Taylor, Bayard

Taylor, Bayard

1898-1899

Summary: Bayard Taylor representing the Danbury and Alaska Gold Mining and Prospecting Company, will start for Alaska on February 16, along with Thomas H. Foster, of Bethel. Several others may accompany them. They are thoroughly equipped for the trip; Taylor has been in Alaska before, can speak the Indians’ language, and has experience placer mining. They will go to Orca and from there about 30 miles overland to the Copper River, which they will strike just above the great glacier that enters it. They will head in the direction of Dawson, although that is not their main goal, since the Klondike is already well-staked. The company he represents is composed of men of limited means, who have each put in small amounts of money. No one is permitted more than a small share of stock, and Taylor’s duties and privileges are strictly defined. News story in Danbury News, 2/9/98; Taylor letter (3/9/98) summary: Describes conditions in Seattle. The stampede to the north is great; many ill-conceived schemes are being floated, and many rotten hulks are being used to transport men to Alaska. The best way to go is still a mystery, though the next boom appears to be Tanana and the head waters of the Copper. New arrivals strut around Seattle in their furs, but it’s hard work since temperatures are in the 60s and 70s. Seattle is situated like Newburg—up hill three ways and down hill one. Business men are wide awake and progressive. Letter from Bayard Taylor, 3/9/98. in Danbury CT News, 3/23/98; B. Taylor letter (no date) summary: Voyage from Seattle took 21 days, bad food, “impudent black cooks.” Foster & Wilcox well. Met Brad Ridge in Seattle, he arrived in Valdez a week earlier. Glacier not as bad as reported; working with skilled woodsman and an old mined named Campbell; if no good mines in Copper River country, will look elsewhere. Letter from Bayard Taylor, Norwalk Evening Hour 5/14/98 also in Danbury CT News 5/18/98; Summary: Is making good progress, considering the difficulties. Believes this route is the keystone to Alaska, practical any month in the year. Many people from Skagway and Dyea are coming here.Capt. Abercrombie and men are here; they will break the trail and pilot everyone through. All nationalities are represented here, and most of the people are behaving. Swedes and Norwegians seem to bear the hardships better than other nationalities. One 72-year old German gave his property to his children, married a young wife, and came here to make another fortune in the restaurant business. Many are having problems with snowblindness; they black their faces and work at night because of the soft snow. Bayard Taylor letter (4/20/98) in Danbury News 5/11/98; B. Taylor letter 6/5/98 summary: Is around 62 degrees north latitude, but still not where he wants to be. Wants to get to the center of Alaska, where he can set up base of supplies and work in any direction. Is laying in tools and extra provisions for winter. In Danbury News, 7/27/98; Witness to A.W. Adams claim on Manker Creek,TMDR, 1898, p. 76; Summary of Taylor letter 3/5/98: Describes the heroic death of Dr. Edwin Logan of Louisville KY, trying to bring scurvy victims over the glacier. Two members of the Scientific Prospecting Co. of New York were desperately ill with scurvy; Logan, Ellerkamp, and two others tried to take them to the coast. They set out in good weather, not knowing of the blizzard raging on the glacier. The party was last seen at the fifth bench, about 7 miles from the relief station and 12 miles from the foot of the glacier. J.B. Ridge and party were among the last to see them alive. A search party of seven, found them three days later. Taylor, Ed. Erickson and Jim Acker, arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. Ellerkamp and Ellerman had been blown or fallen into a shallow crevice [sic]; Logan was tracked to a deep crevice and no one knows how far beneath the surface his body lies. The bodies were buried in Valdes two days later in one long grave. Danbury CT News 4/19/99; Summary: Letter has been received from B. Taylor who is in Anacortes WA, earning money to go back to Alaska, where he will seek to locate some copper claims in the Copper River district. Copper is rich in the region and prospects are good; he left Alaska because of the prevalence of scurvy. He expects to go back Sept. 18. The company he represents will forward him some money, as soon as some stockholders come through with their next installments. Danbury News, 8/16/99; Summary: A letter from B.Taylor states he will leave Seattle for Alaska on Sept. 12. He will go to Orca and locate a copper claim in that vicinity. He will stay about two months and return home for Christmas. C. H. Wilcox. JR. has joined a government expedition which will probably go further into Alaska. Thomas Foster, who was with Wilcox, is returning home; he is ill. Danbury CT News, 9/13/99;