The record-union., 1897-12-27

SKAGUAY (Alaska), Dec. IL Cvia Se-
attle (Wash.), Dec. 26.-John Lindsay
of Olympia, Wash, who has just ar
rived from Dawson City, says that
there will surely be starvation there
this winter He examined into the
food situation in a thorough manner,
he says, and after satisfying himself
that there would be starvation, he sold
his outfit, and in company with Frank
Ballaine of Olympia, Wash; Tom
Story of Victoria, b. c., and Bob
Glynn of Seattle, started out on foot,
each man drawing a sled carrying about
140 pounds of provisions. Lindsay
says the Dawson people believe that
there is no great amount of food at
Fort Yukon, as has been alleged. The
river rose sufficiently and remained
open long enough to enable food sup
plies to have been brought from Fort
Yukon, had there been any there.
The people of Dawson, believing that
there were not ample food supplies at
Fort Yukon, refused to go there, pre-
ferring to remain in Dawson. Not
more than 300 or 400 people took ad-
vantage of the transportation compa-
ny's offer to take the people to Fort
Yukon free of charge.
When the miners at Dawson found
that no more provisions would reach
town by the river route, they an
nounced that meeting would be held
to take steps for apportioning the
provisions of the town. Those that
had plenty, they said, must share with
those who had none. Captain Con-
stantine of the Northwest mounted po-
told the miners that
no such thing would be permitted. The
meeting was not held.
Lindsay says the output of the mines
will be greatly curtailed this winter,
because of the scarcity of food and
light. Coal oil sold for SIS a gallon
and candles as high as $3.50 box of
100 Even if men We're able to work
their claims they cannot get light to
do so.
These statements are borne out by
all returning KIondikers, quite num-
Der of whom have reached here the
past week. Few of them, however,
take as gloomy view of the situation
as does Mr. Lindsay.
L. B. Bradley of Roseburg, Or, says
that food is scarce, but he does not
think there VIII be actual starvation.
P. J. Holland of Butte, Thomas Story
OF Victoria, or Robert Glynn of Seat
tie. all of whom reached here this week
from Dawson, the most OF them having
left there on November I'd.
AS an instance of the scarcity or
food in Dawson, Lindsay relates the
case of DR.. Van Santz. formerly Of
Spokane, Wash. Van SantZ is an
nd ygb without DrQElS
ions or money, he offered a gold watch
for a sack of flour He could not get
it. and he remarked to Lindsay: God
only knows how 1 am to keep body and
soul together"
Lindsay says 200 or more miners are
prospecting at the mouth of Stewart
River. but as yet nothing is known as
10 what success they have had.
Henderson Greek, five miles below
Stewart River, and forty miles from
Dawson, is a promising stream, and it
is being developed this winter.
The weather about the Stewart and
Big Salmon Rivers has been bitterly
cold. 20 degrees below being recorded at
Major Walsh's camp, twelve miles be-
low the Big Salmon on November 18th.
The Yukon River between Dawson and
Fort Pelly froze completely over on
November 10th. The river is piled
fun of ice in great ridges as high as an
ordinary house, and a roadway Will
have to be cut through ii before dog
or horse teams can operate upon it. The
outlook. therefore, for taking supplies
down TO Dawson in the immediate fu-
ture is not good.
Inspector OF Mines McGregor left here
a week ago with a number of dog teams
and horses to make the attempt TO
reach Dawson with about twenty tons
OF provisions. but nothing has since
been heard Of him.