The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-08
A Government Official Writes of the
Situation at Dyea.
Thousands Of People Who viii Not Get
Through This Winter.
Hundreds of People Likely to Per-
ish IF the Rush to the Gold
Fields Is Not Stopped-Vessels
Carrying Twice as Many Pas
sengers as the Law Allows.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-THE Treas
ury Department to-day made pubic
the following letter from Govern
ment official now on his way to the
gold fields, stating at the same time
that the writer, whose name IS with
held, had been twelve years in service
and was thoroughly reliable:
Dyea, Aug. 22d.
I deem it my duty to write you on a
subject that does not come strictly
within my line of duty, as it trenches
somewhat on the functions Of the
Treasury Department. I have had a
long talk with Mr.. Ivey, Collector OF
Customs for Alaska, who is at pres
ent at Skaguay, three miles below
here. The Skaguay trail is the most
largely used overland route Though
by no means the besD to the Klond1ke-
Mr. Ivey informs me that there are
now between tide-water and lake some
thing like 1900 people and about .
600 horses. The commander 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 September, and that the
number of passengers viii average 2OO
TO each vessel, making 5000 more
people who viii attempt to go in this
fall
1 have talked with some of the most
experienced traders and miners in the
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 in The
other so per cent. viii camp on the
trail, and those who survive and get
back to tide-water viii have to winter
at Skaguay, or return south. If the
rush continues two weeks longer, hun
dreds of people viii perish.
The Postmaster and Indian trader
at this place (Mr. Heron) states that
more than 1000 men have gone up
the Chfcoot Pass during the past thir-
ty days, and that 700 of them are still
this side of the lake, twenty-four miles
from here Vessels are arriving every
day CT two. and at the present rate of
influx another thousand viii enter the
trail by September 10th. Mr.. Heron
is of the opinion that not more than
90 out of every 100 will get through,
and says this trail is far more danger
Gus than the Skaguay after the snow
sets in. He says if the rush continues
another week the resultant loss of life
viii be appalling.
It is difficult to suggest a way to stop
this thrush Of people. but Mr.. Ivey in
Inmates that If the inspection rules of
the Treasury Department were prop
erly enforced it would materially de-
crease the number Of passengers on
the incoming vessels. Nearly every
vessel that arrives here brings twice
as many passengers as the law allows
st to carry, and many of them are con-
demned craft, which have been fitted
up for this trade.
have talked with several men who
have recently arrived here from the
Klondil1e, two of whom left there less
than thirty days age. They unani-
rnously agree that there is a rich gold
field there, but the facts to do not
justify the present stampede, and they
say there is bound to be much suffering
and actual starvation. Provisions are
already scarce, and the prices of many
articles absolutely prohibitory in the
case of a man of ordinary means.
The mail facilities are very bad here,
as the Postoffice Department has not
made any allowance for the rapid
growth of postal business.
SEIZED THE WHISKY.
PORT TOWNSEND, Sept Z. - The
steamer Al Ki sailed to-day for Dyea
with sixty passengers, fifty head of
cattle and several horses and sheep.
while lying at the wharf to-day the
customs officers boarded the Al XII and
seized several hundred gallons of
whisky and other property necessary
for a weTl-stoclxed saloon. The spirits
were in kegs and bottles. The outfit,
which the customs officers estimate to
shave cost 5000. was put aboard and
stored away either at Seattle or Ia
coma. but it was not billed or marked
in any way, and did not appear on the
ships manifest.
ANOTHER KLONDIKE PARTY.
STOCKTON, Sept 7-P. o. Loeffler
of San Andreas viii leave next Fri
day at the head of a party Of thirty
overland to Victoria, where they viii
take the steamer. They will take fifty
head of horses and 100 head Of cattle.
They claim their party is one of the
best equipped that has yet started for
the gold fields.
TERRORS OF CHILCOOT PASS.
PORT TOWNSEND, Sept, From
a letter received here last night from
John James. who left here six weeks
ago for the Alaska gold fields, an idea