Yukon Valley News
VOL. III.
RAMPAHT, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1007
No. 44
TO DEVELOP
THE HOSIANA
Man Returns With Interesting Spec
imens From a Promising
District.
Alex Xicol, representing an associa
tion of Fairbanks people, was in Kam
part last Sunday on his return from
the Hosiana, where he staked a number
of placer claims. The ground is on
what is called the main branch of the
river, between the Granite Fork and the
Mud Fork. A boiler will be taken in
and the property prospected with a
view to determining Its value as a dredg
ing proposition.
Fannings from various parts of the
ground, showing considerable gold and
black sand were brought out. A num
ber of small rubies were also saved
from the pannings and miscellaneous
lobbies were brought along to show the
character of the wash, besides highly
mineralized specimens of rock in place.
Mr. AicoI also brought specimens of
coal. This last-named mineral would
undoubtedly furnish an interesting study
to a geologist. It is found below the
I’.itka Fork, and at low water pieces of
the float can be picked up from the
river bars for a distance of perhaps
twenty miles. The float comes from a
high muck bank which is living cut
down by the action of the water. The
coal has more the apjiearance of char
coal than of any of the ordinary kinds
of stonecoal, and at once shows to even
a novice that it was originally nothing
more nor less than masses of large logs.
The coal-bearing formation ,inay readily
be traced for several miles. At its lower
limit there is an outcrop of what may
lie called potstone for want of a better
name by one not learned in the nomen
clature of the rocks—onyx-like blocks of
common shajie and structure, but of
varying size and color. The Hosiana
coal was tested in a stove by the w riter
in 1902. It burned readily, made a hot
tire, gave off but little gas, lasted fairly
long and left only a small amount of red
ash. It is i|iiitv jxisttilde it would lie
suitable for use in smelters just as it
comes from the ground. Specimens of
it may lie seen at this ogive.
Mr. Nicol saw no men on the Hosiana.
tie got plenty of geese, dlleks and eggs.
He killed two black undone brown lieur,
and mortally wounded a grizzly, winch
prudence kept film from following info
the brush. Returning, lie killed a fine
yearling mow, a choice cut of which
be brought to Ids ftiend Salu t'allahan
at Karo part.
Harry K. Thaw says be will conduct
hi* own defense at hi* next trial. He
propom-* to Itwve no lawyer* a* all. Ilia
wife and mother are trying to di**itade
loin from his porpixw.
TO CELEBRATE THE FOURTH
Programme Will Be Completed and Made
Public in Good Time.
Though the programme has not been
fully and finally determined upon, the
Fourth of July celebration this year will
not be in any manner inferior to the
celebrations of former years.
There is a desire on the part of the
Athletic Association to have the list of
contests as full as possible without
crowding the programme too much.
Last year, it is contended, the contests
were so long that they became tiresome
and the events had to follow one another
too closely. There was not time for the
proper intermissions, and scarcely any
witnessed the carrying out of the whole
programme. The idea is, if possible, to
increase the number of events but make j
each one short. There will l>e no lack
of athletic games, horse races, etc.
Of course base ball will be one of the
leading features of the day. A plan was
under way for Jack Itadigan to captain
essentially the same nine he did last
year and play a bunch picked by Half
Donaldson, dinner to follow at the ex
pense of the losers. The challenge from
Captain Seyler of “The Muckers,” in
today’s paper, may lead to a different
arrangement. At any rate, tliere will
Ik* a good game.
The Valley News will l>e out early on
the Fourth with the programme of the
day in it. _
The Challenge.
Cozy Camp No. 1, June 24, 1907.
Editor Yukon Valley News:
Sir: Please insert the following chal
lenge in the next issue of your most
estimable paper:
We, the undersigned base ball players,
known as “The Muckers,” hereby chal
lenge the Rampart Athletic Club to play
a match game on their grounds July 4,
11K17, for purse and a side l>et of from
$250 to $500. Our line-up is as follows:
Louis Seyler, p. Rob Schaber, c.
Fred Harper, lb. Jack Welch, 2b.
Jack Uadigan, 3b. Her. Rosburg, ss.
Sam Harper, If. Fred Cobb, ef.
George Wood, rf.
Address communications to
LOUIS SEYLER,
“Captain of Muckers.”
SEVERAL DEPART
ON STR. SARAH
Several Rampart people left fur tlie
outside by way of St. Michael on the
steamer Sarah last Monday. Most of
them will probably return before the
close of navigation.
