The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-09-10
A WORD OF WARNING
Advice From an Old Official Anent
the Goldf1elds.
The TRAIL DANGEROUS AFTER OCT. 1
Fxperienced Miners Agree That Not Owe:
20 Per Cent of Those Now En-
Ropte to Dawson Will Get
Through Before Winter.

washington, Sept. S.-The treasury
department has made public the follow
ing letter received from a government
official now in Alaska on the way to tht
goldfields stating at the same time thai
the writer, whose name is withheld
had been II years in the service an6
was thoroughly reliable: ="
1.-THE Skagguay trail is the mos
largely used overland route, though by
no means the BEST to the KlondilSe
Mr.. Ivey, collector of customs for Alas.
ka, informs me that there are now be.
tween tide water and the lake some.
thing like 1000 persons and 1000 horses
"The commander of one of the yes.
sells now at Skagguay states that II
vessels are chartered to land cargoes al
that place between now and Sept IL
and that the number of passengers viii
average 200 to each vessel, making 3,20(
more people who will attempt to go il
this fall.
"I have talked with some of the mos
experienced traders and miners in this
vicinity, and they are unanimous in the
prediction that not over 20 per cent OF
this vast number will get through tc
I
er so per cent will be caught on the
trail, and those who survive and get
back to tide water will have to winter
at Skagguay or return south.
'If the rush continues two weeks
longer, hundreds will inevitably perish
on the trail, which is extremely dan
gerous after Oct. l.
1.-THE postmaster and Indian trader a
this place, Mr.. Heron, states that more
than 1000 men have gone UP the Chill
kat pass during the past 80 days an6
that 700 of them are still this side OF
the lake, "a miles from here.
The Rush Growing.
Vessels are arriving every day OIL
two, and at the present rate of influx
about 1000 more will enter the trail b.
Sept. 10. Mr. Heron is of the opinion
that not more than 20 out of 100 viii
get through, and he says this trail is
far more dangerous than the Skagguay
after the SHOWS set in. He says if the
rush continues another week the re,
suit and loss of life will be appalling.
II attach the greatest weight to wha;
he says, for the reason that it is to hi.
pecuniary interest to have as many a.
possible come this way, yet he advise.
an immediate stoppage of the STAN
pede.
ut is difficult to suggest a way tt
stop this thrush Of people, but Mr.. I've!
lntimates 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 vesse
that arrives here brings twice as many
passengers as the law allows 1t to car
ry, and many of them are condemned
craft which have been fitted up for this
trade
Mr. Ivey will no doubt at once pre-.
sent the facts outlined above to tn,
proper authorities, and. 1 merely gjv'
them to you for your information. The
situation is appalling, and it is impossi
BILE for me adequately to describe tht
mad rush for the goldfelds. l had M
conception of it's immensity till saw.
II have talked with several men who
have recently arrived here from thu
Klondike. two of whom left there les'
than 30 days ago.
They unanimously agree that while
there is a rich goldfield there the fact:
do not justify the present stampede
and they say there is bound to be mucf
suffering and actual starvation.
Provisions are already scarce ant
the prices of many articles absolutely
prohibitory in the case of man of or.
dinary means"