Yukon Valley News
Vol. I.
RAMPART, ALASKA, SEPTEMBER 7, 1904
No. 5
MIDAS CREEK VICTIM
GOES INTO FAIRBANKS
FELL IN WITH SWINDLERS AT NOME
— !
Boarded the Sarah at Mouth j
of Ko)nkuk.
“There’s a sucker born every
minute.’’
This is slang, but it is trite and
true. And it is not wise to indulge
iu loo much hilarity over the roping
in of some confiding innocent by a
gold-brick man or a tbimhlerip
artist; for lo! even while we laugh
some angler comes with bait suited
to our case and we are caught.
Dr. Carmichael, prominent phy
sician of Seattle, wealthy ranch
owner in Montana — man with
money, out to make money—was
an arrival at Nome early last spriug
on his way to Fairbanks.
At Nome he first heard of the
wonderful riches of Midas creek—
that mythical stream which failed
not to be a producer for those who
"worked” it-—and was one of the
party who chartered and outfitted
the little steamer Research to as
cend the Koyukuk to the region
where the Midas with its golden
promise was supposed to be. But |
the Research got into all sorts of
trouble because she was a Britishei
and not allowed to ply iu American
waters. Impatient at the delay,
Dr. Carmichael and his party took
passage on a river steamer to the
mouth of the Koyukuk and from
there (toled up to the mouth of Hog
river, where they met a paitv of
other dupes, and, returning, the
credulous doctor took the Sarah to
Tatiana and the Herman to Fair
banks, a poolci it uui a am. uian.
How much cash the Midas creek
people sec',r~'* .mi
known, but his outlay for supplies
and incidentals was heavy.
Ou board the Sarah when the
doctor boarded her was his wile and
daughter Bessie. Mrs Carmichael's
secretary Mr Reed, and her tom
Mtae Chauncy. What the good
doctor's late will be now that this
party has him in tow there is no
knowing ‘ there s a sucker horn
every minute."
S. S. OREGON HAS
UNLUCKY VOYAGE
The steamship Oregon, which
left Seattle Aug. 11 for Nome, had
her usual luck. After encounter
ing most unpleasant weather she
was laid up in fog 24 hours just
outside the pass. Then, to cap the
climax, the fire bell rang. The fire
was in the sailors’ quarters, and
most all their bedding was burned
As one after another the blazing
mattresses were tossed overboard,
the ship’s barber lost his head and
had to be locked in his stateroom.
Some one called out. “Ladies, get
on your warmest clothing," and
mere was some talk of lifeboats.
But the officers had their men well
trained and soon extinguished the
flames.
When the ship reached Nome she
could not discharge cargo on ac- !
count of surf. Some of the passen
gers got a salt-water bath free of
charge and came very near losing
their lives going ashore at that
place.
Charles Bircblet, who has been
with the N. C. Co. at Rampart for
the past two years, is now on the
Sarah. After the Sarah goes into
winter quarters he will go to the
home office in San F-ancisco. He
is anxious to get out on account of
the serious illness of his mother.
Walter Sundberg has accepted a posi
tion at the N. C. store.
Frank I). Steele accompanied Deputy
Marshal Charles Ilriebelbis from Valdez
ami is now jailer at Rampart. Mr Steele
has been with Mr. Dreibelbis two years
Mr. Lindsey, of the lloosirr hydraulic
company, accompanied by Mrs. Lindsey
and their four children, left Monday for
I {nosier creek. They will reside there
during the winter.
Mrs. Garritt, formerly a resident of
Rampart, will spend the winter in St.
