The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-26
Wreck and Ruin In the Wake of a
Section of Glacier That Slipped
from the Mountain Side.
LOSS OF LIFE NOT GREAT
PUGILIST CHOYNSKPs COUSIN THE
ONLY MAN KILLED.
other People Injured and $25, 1000
Many Gold Seekers Penniiess.

DNEN'
City of Seattle arrived from Skaguay at
noon. bringing the following special letter
to the Associated Press from ]. w. Hoger-
ty, under date of ''Finnegan's Point, on
Chillxoot trail, Sept. q"
Sheep Camp, nine miles above here, was
nearly wiped off the face of the earth yes
terday morning by a section of a glacier
breaking lose from the main body, which
came crashing down the canyon for two
and half miles, carrying death and de-
struction in its wake. The first report
brought down last night by men who had
braved perils of flood and precipice to get
out, was not less than seven men had been
killed and dozens manned and hurt. Later
reports, confirmed by a hundred witnesses,
brought the certain death loss down to one
a man named Choynski, of San Francisco
said to be cousin of the pugilist of the
same name Several were hurt somewhat,
but none fatally. There may be other
deaths, but so far no bodies can be found
The loss of supplies will reach $25. 900. Many
have lost all their supplies, after toiling
many days to get them that far on the
way, and many professional packers that
had been working for months as men never
worked before lost their earnings in the
twinkling of an eye.
The glacier from which the slide started
is just a little above the west of the "Stone
House." two and one-half miles from Sheep
Camp. The warm weather and heavy rains
formed a lake on the glacier, and the wind
had been blowing for twenty-four hours
from the north and had finally broken off
a section of a half-acre in extent, which,
with the water behind it, started On it's
fatal journey The persons who were
camped at "Stone House say it looked like
a volcano turned loose, over one hundred
feet in height and twenty-five feet in
width. When it started it made noise as
of thousand cannon, and the startled in
mates of the tents sprang to their feet in
all stages of undress Git was raining a tor
rent at the time and for that reason many
were yet in beo) and rushed outside to see
what was the matter. One glance up the
canyon was enough; some rushed into their
tents to get the most valuable things they
could lay hands on, while others took to the
foothills without anything, over powders
and large rocks that ssaly other time they
could not have got over at ALL
Choynsld was camped with some COM
panions at this place. and did not get out
of his tent until the flood of water had
struck it. He grabbed tent rope and wse
carried by the flood to the length of his
rope. The water thrashed him up and down
until finally he was torn loose and dashed
along by the raging torrent beaten against
rocks and powders until life was almost ex-
tinct. Some one finally caught his body
and brought it to shore Rough but tender
hands held him until life was extinct He
was only able to humble his name before
he died.
From Stone House to Sheep Camp, about
two miles, former slides have left channels
which have piled rock unfortunately on
all sides hence the name. But the general
course is quite different to Sheep Camp,
where the most of those who are packing
make one stage of their journey. and there
are at all times from five hundred to one
thousand people camped there. There were
fully one thousand there yesterday The
first person there to see the avalanche was
about to overwhelm them was Captain F.
c. Baatz, a saloon keeper, who had a sa-
loon and gambling house in a large tent
directly in the course of the torrent He
had just got up and hearing a noise like
thunder, looked up the canyon and taking
in the situation at a glance, he rushed into
the saloon, grabbed up all his money and
awoke a dozen or more men who were Sleep
ing under the gambling tables. He yelled to
liCLA lHdl al StNdldilNllC WdS Oh tH6IH anu
started on run down the trail yelling at
the top of his voice for all to get up. AS
it was, they escaped with their lives Few
made any effort to save any of their eff
fects
George C. Marks of San Francisco, who
came to Sheep Camp a few days ago to
buy outfits of those who were discouraged
or broke, had $4,000 in belt under his bed.
and at the first alarm ran out with nothing
but his underclothes on to see what was
the matter, and then tried to get his mon
ey, but the water was on him and he could
not get it. He had hold of a rope and was
thrashed around by the angry waters un-
til his hold was broken, when he was car
rled into an eddy and rescued by those on
the bank. He came down to-day with the
crowd and does not show any signs of the
struggle for life he has gone through.
Tents, goods and provisions of all kinds are
buried in an indescribable manner for near
ly a mile from the head of Sheep Camp
down the canyon. Forty tents occupied
by probably over a hundred persons, are
buried in the ruins. All is confusion
Many discouraged disheartened pilgrims
have come down to-day, intending to take
the first steamer for home. Some of them
have not dollar to their names; still the
most of them saved their money One man
lost $780, which was found by digging where
his tent had gone down -Four saloons out
of six were wiped out of existence but the
log huts, which had been built higher up
bridge was washed out as well as several
feet along the trail, but Healy and Wilson
have set a force of men at work repairing
the bridge and the trail so that it will be
passable for horses again in a few days.
Men nave telled trees across several places,
and it is again possible TO get along on
foot. There are hundreds of discouraged
men tonight at Sheep Camp They know
not what to do. Professional packers who
have been at work for some time are sick
from exposure and overwCrk.
The course of the avalanche was not over
two hundred feet wide in any place and
only those who had not observed ordinary
precaution for camping were injured but
many who were camping only temporarily
lost their all. AT Finnegan 5 point the river
rose nearly a foot in TWO hours, but has
gone down again TO almost its former level
and those camped here are beginning to
move their stuff ahead again.
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