael's, in 1892. Everything was done by his opponents to thwart hie efforts. His men were hired away from him, and for a time it looked as if he would not be able to build his boat. With tho aid of men in the employ ol the United States government he finally finished his craft and was ready to launch it when his enemies ran a boat in the way of its launching. The authorities interfered, and his boat was launched aild loaded for the Yukon. They then corrupted his pilots, trying to got them to wreok his boat on the river. Mr. Healy, learning of this, soon settled the matter with the pilots, and his boat went up the river. Some distance up the Yukon the Weare met the Arctic, a steamer belonging to the A. C. company. So s&on as the Weare wag sighted by the Arctio the latter started across the river with the evident intention of forcing a oollision. If the Weare had not reversed hor engines and backed down hastily, she would have been struck amidships and destroyed. As it was, she backed down, so that the Arctic

INDIAN PILOT OF TBS P. B. WEABE.

passed immediately in front of her, tli« bow of the latter tearing off the guard* and part of the hulk of the Arctio, making such a hole in her that she ran to the bank, a few hundred feet away, and sank in shallow water.

As there was at that point plenty ol water on both sides for boats much inquiry wan excited to know why tht Arctic came across the river with such speed and force driving directly for the Weare. Many who know of the threat* that had been made to destroy Mr. Healy's boat were inclined to the belief that this divergence of the Arctic wa* malicious. It may have been uncharitable to so construe it. One of the owner* of the A. C. company, of Semitic faith, was on the Arctio at the time. Suffic* it to say tftat Captain Healy, after sup plying them with oakum and lumbei with which to patch up and raise theii boat, informed them that if anothei such attempt as that was made 1h would shoot the whole outfit. He thei: proceeded up tho river and establishing himself at Circle City he at once put down the price of flour from |1? pet aack of 50 pounds to fS and other thing} in proportion. Sine® then the North American. Transportation and Trading company, under the management oi Captain Healy, has gsown to

immmst

proportions, having trading ports all along the Yukon. Samoo. Word.

HIGHLAND MARY.

I clasp-'d her to my bosom! The golden hoars on angel wings Flew o'er me and my dearie, For dear to me as light and life

Was my sweet Highland Mary.

That dwelt on me sae kindly,

The brook, tho pretty, walk* tho railroad and the culvert remained in Polly's busy mind until ono day, when grandpa happened to say, "No, wo aro too busy with tho hay to take you to tho big moadow this morning." So Pleasant Polly wandered away in tho tall grass looking for wild flowers. .T Sg?

Presently she Came to a singing brook that in the spring time, when the grass was short, had been a torrent. Just then along express train went thundering over tho high embankment of the railroad and Polly's memory was refreshed. "There's tho railroad and here's the br«ok," she thought. "Mr. Smith said it was a pleasant walk. So I'll go now and find the culvert and see it carry the water under tho railroad."

Away she tripped through the ferns as high and higher than her head, tearing her bluo gown, scratching hear I wire hands and arms and wetting her small feet as she crossed the thread of a stream, now at low water mark, or even walked in the pebbly bed until the railroad was reached.

There at the bottom of the high sandy bank covered with coarse green broom wad a solid wall of masonry with an archlike passage for the trickling brook. "Oh," laughed the little girl, "that must be the culvert! How funny! I thought it was something alive. I should think the brook would be afraid to go through, hut it has to go. I wonder if it is dark in there?"

Polly ventured to the very entrance. "No, not so very, and I can stand up in it as if it was a fairies* bouse. I should think they would like to live in there, it is so cool. I am so warm I guess I will go with the brook a little way."

Polly is a woman now, but die remembers still the delicious spirit of adventure that seized upon her that day and that mingled with a rapturous fear as she entered the arch of mysfeeiy. Little minnows flashed in the clear water, tiny pale green ferns bad taken foot in the crevkes of

TEBBE HAUTE SATUBDAY EVENING MAIL, OCTOBER 8, 1898.

Ye and braes and streams around The castle o'Montgomery, Qreen be yonr woods and fair your flowers.

Your waters never druinliel "There simmer first an fa did her robes

And there the langest tarry, For there I took the last fareweel O' my sweet Highland Mary.

How sweetly bloom'd the gay green birk. How rich the hawthorn's blossom. As anderneath their fragrant shade

Wi' mony a vow J&d lock'd embracer^! Our parting was fn' tender, JH And, pledging aft to meet again,

We tore oursel's asunder, *5^4* Bat, oh, fell death's untimely frost That nips my flower sae early I Now green's the sod and cauld's the clay

That wraps my Highland Mary.

