Digital Bob Archive

OCTOBER 18, 1880-Dick Harris and Joe Juneau, the two Sitka prospectors who made an important gold discovery near the headwaters of Gold Creek on October 4, returned to their beach camp today. They and their Indian packers have brought out approximately a thousand pounds of gold-bearing quartz, some of it very rich.

Having staked 18 placer claims on October 4 and 5, the two men then turned to lode locations. A total of 24 quartz claims were staked on what the partners called Gold Hill. The first 12-The Fuller I and II, Montana I and II, California I and II, Pilz I and II, North Star I and II and Jamestown I and II-were staked for George E. Pilz and N. A. Fuller, the men who grubstaked them. Four lode claims were then staked by Harris and Juneau for themselves. These were named Alaska Chief, Last Chance, Sitka and Legal Tender lodes.

The other six lode claims were staked for various individuals. The Hughes lode is in the name of E. C. Hughes, purser of the mail steamer California, and the Carroll lode was claimed for Capt. James Carroll of the same vessel. The Glass lode and Rockwell lode were staked respectively for Captain Henry Glass and Lt. Cmdr. Charles H. Rockwell, both of the U. S. S. Jamestown, now stationed at Sitka. In addition, the Pensacola lode was staked for the two navy officers in joint ownership. The Schmeig lode is the name of James Schmeig, a Sitka apothecary.

Harris, who is recorder for the new Harris Mining District, has also recorded two lode claims on Douglas Island, but at exactly what place on the island has not been ascertained. They are thought to be near the mouth of what is known as Cowee Creek. The Douglas Gold and Silver quartz lode for Pilz and the Kowee lode for Captain Glass, Lt. E. P. McClellan and James Ring, all of the Jamestown.

This afternoon, Harris and Juneau turned their attention to another matter. For themselves and N. A. Fuller they staked a 160 acre townsite on the shallow bight where they are camped and which they have named Miners Cove. According to the location notices they posted, the townsite is to be surveyed into 50-foot lots running back 200 feet. The new townsite is named and styled Harrisburgh.