The San Francisco call., 1897-09-23
MINERS MUST SAVE
THEMSELVES.
Men of Juneau Argue That
the KIondikers May Yet
Flee From Famine.
SACKS OF GOLD FROM
FORT WRANGLE.
Seven Prospectors Said to Be
Bringing Out Seven Hundred
Pounds in Dust.

JUNEAU. ALASKA, Sept. II (via
Seattle. Wash.( Sept. 22-Tne pro-
ject to organize an expedition to
to the relief of the hungry
hord les at Dawson City was considered by
number of business men here. After
careful examination it was abandoned as
i'm practica ble-in fact, as quite impossible.
1t is expected here that all the men who
have not provisions enough 20 last them
until supplies can get in next summer
will leave Dawson of their own volition or
be compelled to leave by town organizs-
tion formed to meet the emergency and
go down the Yukon River to ST, Michael.
Thousands can get out of Dawson in
canoes and small boats if thev will seize
the opportunity within the next twenty
days. In case a relief expedition got
through with large quantity of provis-
ions there would not, after the exodus to
st. Michael be enough people left to buy
provisions ct a price sufficient to recoup
the expedition for its great expense in
carrying food through, even if it were
physically possible.
Returning Klondikers say that packing
is over at Dyea and Skaguay for the sea-
son-that is, until next January or Feb
ruary, when spring travel may be
begun on the snow. There is not only
snow on the mountain passes, but on the
trails. Those Klondikers who have not
already built cabins are dong so with ali
possible speed. A large spring rush is
expected to go in over the snow Many
are expected to come down from ST.
Michael and go in overland if there is
any way that they can leave the island
post.
1t may seem curious to the uninitiated
why. if there is snow now, the Klondikers
cannot proceed on their way now as we'll
as in the spring. Briefly, it is not ON
account of the snow; solid ice, or, rather
the lack of it, is the obstruction. 1t
takes the lakes and rivers until January
or February to freeze thick enough 10
stand travel. The Klondiker must stick
to valley and river. He cannot get over
the mountains. The wind disturbs the
ice so much and piles it up in so many
hummocks and unstable ways that it is
impossible to attempt to pass over it until
it is known to be solidly frozen, and that
time experience has shown to be not be-
fore January as a rule. Even then trail
has to be made over, around and through
the ridges and hummocks of ice.
At Skaguay business is decreasing. Sa-
loon-k ee pers and gamblers are complain
ing and a mum Der of others of the sport
ing element have left. A considerable
portion OF the town is built on piles about
six feeS high over the water at high tide.
Small icebergs and foes which fill Lynn
Canal in the winter are expected 10 re-
duce this portion OF the city to a state of
complete wreck. The nimble thimb
rigger is still on the trail and reaping a
harvest
w. ]. Rogers of Tacoma, who returned
here yesterday from Skaguay, says that
$40 sack is offered for oats at the sum.
NIT of White Pass and beyond, and that
they are not to be had even at that price.
He SAYS there is a corresponding scarcity
of all other horse-feed, and that 1000 suf-
fering, haIf-starved beasts will never get
out of the interior alive. They must
starve in the snow or be shot out of mercy.
A little story which illustrates the scar
city OF feed is that a horse, smelling oats
aiar off, broke into pile of sacks and ate
his fill. The owner of the oats claimed
the horse in payment for the oats eaten,
ana got AAOH tAO AOioO
AMI died.
Rogers says that scores of horses have
chilled on the summit and died from
pneumonia.
Theft of provisions is increasing on both
Dyea and Skaguay trails. So many are
touched with suspicion that the number
of guilty ones has greatly decreased the
proba bility OF hanging.
The long expected and now overdue
overland mail from Dawson City has not
yet arrived. 1t is known here. the news
having come around by way of st.
Michael and Seattle that the mail-carriers
left Dawson City on August 10 for Juneau.
w. T. Beveridge of Portland, Or. came
up on a steamer three days ago from Fort
WrangIe, arriving here just after the
steamship Rosalie sailed for the south.
He saws seven men were at Fort WrangIe
when he left, who had come out of the
Klondike with 700 pounds OF gold over the
Stickeen trail. The miners were waiting
for the next steamer for Seattle, which
would in all probability have been the
Rosalie. Beveridge soberly and earnestly
avows that he saw the gold in the sacks
and tried to lift it.. HAL HOFFMAN
RUSHING TO THEIR DEATH.