The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-09-08
STAMPEDE OF MAD MINERS
MANY GOLD H UNTERS HATED NEYER
 TO REACH THE KLONDIKE.

treasury Officials Warming Words About 1000 People and 2,OOO Horses on
 the skaguay Trail-3,2OO Miners More
 Will Soon Take Up What Will be a Death
 March to Many of Them.
 Washington, Sept. 7-The treasury department to-day made public the fol- lowing letter received from a govern ment official now in Alaska on his way to the gold fields, stating at the same time that the writer, whose name is withheld, has been twelve years in the service and is thoroughly reliable:
 "Dyea, August 22.
 T deem it my duty to write you on a subject that does not come strictly within my line of duty. I have had a long talk with Mr. Ivey, collector of customs for Alaska, who is at present at Skaguay, three miles below here.
 "The skaguay trail is the most large- ly used. overland route (though by no means the best) to the Klondike. MT.
  Ivey informs me that there are now be- tween tide-water and the lake some- thing like four thousand people and about two thousand horses. The com mander of one of the vessels now at Skaguay states that sixteen vessels are chartered to land cargoes at that place between now and the 18th of Septem- Der, and that the number of passengers will average 200 to each vessel making 3,2OO more people who will attempt to go in this fall.
 T have talked with some of the most experienced traders and miners in this vicinity, and they are unanimous in the prediction that not over 20 per cent. of this vast number will get through to Dawson before winter sets ln The other 80 per cent will be caught on the trail, and those who sur < vlve and get back to tide-water will nave to winter at Skaguay or return south. If the rush continues two weeks longer hundreds will inevitably perish on the trail, which is extremely dan- gerous after the first of October.
 "The postmaster and Indian trader at this place, MT. Heron, states that more than one thousand men have gone up the Chilcoot pass during the past thirty days, and that seven hundred of them are still on this side of the lake, twenty-four miles from here. ves- sels are arriving every day or two, and at the present rate of influx another thousand will enter the trail by Sep tember 10. MT. Heron is of the opinion that not more than twenty out of one hundred will get through, and he says this trail is far more dangerous than the Skaguay after the snow sets in. He says that If the rush continues anoth- er week the resultant loss of life will be appalling.
 I attach the greatest weight to what he says, for the reason that it is to his pecuniary interest to have as many as possible come this way, yet he advises an immediate stoppage of the stam- pede. It is difficult to suggest a way to stop this thrush of people, but MT. [vey intimates that if the inspection rules of the treasury department were enforced it would materially decrease the number of passengers on the incoming vessels. Nearly every vessel that arrives here brings twice as many passengers as the law allows it to carry, and many of them are con- 1emned craft which have been fitted ID for this trade
 MT. Ivey will no doubt at once pre- sent the facts outlined above to the proper authorities, and I merely give hem to you for your information The situation is appalling, and it is impos- 'ible for me to adequately describe the mad rush for the gold fields. I had 10 conception of it's immensity until saw it.
 T have talked with several men who lave recently arrived here from the two of whom left there less han thirty days ago. They unani- nously agree that while there is a rich 'old field there, the facts do not justify he present stampede, and they say hat there is bound to be much suffer- ng and actual starvation. Provisions Ire already scarce, and the prices of many articles are absolutely prohibit- ny in the case of man of ordinary means.
 My usual good luck has attended me ere. MT. Heron, the postmaster, is an Id Montana friend, and he has made it ossible for me to go forward by Indian arriers at the prevailing rate (35 cents er pound), taking precedence over hundreds, many of whom have been ere two or three weeks awaiting their urn. He assures me that he can make he way easy for me at the lake in se- uring a boat, etc. So I feel comforta- ly sure of going right through.
 "The mail facilities are very bad ere, as the postoffice department has ot made any allowance for the rapid rowth of the postal business. The ostal authorities here are powerless ) cope with the mass of mail matter. nd I have doubts as to whether this .tter will reach it's destination. I am breed to close this letter to catch a. oat which is about to leave, and I am aving unsaid some things which [ lall have to include in my next let