The San Francisco call., 1897-10-29

A STRUGGLING. hungry, suffering
II army of men, some alone and some
4 accompanied by their wives, fighting
for life, is now marching on its way over
the rugged hills and frozen valleys from
the Klondike and Circle City, headed for
Fort Yukon, where food if not fortune
awaits them.
Such is the news of the cond ition pre-.
vailing in the gold fields of the far north
according to the report of Captain J. F.
Higgins OF the steamer Excelsior that
arrived in this port last night, fourteen
days from st. Michael
Suffering and death await many who
hurrsd to the gold fields unpre pared to
fac's hard winter" said Captain Higgins
lat night, land shortage OF food that
may result in appalling hard hips is gen.
orally expected by those who have had an
opportunity of observing The river boa s
Weare and Bella are now fast in the ice at
Fort Yukon, and the supply of food carried
by them will remain where it is Those who
are driven by the pangs of hunger TO
cease in their search for gold may go
there and escape death from starvation.
We have had no direct communication
from Fort Yukon since the return of the
steamer Margaret, that for a time was
STRANDED alongside the Weare and Bella
'TheMargaret finally managed to escape
from the corner in which she was forced
and brought back the news OF the fate
that seemed to await the miners OF Daw-
son and Circle City if they allowed their
greed to combat their Judgment
''Prior to the departure OF the Margaret
from Fort Yukon the Alaska Commercial
Company's agent at Circle City, not know
ing the cause of the little supply fleets
delay, rowed down the river and found
the vessel fast at the rivers divide. I'M
mediately seeing that the vessels woald
be unable to proceed farther this
winter, and appreciating the fate
that awaited many of the miners who
were relying on the arrival of the feet for
supplies If they were not warned of the
true condition OF affairs, the agent turned
the Prov of his little boat toward Circle
City and started back to give warning 10
all who would listen.
He reached Circle City after enduring
untold hard ,hips and his words TO its
people spread terror throughout the land
and in hordes they began to desert
the land of gold. Word was next
carried TO Dawson of impending famine
and many people who had left positions,
comfortable homes and families behind
and who had spent their all to reach the
KlondIke forgot about gold and fortune
and hurried 10 join the army that set out
for Fort Yukon 10 await the return of
spring.
''The passengers who returned on the
Margaret also report that on the arrival
of The feet at Fort Yukon, Sam
fuel Wall. The CALL correspondent,
. and John McGilivray, his compan-
ion, took small boat and rowed
Hlp the river to Circle City. They arrived
at that town tired and hungry. but other
wise well, only to find that they would in
all probability have to return to the fort
in order TO live out the winter. Many
similar tales of hardships are told in st
Michael, Dut it Is hard TO verify them.
SIT is the prevailing opinion at st.
Michael that the flow of gold from the
Klond ike will not be as large as expected.
owing to the scarcity of food. We brought
down with US on ths trip some 5000