The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-08

An Appalling Outlook if the stampede ia
Klondike Continues.

WASHINGTON. u. c.. Sept. THE
Treasury Department to-day publishes
the following letter from a government
official now at Dyca on tho way 20 the
gold fields, stating az The same time that
The writer. whose name is withheld has
been twelve years in the service and was
thoroughly reliable:
Dyea August p.
! deem II my duty 90 write YOU on q
subject that does not come strictly WITH
in my line OF duty ass 10 trenches some
what upon the functions OF the Treasury
Department ] have had a long talk with
Mr.. Iyey, Collector Of Customs for Alas
ka, who is az present at Skaguay three
miles below here.
The skaguay trail IS the most largely
used overland route Though by no means
the besD 90 the Klondike
Mr.. Ivey informs me that there are now
between tidewater and the lake some
thing Ike four thousand people and about
two thousand horses. The commander of
one OF the vessels now at Skaguay states
that sixteen vessels are chartered 10 land
cargOes at that place between now and
the 18th OF September and that the NUM-
Der Of passengers will average 200 TO each
vessel. making 200 more people who Will
attempt 10 go in this fall / have talked
with some Of the most experienced trad
ers and miners In this vicinity and they
are unanimous IN the prediction that not
over twenty per cent. Of this vast number
will get through TO Dawson before winter
sets ln. The other eighty per cent Will
be caught on the trail and those who sur
vive and get back 20 Underwater VIII nave
TO winter az Skaguay.
Hundreds will inevitably perish on the
trail, which Is most dangerous after oc-
t0ber lst. Mr. Heron. the postmaster and
Indian trader al this place states that
more than one thousand men have gone
thirty days and that seven hundred Of
them are still this side of the lake (tWen-
ty-four miles from here. Vessels arc
arriving every day or two and at the
present rate Of influx another thousand
will enter the trail by September TO- Mr..
Heron is Of the opinion that not more
than twenty out OF one hundred will get
through and he says this trail Is far
more dangerous than the Skaguay after
tho SHOWS set in. lie says II the rush
continues another week the resultant loss
Of life will be appalling.
] attach the greatest weight 10 what he
says for the reason that it is 20 his pc
cuniary interest 20 have as many as
possible come this way; yet ne advises an
immediate stOppage Of the stampede. To
Is difficult 10 suggest WAY 10 stop this
thrush of people but Mr.. lvey intimates
that III the inspection rules OF the Treas
ury Department were properly enforced
II would materially decrease the number
or persons on the incoming vessels Near
ly every vessel that arrives here brings
twice as many passengers as the law
allows 10 10 carry and many Of them are
condemned craft which have been fitted
w. for this trade.
Mr.. Ivey will not doubt az once present
the facts outlined above 10 the proper
authorities and / merely give them 10 YOU
for your information. The situation D.
appalling and 10 ls impossible FOR me
adequately 10 describe the mad rush for
the gold fields. ] had no conception Of It's
immensely TIL ] saw. ! have talked Win
several men who have recently arrived
here from the kl0ndke. two OF whom
LETT there less than thirty DAYS ago. They
unanimously agree that while there is "a
rich gold Held there, the facts do not
justify the present stampede and they say
there Is bound 10 be much suffering and
mutual starvation. Provisions are already
scarce and the prices OF many articles alb
solutely prohibhory In the case Of man
OF ordinary means.
Ny usual good luck has attended me
here Mr.. Heron. the postmaster is an
old Montana friend and he has made Il
possible for me to go forward by Indian