The herald., 1897-08-22

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Norman .........'...........'...... 10Y
ROsal1e ....................... lot
Aik1 o aoo
utopia ....................... 900
Edith. ....................." 90
George e. Starr. ........................... 320
Rapid Transit. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. III
Thus all told there are ON the way to the
Klondyke today by the water route
1892 persons in 20 vessels These figures
have not been exaggerated, but are
taken from the passenger lists of the
vessels whose names are given. The
list of vessels is as complete as coul6i
possibly be compiled. Unquestionably
some parties have gotten away by the
water route whose departure has not
been reported to the newspapers. But
as it is nearly 10, 900 persons have taker,
this method of reaching the land of gold
So con Trajectory are the reports which
come from those who claim to have
knowledge of what it will cost to reach
the Klondyke and the necesIaries of life
one must have in his possession to as
sure against starvation, that it is almost
folly to accept the word of anyone as
absolute. Therefore it is of interest
to know what, ON the average these
gold seekers carry with them. Not all,
not even the major portion Of the emf
grants will be able to make the journey
by water. Plenty of them will have to
brave the dangers of Chilcoot pass. with
its record of death and starvation.
II we average the possessions of each
gold seeker, it will not reach the sum of
over $50 per individual. This assertion
will no doubt, be derided by those who
enthusiastically declare that almost every
one of the fortune hunters has money
enough to see him through. That is not
true. Many man has started from here
to the Klondyke with barely enough to
live on for few days after he has reach
ed the mouth of the Yukon, trusting to
good fortune to help him complete the
Journey to the promised land.
From the most authentic sources it is
learned that the water front at Dyea and
Skaguay bay is lined with prospectors
tents Any number of those who went
north from here expecting to get trans
portatio over the divide, have found
that unless they wish to brave the per-
lis Of the unknown without guide or def
mite idea of the necessary knowledge re-
quired to assure safe passage, they
must wait for weeks before continuing
are beginning to realize that not before
next spring they will see the headwatecs
of the Yukon.
This will be the experience of at least
thirty per cent of the persons now or
the water on their way to the kloncyke
Now what will be the result? On this
point at least. the majority of the ex-
perienced ones agree. 1t is made up in
one word-starvatiop The British gov
ernment, or rather the government Of
Canada, has statior,ed men at every
point where the emigrarts make All
entry into the Canadian portion of the
Klondyke country, and no person. with
out at least one years sup
ply of provisions is allawed. to
proceed. There is no such regula-
ton about going to the entrance to the
land of gold, and here it is that the hordls
of hungry would.-be prospectors must
linger all winter with no money and no
friends.
Then, when those who cannot go by the
water route but are well supplied with
provisions and fairly we'll off for money
reach the point of the beginning Of the
overland journey, they will learn that It
costs not less than $400 a ton to trans
port provisions to the final point of des'tf-
nation How many of the gold hunters
can afford to pay these prices? There
Is but one alternative. and that is to
stay away until next sping unless they
send home for more money and even
that means long wait.
Many Of the steamers me rtioned as be-
Ing ON the way to the Youkon are heavily
loaded with freight. Aboard the AL ki
were fifty head of pack horses and the
same number of cattle, all irteuded for
the Klondyke. The Rapid Transit took
al the freight she could carry. The
Willamette took 800 horses. The South
Coast carried the tug boat Governor
Stoneman as part of her cargo, as well
as the steam launch Firenzi and several
small lighters. The National City car
ried the little launch Hattie B. In fact,
1t Is estimated that when the fleet Of
vessels mentiorded reaches its destina-
tor at least a Thousand horses mules
and cattle have been transported by
them This in addition to tons and tons
of provisions.
The best equipped and provisioned Of
all the parties are those which have
orga r;ze6, and chartered vessels. As
a rule, these have taken the precaution
to arrange in advance, ways to combat
possible emergencies, and carry the
members through all kinds of hardship
The parties aboard the South Coast and
the Farallone are excellent examples Of
these. The explanation of their fore
sight lies In the fact that they were