People/prospector, miner

Skookum Jim Mason (Keish)

Skookum Jim Mason (Keish) (1855–1916), prospector, miner, from Canada. Linked to gold.

The lucky break

Joined George Carmack and Dawson Charlie on Rabbit (Bonanza) Creek in August 1896 and staked beside the discovery claim that started the Klondike gold rush.1

The downfall

Developed an alcohol problem and in 1905 put what was left of his fortune into a trust. His wife left him that year.1

Legacy

His estate paid yearly sums to his family and a large part was left in trust for Yukon Indians. The DCB gives him a full biography as a Tagish packer and prospector.1

Story cards

Timeline

  1. 16 to 17 August 1896Gold found on Rabbit (Bonanza) Creek2
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Where next

People

FamilyDawson Charlie (Kaa Goox)His nephew and claim neighbour on the Klondike's discovery day.1Partner ofGeorge CarmackThree partners, one discovery claim, and a gold rush.1FamilyKate Carmack (Shaaw Tlaa)Her brother led the prospecting trip that found Klondike gold.3

Mines

DiscoveredKlondike (Bonanza Creek)A packer known for hauling 100 pounds found the gold that emptied cities.1

Sources

  1. KEISH (Skookum Jim, James Mason) Dictionary of Canadian Biography (University of Toronto/Universite Laval)
  2. Discovery Claim National Historic Site Parks Canada
  3. SHAAW TLAA (Kate Carmack) Dictionary of Canadian Biography

Pictures on this page: George Carmack - 01.jpg, H.J. Woodside (1858–1929) (Public domain); Shaaw Tláa.jpg, Unknown author (Public domain).

From the Prospector Trails mining history dataset: each fact links to the source it was checked against. Figures are as the source gives them, in the money of their day. Not investment advice.

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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: Super Pit, Kalgoorlie by Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0; Underground mining equipment by Kaupo Kikkas, CC BY-SA 4.0. Pictures: Gold prospectors constructing a long box with a filter for panning gold. Process print after H.M. Paget, 1899., Henry Marriott Paget (Public Domain Mark 1.0).