The Skagit Gold Rush of 1880

Last fall, when the first news came of the discovery of gold on the upper Skagit, but little interest was felt by Seattle people in the announcement. Soon, however, parties began bringing in gold dust in considerable quantities and rumors were rife of many rich strikes along the tributaries of that river. What at first was supposed to be but a chimera of the brain of some over-zealous prospector, rapidly took the form of reality. Before many weeks, the gold field was the topic of conversation among all classes. Skagit became the watchword and cry. But just as the first locators were about getting their claims in condition for operations on a large scale, an early winter closed down and put a stop to further developments. The winter, although the severest ever known on the coast, could not keep back the impetuous prospector. Many rushed in, determined to overcome the difficulties of snow and ice and open their claims immediately, but snowstorm followed snowstorm until the hardiest of these pioneers were compelled to cease operations. A long and anxious winter followed. As the spring advances, a thousand eyes watch the battle between sun and snow. The snow that covers the golden banks of Skagit's streams is fast disappearing and expectation runs high. Already the stroke of the pick rings out through the echoing canyons. Results so far show that too much has not been expected—the full measure is being realized—and we predict that before another year rolls by, the Cascades will teem with the life and activity of tens of thousands of miners.