New Gold-fields in British Columbia.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 213, 9 December 1873, Page 6

New Gold-fields in British Columbia.

The following is extracted by the Guardian from British Columbian papers to date September 3. Miners will do well to read the glowing account by the light of the Port Darwin experiences : By the Telfair from Sitka, for Portland, which called off the harbour yesterday mom ing to land passengers, we have gratifying intelligence of the discovery of new, and what would seem to be rich and easily worked, gold diggings, situate near the head waters of the Stickeen river. The mines are shallow, and pay, it was reported from, loz. to 3oz. a day to the hand. There were only twentythree miners in all at the diggings when our informant left, but men were dropping in by twos and threes, from outlying districts and creeks. The discoverers of this new Eldorado travelled from Buck’s Bar early in the spring, and arrived on the creek in April. The distance is 240 miles from the mouth of the Stickeen to the new mines ; 140 miles of distance is by water to what is known as the Big Canon ; thence by a fair trail, to Dease’s Lake, 85 miles, which can be made in six day’s packing. The Indians, after Captain Moore had made one or two trips packing, pointed out a better trail, which has now been adopted. It is thought the miners will winter in the district. Mr Lear, who has a store at Fort Wrangle, at the mouth of the Stickeen, one of the passengers, left on the 6th August in a canoe for the Skeena, and at Bella Bella met the steamer, and took passage here to purchaser supplies. He has with him some of the gold, which he has shown us, and he estimates it to be worth about 18dol. an ounce. Pieces worth as high as 18dol. and 22d01. have been taken out. There are several creeks in the neighbourhood possessing the same gold-bearing indications as the one from which the gold was extracted. The following is a letter from Captain Moore, who was commissioned by the Government to cut a trail to the country spoken of, and explore it: — Tibert Creek, Cassiar District, July 1873. To the Hon. K. Beaven, Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works. Sir,—l am located on the Thibert Creek ; this creek empties into Dease’s Eiver, at the foot of the lake, and might be considered the west branch of Dease’s River. This creek runs about east and west, and is about one third larger than Gemansen creek. I have been prospecting, and I find that the creek has gold in paying quantities for five miles in length. The gold is coarse and of a fine quality; there have been pieces found as high as 22d01. There are several smaller streams emptying into this creek which have gold in them, but as yet have not been prospected fairly, I have been prospecting one of them for a few days, but I was not able to reach the bed rock, as the creek was too high. The bed rock on Thibert creek, so far as we know, is from one to ten feet deep, and the gold generally lies on the bed rock, or within six inches of it.. This country has the appearance of_ a general gold country : there are seventeen miners on the creek now, and they keep coming in, one and two at a time, from Stickeen. Miners here make from half an ounce to two ounces per day ; they are all working with rockers. Thibert creek has its source near the head of the second north fork of the Stickeen river. —I remain, yours respectfully, (Signed) W. Moorb. FURTHER. Mr L. Blum, of Johnson-street, has received a letter from Charles Brown, of Fort Wrangle, a well-known minor. This document gives most encouraging news with reference to the rich strike, and states that from 12dol. to 200dols. are being taken out per day. He adds that the Stickeen country will shortly prove to be another California. Mr Brown is not at the mines himself, but intends to proceed thither to take up a claim immediately.