The herald., 1897-08-22
JUST LIKE
OLD TIMES
Except That the Hardships
Seem Greater
WOULD-BE MINERS IN WANT
MANY MORE HAVE TOO MUCH
TO CARRY
Operations of Thieves Call for Sum
mary Action-Miners Coming
Out Bring Nuggets
Press Special Wire.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 1.-A spe-
cial to the Bulletin from Dyea, Alaska,
August 14th, tells of the pitiful condition
of many of the searchers for gold VINO
are now stopping at Dyea, unable 10
proceed further on their journey, owing
to lack of funds or provisions. Many of
those now in Dyea are physically unable
to make the trying trip, and there are
many cripples who will suffer great
hardshps before the winter Is over.
MANY of those who arrived on the
steamer Willamette are absolutely with
out shelter seemingly having come to
this cold region depending upon the
observation-disclosures of others to keep them
from dying. Many of the people who are
unable to reach Dawson this winter
have two tons of provisions and no pos
sible means Of transportation. One man
has over 5000 pounds, which he Is trying
to pack over Whites pass in lots OF
seventy-five pounds each, making short
relays. Thieves have been operating
extensively and many tents, tools and
much ammunition and money has been
stolen. Already a vigilance committee
is spoken of, and unless the thefts cease
trouble will follow.
ONE THIEF HANGED g.
VICTORIA, B. c.. Aug. 21.-The
steamer Coquitlan returned from Dyea
and Skaguay today. She brings word Of
a rumor that a man was hanged near
Dyea for theft.
A man has been banished from Skag-
uay by prospectors for attempting to
collect toll of so cents for each person
crossing a tree which he had felled
across a creek on the trail He was
given twelve hours to get out.
The day the steamer left five men
arrived with 1000 in gold dust.
COMES BACK RICH
d6cE tfilss sr morning shortly after 10 o clock @
from Dyea and Skaguay, and was met
by a great crowd of people, it having
been reported that several men from
Klondyke, having made their way to
salt water overland, were on board. This
report proved true. The interest centered
in the appearance OF one passenger, Ed
Thorp, who was expected to come down
on the Portland and who is reported to
have somewhere in the neighborhood of
$130,000 in Klondyke gold in his possess
sion.
Thorp and his companions talk, but
decline to tell the same story twice, and
1t is next to impossible to get anything
definite from them. Willis Thorp, ia ther
of Ed Thorp, received letter few days
ago, on the Alki, from his son, saying
that he had $4,000 in gold. At least that
is what Willis Thorpe is alleged to have
told his friends, but now Thorp and his
three companions on the Starr unite in
only one point in telling their story, and
that is that they have $4,000 between
them.
A reporter found Ed Thorp a moment
after the steamer landed and began to
ply him with questions. At this moment
the elder Thorp, father of Ed, who ap-
pears to have an antipathy for news
papers in general since the publication
Of his sons alleged wealth. rushed up and
interfered, leading his son away
The four men on the steamer who are
direct from Dawson are George l., Stew
art. Ed Thorp, Joe Winterfield and Jack
Ross, and their Indian guide, Schwatka.
Stewart went to the Yukon in July, 1896,
and located one claim on Ell Dorado
creek and another sixteen miles from
Dawson. When the party left Dawson
on July 4, nothing had been heard of the
discoveries on Stewart river. The party
came up the Yukon to Polly river, which
they reached on July IT, Thence they
came over the Dalton trail and reached
Skaguay August 18th. The Dalton trail
necessitates packing a distance of be-
fxra 4 ;1ae.
ly for driving stock over to the Yukon.
1t is the intention of all the party to re-
turn to the mines at once on the next
trip of the steamer George E. Starr if
they can get ready. All came out after
supplies. Stewart said supplies ran short
in the spring, and that flour went up to
$40 per sack; at present it is $12 per
hundredweight.
THE LAST TRIP
SAN FRANCISCO. August 21-The
last expedition for the Alaska gold fields
will leave here August 25th. The steam
er Navarro has been chartered by the
California Alaska Navigation e. Com
mercial Company and will tow the river
steamer Thomas Dwyer to the mouth Of
the Yukon river. The Navarro will have
accommodations for seventy-five pas
sengers and the managers of the expedi-
tion calculate on reaching Dawson City
in bout sixty days. Two physicians will
accompany the expedition to look after
the health of the prospectors. If by any
the Navarro reaches the Yu-
kon too la te for the river boat to get
through, arrangements have been made
for caring Tor the passengers until
spring.
A PUGILIST LOST
SAN FRANCISCO. August 21.-A let
ter from the head of Lake Bennett states
that Frank Slavin, the big pugilist, IS
lost in the wilds of the Northwest Ter
ritory. On August 5th Slavin started
back alone from the lake toward the
of Chilcoot Pass to find number
of articles lost from his pack. Up TO
August 9, the date Of the letter, nothing