The herald., 1897-09-25

would be found dead, but the Indian
was very much excited and Tinsley
thinks only few were killed.
Captain Nelson, of the Pioneer, de-
scribes the rainstorm of last week at
Skaguay as the worst he ever saw. 1t
came down in torrents and there was a
foaming mas of water pouring down the
mountainsides at Skaguay the mud and
slush being three feet deep, where a few
weeks ago the ground was hard as
floor.
Captain Nelson asserts that the
Skaguay trail was entirely obliterated
by the storm of last week, and is now
being abandoned by everyone there. 1t
is Captain Nelson's opinion that on ac-
count of the warning given of the on
coming of the flood, it will be found that
nearly all had succeeded in escaping
with their lives AT the same time he
says that those who were in the path of
the flood and avalanche certainly went
to destruction.
ONE VICTIM
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 24.-Aaron
M. Choynski, who was one of the victims
of the Chilkoot Pass disaster, was we'll
known in this city. He was the second
son of Isaiah Choynski, veteran Jour-
nalist, now on the Chronicle, and a
cousin of Joe Choynski, the pugilist. He
was borD in San francisco twenty four
years ago. BY trade he was a tile filter
and for ten years was employed by w.
w. Montague & Co., who gave him the
highest recommendations on his de-
parture for the north. In amateur ath-
letic circles he was noted as clever
boxer, speedy sprinter and good
wheelman. He left here on July 81 for
the Klondike on the steamer VILLA
mette, being one of party of five young
men, all well equipped for the trip.
THE STORY DOUBTED
SEATTLE, Sept. 24.--The latest news
from Skaguay was brought here today
by John Vance, government instructor
at the Indian school at Neah bay, on the
steamer AL Ki. Mr.. Vance left Skaguay
two days after the AL XII had sailed from
Juneau, going to Juneau on the steamer
Detroit, thence to Departure bay on the
Elder and to Seattle on the AL XII. He
was at Skaguay last Friday. He said:
THE prospectors and miners who
have been congregated at Skaguay the
last several weeks are all now we'll over
the summit. They have had hard tus-
sle, but got through all right. The
greatest impediment they had to meet
was themselves. The trail was almost
solid mass of mud, but it could be
traversed."
Mr.. Vance had heard nothing Of the
snow and rock slide reported from Port
Townsend today as having killed eigh-
teen men.
The steamship Queen, which has been
on the Alaskan route during the summer
season, has been withdrawn and sails
tomorrow for San Francisco, whence she
will run south. The Queen will carry no
passengers to San Francisco.
SURVEYORS AT WORK
VICTORIA, Sept. 24.-The steamer
Princess Louise has returned from
Wrangel. The Dominion government
survey party has started from Gler ora
to survey route to Teslin lake, and
other surveyors have started up the
river. Both parties will be able to COM
plete their work before bad weather
starts in, and early in the spring will no
doubt see work started. on a wagon road
at least on this new highway to the
Yukon. Fifty men are at Wrangel wait
ing for canoes to take them the first part
Of their journey to the mines.
CONTRACTS FOR STEAMERS
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 24.-The
growing Importance Of trade with the
far northwest has caused the Alaska
Commercial company to provide for a
new steel steamer for the run between
San Francisco and st. Michaels. The
contract for it's construction was signed
today with the Union iron works, a
provision being made by which the ves
sci must be ready by April. Its tonnage
will be 1000 and it will have staterooms
for 500 passengers, and will make not
less than fifteen knots an hour. The
vessel will resemble the Pomona, but
will be larger and finer ship. Other
steamers to be constructed here this
winter are a new ferryboat for the San
Francisco-O Oakland service, Pacific
Mail steamer and a small vessel for
inter-island trade at Hawaii.
The contract for the ferryboat was
signed today. 1t will be of steel and
about the size of the Piedmont. The
new vessel for the Pacific Mail company
is to replace the Orizaba, running as a
freight boat between this city and Mex
leo. These contracts, together with the
government orders, and the building of
a Japanese cruiser, will make the sea-
son one of the most prosperous in the
history of the big ship yard
MINING CLAIMS SOLD
SEATTLE, Wash, Sept. 24.-Fourteep
gold mining claims in the Sumdum and
Bearners bay districts in Southeastern
Alaska, were sold today to New York
and Denver men for 100000. There
were two separate deals, seven claims in
each district being sold. Through ex-
Collector 3. F. Moore, the Sumdum
property was sold for $125, 900. James r.
Price, a Denver mining man, placed the
other sever with Denver capitalists for
SIS, 900.
Marcus Daily, the Montana million
aire, has ha0 five men in Southwestern
Alaska for month examining property,
an6 it is sal intends to make large in
veStments there.
A DREARY SITUATION
ASTORIA, Ore, Sept 24.-The steamer
Elder arrived from Skaguay and. Dyea
this eve ming, bringing twenty-three pas
sengers. The weather delayed the steam
er, otherwise the passage was an un-
eventful one. When questioned about
the condition of affairs at Dyea and
Skaguay, Capt Jansen said there was
a. diseusted set of men at Skaguay many