Mrs. Frank Smith and baby boy
Jimmy go to California to visit relatives.
It is possible they might remain out
next winter.
Mr. ami Mrs. Horace W. bomber will
visit relatives in different sections and
expect to return in the fall.
Mrs. A. II. Monroe will visit relatives
in Missouri and Kansas.
Cap. Collinette, an old-timer, is on a
voyage to Rimini, where his present
plans terminate.
T. tt. lsley, of l.ittle Minook creek,
will visit relatives and friends in Ohio
and Illinois, lie was stung by a proa
|»ctor l»e a long time ago and may hsik
for g>*a| risk in Nevada next winter.
Herman Heim* ia Is wind for San
Francisco and declares be will never
care to wander once be is again settled
in tltal city.
f A. Tracgcr left on the Sarah, also,
hut is only going a* far aa HI Michael
and may tie bock in Kampwrt again the
present summer.
TO ESTABLISH
TWO SCHOOLS
Frank Moses, representing the de
partment of education, has been in
Kampart for a few days arranging for
the opening of a school. ]>r. Williams,
of Providence, H. 1., is also here, but
later will go to Steven’s Village, near
the mouth of Pall river, and conduct a
school to lie opened there.
The building known as the Ilonte
Sweet Home cabin has I sen purchased
for a teacher's residence at Kniii|mrt
and a school building will lie erected
near it. _
Dan Sinclair's Whereabouts.
Some one not long ago asked what has
liecome of Pan Sinclair, who disup
l» ared from Kampart last fall. The only
answer that could lie given ut the time
was that he had intended fo go over on
the Tatiana.
Well, last week a letter was received
from l*an saying he had the prettiest
wood camp on the whole Tatiana river
alsml two mites and a half above baker
creek. Me has MO cords of wtssl, a
fine cabin, a lot of ground cleared, and
from the way lie ia improving the place
he has prolmbly made up his mind to
reside there |s rmaiteully. Hot spring*
is hie postolncc.
SEARCHING
FOR FOSSILS
Scientist Here After Specimens for
Sending to the Smithsonian
Institution.
A distinguished arrival on the Sarah,
Monday, was C. W. Gilmore, an archae
ologist of note sent into this country in
the interest of the Smithsonian Institu
tion at Washington. His mission is to
collect fossils of extinct animals which
will be added to the institution’s great
museum.
Trot. Gilmore is attended by Benno
Alexander, who is familiar with this
portion of Alaska. A canoe arrived here
for them several days ago. After spend
ing some days around Rampart they
will proceed down the river by canoe.
At many places along the valley are
the remains of the mammoth, mastodon,
musk ox, bison and other animals, in
eluding, it is said, the horse. A good
many specimens have been uncovere 1
in mining operations in this district.
At Fossil Bluff (sometimes called Bone
Bluff) a distance of a hundred miles or
so below Tanana, the scientist will prob
ably find his richest field, however. At
that point the river in cutting away the
bank exposes a great number of fossils,
and it is possible that a careful search
might disclose remains of species not
heretofore reported from Alaska. How
ever that may be, the place is sure to
] rove a treasure ground to the student
of antiquity.
It is said that the Smithsonian Insti
tution has but a few fossils from Alaska.
In one slu rt season I’rof. tiilnu re must
accomplish but little, comparatively, in
so vast a field, no matter how hard he
may work. Prosjiectors and miners un
cover numbers of tine specimens every
year, which could be forwarded at little
cost.
Prof, tiilmore will reach St. Michael
in time to take one of the last ocean
steamers to the outside.
Injured Youth Improved.
Young Robert Wright, whose leg was
crushed ami who was otherwise terribly
injured in an accident on Thanksgiving
creek in the winter of lDOt-'Oo, is greatly
improved and will finally recover almost
entirely.
M. S. Hill, lately from the outside,
visited the Wrights at Mexico, Mo., not
long ago ami says the stiffness is nearly
all gone from Rolw-rt's leg and no more
operations will lie necessary. For a long
time after he went out it appeared that
he might !• *• the leg or even his life.
That oldest and liest of all the far
northern |«|erii, the Ihiwson News, has
a siihscrtWr in Jerusikon who has sent
It a tssik of pressed flowers plucked
from the Mount of t dives, Mount Sinai,
Mount 1 s'1st bob. Hebron and oilier
famous biblical places.