Here is another letter regarding Alaska Journey & George Carmack.
dale
Source: NORCAL-L(a)rootsweb.com
From: cymcity(a)juno.com
Subject: Klondike Letter -- John MAHONEY -- Apr 1900
Free Lance; Hollister, CA; Apr. 6, 1900:
From Alaska --
Bonanza, Mar. 13, 1900 --
Editor, Free Lance:
No doubt there are a few people in and about Hollister who would like to
know how things are progressing in the far north this winter. I am
working on Discovery Claim where George CARMACK took out the first gold
that caused so many people to turn their faces towards the north during
the fall of '97 and spring of '98. A great many of these people have
since gone back home -- some with fortunes, others wishing that gold had
never been discovered. For my part I will try to spend next winter where
there is less ice and snow and a little more sunshine. A great many
people have left Dawson this winter for Nome, and a great many more will
start just as soon as the ice goes out of the Yukon river. There seems to
be but few idle men here now, so I think this will be a good camp this
summer. G.W. COLE is work[ing] on Claim No. 1 above Discovery, and Ed.
NASH is working on Claim No. 26 on Eldorado creek, which is a tributary
of Bonanza creek. Mr. HUTTMAN, CARMACK's brother-in-law, is looking after
the latter's interests on the 3 claims: Discovery No. 1 above and No. 1
below. He has a lay on one below, but does no work on it himself, as he
has his hands full looking after the other "lay" men, of which there are
about 30 on the 3 claims, and some of them have dug out very large dumps
of gravel. CARMACK's claim will be about worked out this winter. I think
there will be more gold taken out of this claim than from any other one
claim in the district. There are about 14 thawers on this claim, and
there should be in the neighborhood of $800,000 taken out. HUTTMAN will
have his hands full from now until after the washup. This has been a very
cold winter, getting as low as 70 below. Well, I think this well be all
for this time. Trusting to be among the old "push" before another winter,
I remain, with kindest wishes,
J.J. MAHONEY