Oh, pale, pale now, those rosy lips I aft have kiss'd sae fondly. And closed for aye the sparkling glance

And mold'ring now in silent dust, iJU-SjCjC That heart that lo'ed me dearly, ,* But still within my bosom's core 3

Shall live my Highland Mary. -i--—Robert Burns.

EXPLORER POLLY.

It was funny to call suob a little dot of a blue eyed, flaxen haired child by such a formidable name as"Pollythe Explorer," her baby name of "Pleasant Polly" was much more appropriate, but her Grandpa Langton began it, and it was in this way. She was his especial pot, and in her pale blue gown, for in blue she was always dressed, went following him about almost as closely as his shadow, and so quiet in her ways was she that no one seemed to consider that she listened to whatever was said and remembered it as well. One summer morning Grandpa Langton was saying, as he sat on a rude bench in front of tho village store, chatting of the collapse of the Alaska gold excitement: "Yes, I went to California In 1849, and I might write quite a story of my adventures and explorations." 'What's 'splorations?" abruptly asked Polly, who, as usual, was leaning against his kneo. "Looking about in strange places, little ono," and the storekeeper shook his head knowingly as he said: "California was ono of the strange places in them days, sure enough, stranger even than Alaska is now. I remember we about gave you up for lost when you went away, and I roraom ber when you came back, sir, and that big watch chain that you wore that you said was made of gold you dug yourself." "So it was," said Grandpa Langton, so it was. I told tho truth, and I thought tho world of that great ugly yollow chain because it was worth its weight and beoause it stood to ^ne for many hours of hard work." "You haven't worn it for a long time. I should think you would put it on again. It would be a ouriosity to many people." "No doubt it would," said the old gentleman, "and I'll tell you why I don't wear it. I never havo said much about it. but I lost that chain years ago. It was stolen off my vest, must have been, and I nevor have seen it since." 'And you never told of it nor advertised it nor anything?" "Because it wasn't of any use. I knew who took it, and I've been watching to see if it ever showed up. I've boon playing detective on that fellow all these years. 1 won't toll who it was, but I'll toll how it happened: You remember when tho railroad was built through hero I took the contract for tho stonowork, and when the men were putting in tho culvert down back of my house I was there superintending, and I had on that chain. I always wore it in them days. There was a big gang of men, the derrick got out of order and some hard lifting had to bo done. I know who stood next me, and I kneWthat when tho stono was in place tho chain was gone. I suppose he had the chance and couldn't resist tho temptation." "You might havo lost it." "No, I looked, but I know it couldn't havo got away without hands." "Was the watch lost too?" "No, but it was an old one, and didn't count, but that chain was worth as much to jno as tho culvcrf to tho railroad company." "What's a culvert?" askod Polly, who had probably beon puzzling over tho word sinco it was first montioned. "Tho culvert carries tho brook under the railroad," answered grandpa, lifting tho dainty bluo gowned figure to his knee "Somefin like an olophent?" "Not a hit, little ono. Some day, when wo go to the dinglo ft»r strawberries, wo will go to tho railroad and explore the culvert." "It used to bo a protty walk to follow the brook through the dingle to tho meadow," said tho storekeeper, "but tho railroad spoiled all that."

mortar hers and there, and over all was a coating of emerald moss. "How lovely it lsl' sighed Polly. "Away ahead there is a star, and what can that be in tho water that shines sp? Oh, I wish I had brought my doll, and I don't see why I never have known about culverts before. I ought to go back, but the brook doesn't. It goes through. I am goiug a little bit nearer the star anyway. Oh, oh, oh! Hero is what shone so."

Polly stooped to pick it from the clear water. The bit of glass she expected to find was the crystal of a much corroded watch, and hanging to it was a long, heavy, crudely made chain of yellow gold. "Oh!" cried Pleasant Polly. "That's my gramp's. I'll go and carry it home this mindte. Won't he be glad?"

She started to run, slipped upon the 6limy mold and fell into the thread of a brook. Scrambling up, oonfused, she looked this way and that. There was a star in both directions now, and, without stopping to reason at all, sho lifcn.

When she again reached the brightness and warmth of the sunny July morning, everything was strange. Instead of the dingle sho had left to go a little way with the brook, there was the open sky and a sea of tall, waving grass. Her feet sank into tho wet, spongy turf, and sho sought for a dry, sure foothold. When this was reached, she looked back for the mouth of the culvert, but the grass and shrubbery had sprung back into, place, completely hiding it from sight.

Utterly bewildered as to her whereabouts, she said: "That couldn't have been the culvert, it must, have been a fairy house, and they have turned me out and shut tho door, but I'vo got the ohain, and I'll keep it for my gramp. Ho'll hunt mo up pretty soon, so I won't begin to cry."

