The San Francisco call., 1897-09-06
NELSON TELLS OF SKAGUAY
A Returned Rusher Describes the
Boom He Found in That City
of Many Tents,

The Umatila got in from the Sound at
little past noon yesterday day later
than Der schedule, owing 10 the fact that
she left here day ate on her last upward
trip.
The steamer was we'll laden and had
large passenger list, but she had aboard
only ons man who could tell tale of
Alaska. He was II. w. Nelson, a Klon-
dixie rrsher on the retreat from Skaguay
and the forbidding trails. He is rustler
recently back from Guatemala, and he
says that he will tackle the trail up there
again in the spring. He worked his way
back from Seattle as second baker on the
Umaiilla. He was with the crowd that
went from here on the Willamette several
weeks ago, and says that seventeen of the
hundreds who went packed in that big
collier have sold their outfits to return.
Its wonderful how Skaguay grew
while I was there" said Nelson yesterday.
when l arrived there were 500 tents and
1900 tents went up in two or three days.
When l left there were nine buildings up
and hundreds of thousands of feet of lum-
er had been landed, 1t has gone there
by shipload ana nargeIoad. Every body
has landed with more or less money and
they are blowing it in.
''Men who want TO work are making IS TO
SIS day packing. according to how much
they can carry. l know one fellow who
was waiter and who is getting $40 for
carrying a chain on the survey for that
railroad, and funkeys are getting So
day, but that is only temporary. Some
fellows with money have been bound to
get as far as possibl and they would hire
stout men wanting to work, paying as
high as 40 cents a pound for packing.
Lots of men see no possibility or getting
over the trail this year and they propose
to wait there and go in next spring. They
want to keep as near the golu as posi- BILE.
| was there when Stewart, Thorn end the
other two came out by the lakes with bi,
sack of gold dust ana nugget half as big
as my fist. When you're there and see
such things YOU are apt TO want to stick as
near to the klondk Ike as you can and get
there as soon as pos sible.
when 1 left there was a dance hail GO
ing in big tent and the piano in it used
to be in Morosco's Thearer here. Billy
Chapman, VINO used to be at Morosco's
organized a variety troupe and went to
juneau IOuT years ago Wnere he opened
the Juneau Opera House. He opened
saloon at Skaguay soon as the tide
turned toward the White Pass trail. l
saw that piano hauled from he beach on
a wagon with history. 1t belonged to
the man who refused to haul corpse to
the beach unless he was paid $40 and was
given twenty.four hours to get out. He
sold his horse and wagon for $1,000 and the
owner is now making about $500 day
hauling stuff from the beach. where 1T is
landed. up out OF the reach of high tide
When | lett about August Is there was
one policeman for 5000 people and that
was enough. There was a sign stuck up
on pole, No thieves wanted in this
town; take warming ana a rope was
hung beside it. Men were selling their
outfits and leaving every day. but the
great ma ajority will stay. Juneau will be
hot town this winter. People can't win
ter in tents at Skaguay and Juneau is al
ready crowded.