The Mystery of the Vanished Prospectors

Eleven weeks ago yesterday, John Thomas, familiarly known as 'Navy Jack,' an old woodsman on the coast who had a score of friends; O. H. Husted, formerly employed as bookkeeper in Hayden & Co.’s store on Water Street; and another young man whose name could not be ascertained and who has a brother living in town, left in a small sailing boat on a five weeks’ cruise to the north with the object of looking for timber claims. Since that time nothing has been heard of them, and Thomas’s family, who live on a ranch located on the north shore of the First Narrows, are beginning to be a little anxious as to the whereabouts of 'Jack.' The party purchased the craft, in which they were to undertake so long a journey, for the trip. The boat is described as being thoroughly staunch and capable of carrying a weight of a boat load pounds in smooth water. The destination of the men is believed to have been Knight's Inlet, a distance of 200 miles up the coast. As the boat contained only five weeks’ provisions, it is evident that the men had no intention originally of remaining away from home beyond that time. Some of their friends think that the boat has been imprisoned by ice in one of the numerous bays in that locality and that the party has, in consequence, been detained longer than they expected. Captain Merchant, commander of the steamer Mermaid, who yesterday returned from a trip to Thurlow Island, which is no distance this side of Knight's Inlet, reports that he could find no clue to the party's whereabouts, nothing having been heard of them by the loggers and others in the locality, and all inquiries proving abortive. The coast north of the Gulf of Georgia is rather rough, being indented by bays from which rapid currents and tide rips are constantly running. It is hoped that some information as to the fate of the party may soon be forthcoming, as it would be a great relief to know that no calamity has happened to the men and that they are safe and well.