Sho wandered on. The birds flew all about her, the butterflies sailed ovor hor head, the grasshoppers and crickets lighted on her torn blue gown, and Polly was sure they were trying to make her feel at homo among them. Soon sho heard a buzzing noise, and, looking, saw something big and black coming toward her.

For a moment only was sho frightenetf, then she said, "It's only a mowing mnohine, and it's our horses, Tom and Ted, and it's papa driving, and—oh, dear me. there's gramp

Running toward him, sho hold up her treasures, and, most wonderful thing in tho world for Pleasant Polly, began to cry. "Why, whoso little girl aro you?" exclaimed "gramp." "And what's this? My chain! My California gold chain 1 Am I asleep 1 I guess I am. I'vo dreamed of finding that chain too many times to be fooled. John—John, I say!"

Tho mowing machine stopped, and the tall man who came striding through tho high grass picked up tho bedraggled iittlo girl and asked: "How came my Pleasant Polly here in the big meadow when sho was told to stay at home? And what is sho crying about?" "I'm lost," sobbed Polly. "But now you aro found." "You have found me, but I haven't found myself, and I took off my bluo dross and hung it on a bush to dry, and that is lost." "That's whyldidn't know you the first thing," said grandpa. "You wasn't my Iittlo girl bluo. But where did you find this?" "Oh, gramp, in tho water brook. 1 Wont to find the oulvert," and Polly told her story. "Poor little girl," said papa. "Sho got confused and turned around. Wo will go straight homo, for mamma and gran, will bo worrying about you."

Whon they reached tho farmhouse, grandma and her daughter-in-law wero found to bo so deop in tho mysteries of cheesemaking that thoy had not even thought of the little daughter of the house, so often was she away with her grandfather. "Don't you think, gramp," asked Pleasant Polly wisely, "that you ought to ask forgiveness of tho man you blamed so long for stealing your ohain?" "I never told his name. I never shall,'' said tho old Californian. "I am glad. 1 will ask God to forgive me, and horeafter I will remember 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.' I must thank my Iittlo explorer for having sctmattors right." And that was tho way Pleasant Polly got her namoof "Tho Explorer."—Annlo A. Proaton in Springfield Republican.

A Sew Kind of Hnt.

An enterprising native shopkeeper in Santiago displays over a great heap ol headgear the sign, "These Hats Are Virtuous. It appears that in searching his dictionary for an English rendering of the Spanish word "bueno" (good) ho selected "virtuous" as being the most elegant

When a woman gets

sickly, nervous, fretful and despondent the average husband doesn't have the faintest conception of what is the matter.

When she gets worse, and he final

ly realizes that illhealth of some description nas something to do with it, he calls in some obscure neighborhood doctor. The chances are that the doctor

says it's stomach, or liver, or heart trouble, wine umes in ten he isn't within a mile of right He treats for these troubles and charges big bills until the husband gets disgusted and throws him out. The trouble is usually weakness or disease of the distinctly feminine organism.

Many husbands, after paying big doctorbills while their wives grew steadily worse, have at last written to a physician of national reputation and learned the truth. They have been justly indignant at the ignorant pretenders who have experimented upon their wives* health. By writing to Dr. R. V. Pierce, any ailing woman may receive the free advice of an eminent and skillful specialist, for thirty years chief consulting physician to the Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Institute, at Buffalo. N. Y. Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription is a marvelous medicine for women. It cures all weakness and of the organs distinctly feminine. It all internal ulceration and inflammation and stops debilitating drains. Over qaooo women have testified, over their own signatures, to its wonderful merits. "For several years I suffered wttliprolapjis of the uterus," writes Mbs A. Lee Schuster, of Bo* p, Rodney. Jdfemm Co^ Mlm "I tod athB from my hor»e. erasing icUo»et»loaoftne wera*. Our family physic**a treated me for lddaey I STEW worse and worse. My body was hands aad feet

tSammy

and coW, stomach weak,

with great pal citation of the heart. I dreaded tar nistat tooone, far I would suffer fro*a WHIMS an oiirbt, and so it coathraed uatS I began taking Dr. Pfctoc'a Favorite Prescription, and I began to improve rigbt away. lam now wen and happy.'*

Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets regulate and invigorate stomach, liver and bowels.

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Up! Up I Up-to-date

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"He looks it!"

ycr Honor/*

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Pemember the name

when you buy again.

B. G. HUDNUT, President. WILLART) KIDDER, Vlco-Prostdont. ... G. A. OONZMAN, Cashier.

Vigo County National Bank

Capital $150,000. Surplus $30,000.

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