.. ;th her daughter, who has
charge of the poslolfice Mrs. Garrett
will assist her daughter in the office
There was joy in the Alagoud house
hold when little Marian, a Aee-year old
daughter, arrived on the Sarah to spend
the winter with her mother in Tanana
The Itttle one came in care of Mrs. S K
Heeler
I. M Chisholm, who represents the
Miners Co-opersites company of Fair
haahs, mow the way up riser with their
gomla. He la accompanied he hm w>fa
Captain Chrtstler amt hta wife are with
Mr amt Mrs- Chisholm amt > a lewd spend
tag the winter M Fairbanks
BEN DOWNING
BRINGS FREIGHT
Ben Downing, ever since ’97 the
best known man in the north, as
mail carrier, freighter, trader and
all-around hustler, was a passenger
from Seattle to St. Michael on the
Senator. At St. Michael he and
his partner Gardner chartered a
barge and loaded it with 500 tons of
freight, including 250 tons of horse
feed and 100 tons of flour, which
the Herman took in toiv for Fair
banks. It is said they paid the
neat sum of $25,000 cash to get
their freight to its destination.
The Herman left Tatiana Sept. 1
with the barge in tow lor Fair
banks. Among other zoological
specimens aboard the barge was a
cross fox, presented to Mr. Down
ing at Holy Cross.
Jeffries-Monroe Fight.
San Fraticisco, Aug. 27.—Last
night Jeffries won in first part of
second round.
G. A Wand, a well-known book
keeper vv’ o has been with the N.
C. Co. at Fortymile and at Tanana,
has been transferred to Rampart to
fill the place recently vacated bv
Mr. Ilirchler. He will remain with
us during the winter.
The Susie left St. Michael on her up
trip yesterday.
Judge Hush, recently appointed United
States commissioner at Nulnto, was
joined by his wife on the arrival of the
Sarah at that place. Mrs Bush had
been to New York, where she left her
two children in school.
Bob Knglish, one of the old pioneers of
Fortymile and Circle and a noted saloon
keeper, was a passenger on the Sarah.
Mr. Knglish is one of the charter mem
bers of the first Pioneer lodge, and at
onetime had saloons in Circle, Forty
mile and Nome. Hut he has uow <|uit
wet goods and has taken a large stock of
dry goods to Fairbanks. His stock wss
transferred from the Sarah to the Her
man.
Almlt Moo u'iHisa ri«tou.| .mmwm
the click-click of a mowing machine was
heard on the side of the hill in the dir-c
lion of S K. Heeler's residence People
going to mvestigole fusiml Mr. Heeler
fussily harvesting his uots, snd merrily
singing—
I love to hoot the rattle of the mower ots
the lawn
An it Hicks away the verdant blade# the
toe la hanging on
It tawsea sweetest nutate at titiji stretch
and Men—
That la. of rowras If subs owe else is
driving the voweern
FREIGHT SITUATION
AT ST. MICHAEL
FORWARDED WITHOUT PREJUDICE
Not Fifty Tons Remaining
on Aug. 26.
Speaking of the freight situation
at St. Michael, Mr. Geo. W. Chil
son, arrived on the Sarah, said:
"When Ben Downing got to St.
Michael he found that the Oil City
had broken a shaft and could not
take his freight, as contracted.
C-r'.. J T7 iiiplirey, of the
water division of the N. A. T. &
T. Co., who is in charge of lighter
age contracts at St. Michael, light
ered his freight and turned it over
to the N. C. Co , who sent it for
ward by the first steamer. This
has been the case with all freight
that has come to St. Michael con
tracted for by independent compa
nies, when they could not handle
it; and when the Oregon arrived
on Aug. 26 there was not 50 tons
that had not lieen forwarded. Of
course there has been some delay
at Tatiana, but freight has been
forwarded for individuals or the
company without prejudice.”
School for Rampart.
Mr. W. Hamilton, assistant su*
perintendent, board of education,
appointed Miss Park government
school teacher for the fiscal year
beginning Sept, i, and as soon as
arrangements can be made the
school will be started. Notice will
lie posted in the postoPice if school
is started liefore the next issue of
this paper. There will be separate
sessions for the white and native
children.
UUICtUIIKUt OU|l)lill0.
The supplies for the military post
•« • „•
•ak A Ut ft Utuwvu nl% sMvspt
the vegetables, l.agle will be sup
plied by way of the upper river.
Maker'* Scow.
Baker * scow left Circle on Sept.
» F'.etachnian looks tor it at any
tine.
Vli^uoun i tall stuck on a rock
jo miles down rivet. Mc^nesten
is in town tor supplies to Inst till
be gets it off