We are glad to announce that the Lost Cabin mine has been
discovered for the first time this fall. We had feared that hoary
old Lost Cabin had become so decrepit and moth-eaten with years,
so bent and enfeebled that it might not put in an appearance this
winter and would be lost to us forever, but lo, the chinook wind
comes galloping over yon sequestered vales and pine-clad pinna
cles, and with it blows in little old Lost Cabin, fresher, sweeter,
dearer than ever without a sign of rheumatics or tinge of scurvy.
In days gone by, Lost Cabin has wandered over wide stretches
of this benighted land—journeys rich with speculation and replete
with fantastic hopes. After they drove it from Montana it seemed
swallowed up in painless obscurity until Casey Moran found it in
side the Arctic circle near the spot where he discovered Noah’s
Ark, that classic craft to memory dear.
This time Lost Cabin comes from the Kuskokwim, up there in
the Sawtooths, nestled in the golden bosom of a cloistered nook,
where no sound save the tinkle of a laughing brook has mocked the
sylvan silences for many summers. Not till tne rude foot of John
Hansen clattered against its gleaming pebbles these three weeks
past, have man’s eyes looked upon that lonely spot—not since that
dead day so long ago; that day when two gaunt men, bearded and
unkempt, but with the light of triumph in their eyes, shouldered a
heavy poke and turned their faces once more to the land of chil
dren and of flowers.
Even the birds were startled as Hansen set his feet along that
half-obscured path. The cabin stood there, desolate and alone, its
rough'hewn door swinging dismally on one enfeebled hinge, as the
breeze of the silent places crept in and out of the tenantless abode,
in irreverent mockery and thoughtless desecration
Solemnity and stillness compassed all about. An ancient sack
that once had boasted the glory of Pillsbury’s Best waved sadly at
the tiny window, a small brown mouse wisked suddenly into a hole
with a startled squeak. Hansen jumped at least a foot.
Cautiously and with a feeling of awe he stepped inside. An
old tomato can, a polished hambone, a bunk with a few dead
boughs, and there on an old wooden peg, one of Levi Strauss’ dress
suits of the decollette pattern affected in 1893. They were slightly
■/ 9 H
UP-TO-DATE
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FRONT STREET Telephone 63 IDITAROD
Slippern’s Mill..
ROUGH AND DRESSED LUMBER,
SASH, DOORS, GLAsTaND
BUILDERS’ SUPPLIES
Iditarod
Iditarod Stage
PAT KEYES AND PHIL N1EAGHAN, PROPS.
Telephone Main 64. Office at Ophir House, Willow St.
TRIPS EVERY DAY EXCEPT SUNDAY
Leaves Ophir House, Iditarod.9:00 a. m.
Leaves Flat Creek .2:00 p. in.
Fassengerslipress and Freight7
IT WAS A SIGN
OF THE TIMES
Although a social triumph and a
general victory of joy over dull
care, the Hard Times dance at
Ansley’s hall last Satmday night
cannot be said to have lived up to
its cognomen, since hard times
were nowhere in evidence. People
were too well dressed and too pros
perotis looking to offer anything
but the remotest suggestion of hard
times,—iu fact, they appeared to
be treading lightly on the advance
waves ot well-being and content
ment.
Berggreen and Drake again fur
nished the melodious bushwah that
sooths life’s irritations and elevates
th.e spirit. There was a merry
throng and the evening became
brilliantly unique through several
incidents not down on the regular
program.
Full line optical goods at Simpson's.
I
bow-legged and looked as though they might have been inhabited
in the remote past by Pete Wyberg. Underneath the bunk a can
of black sand in which large colors gleamed—left evidently in care
less disregard and the hurry of departure.
John took a long breath and stepped outside again. The tres
tle of a broken-down sluice box stood in ruins in the creek bed.
Ax-hewn slabs had fallen to decay; a pile of tailings spoke of the
industry of other years, when boulders bumped along the rude
sluiceway and foaming waters gurgled in the riffles.
Ah then, this was it—the famous Lost Cabin mine of ancient
lineage, the Mecca of every prospector’; hopes, the final goal of
every man’s desires. Look at the blunt old pick leaning against
that half buried box; look at that broken shovel and that battered
goldpan that doubtless hold the wealth of Midas on its rusted sur
face.
In feverish haste he dug in the gravel with his hands while his
eyes gleamed, and a brainstorm swept through his cupalo. Swiftly
he carried the heaping pan to the water’s edge where he swirled
and twisted like a madman bent upon the secret of life and death.
Yes, there it was, shining out at him, laughing, as it were, at his
delirium.
A few swift glances around to see that no one had witnessed
his visitation, and John disappeared into the dim recesses of the
forest, his secret locked in his heart, his mind seething with the
schemes of the wealth that was his.
The story leaked out here this last week, but John Hansen is
already back there, staking the ground, his grubstake safely
housed in that self-same cabin. Even the members of the party
with whom he had traveled that country have never learned of the
mysterious find. He came into the city and sojourned two or three
weeks, evidently safe in the belief that his secret having been
locked in the dim vista of years could be counted upon to remain
hidden from prying eyes for a few weeks more.
He needed a grub stake and just before leaving divulged the
secret to Jack Baird, he of the Budweiser fame. Ere the drowsy
lids of night were once more gently kissed by giad-eyed dawn he
was on his solitary 'way, his winter’s provisions on his sled, his
head held high with hope and dreams of future greatness.
Once more that tiny hollow nestling there in the distant hills
will ring with the sounds of industry and man’s mercenary strife.
Once more the time worn boulders will bumb along the roaring
flume, while the waters sing the song of wealth, for is it not the
Lost Cabin mine?--well, maybe it is not.
ABOUT 200 CABINS
AT GEORGETOWN
The building of winter habita
tions at Georgetown has apparently
been going on at a rapid rate tor
the last two months, for it is now
estimated that there are over ioo
cabins in that town already con
structed and more in process of
erectiou.
Besides the numerous dwelling
houses that have been reported
from time to time, it is said the
Kuskokwim Commercial Co. is
starting a big warehouse and store
building just below the Fredrick’s
roadhouse where they have been
given 200 feet of the Fredrick’s
Trading Post.
Ihe Nelson Bros, are putting up
a big roadhouse and bunkliouse in
the city, the place being a two
story affair and about 25x50 in di
mensions. This place will soon be
open for the accommodation of the
public.
Frediicks, who was compelled to
close his roadhouse on account of
grub shortage, is now running full
blast again. They have excellent
sites for a hospital, a schoolhou.se
and a courthouse, and from all in
dications they will soon need them.
SOME MORE HOG
Tom McMahon, now generally
known as the Pork King of Flat
City left last week for Holy Cross,
intending to pick up his winter
trail outfit consisting of a dog team,
sled, etc., and iucidently he con
siders it very likely that he will
bring back a considerable supply of
food stuffs from the store that was
caught at Holy Cross by the late
season.
He takes a dog with him to act
General' Merchandise
and_ Outfitters
Stores- Iditarod City and Dikeman
as leader tor his own team now at
the mouth of Shagluk slough,
having heard of the loss of his
leader down there this summer.
He goes on foot, figuring the dis
tance at about 170 miles and not
extra good going at this season.
He will return as soon as the
trail allows, and will then prepare
for his journey Outside, going
either by way of Seward or Fair
banks In the meantime, he leaves
Mr. Terry in charge of the business
at Flat City.
REMEMBER
The prices you are paying now !
WHY
Take a chance next season
WHEN
You can order your goods from us now
and get guaranteed delivery prices on
first direct boats from St. Michael. We
require no money till goods arrive here,
just simply a guarantee of acceptance.
We leave for the coast after Jan. 15, so
“Get the Habit,”
BARRETT & LEWIN.
Bai rd sells Bock cigars.
OBEaHHHBBHanHaHnBBIHHi
ff IWpiTC. \
wiMm
Corner First Ave.
and Richmond St.
CHSS. WORDEN, PROP.
PURE WATER
Drink Pure Crystal Spring
Water and Avoid Typhoid
Fever.
DELIVERED AT YOUR HOME
DAILY
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BRACK’S i
HOTEL
Fort Ciibljoii
First Avenue.
Modern Throughout, Bath Rooms in Connection
Furnished Rooms and Spring Cots,
Dominion
Commercial Co.
Groceries, lay and Grain
See Us Before Buying 5DITAROD
Sohiek & McLeman,
ARCHITECTS, CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS
Office Fixtures and Mission Furniture
Estimates Furnished Free Foot of Willow Street
WE SATISFY THE HUNGRY
TODAY—SPECIAL SUNDAY DINNER—TODAY
Everything in Season
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THE
Pioneer
Sheet Metal Works \
Are “THERE” on Willow Street I
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AT THK <
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