New-York tribune., 1897-08-30
PRICE THREE CESTS.
FAMINE CONFRONTS THEM.
MATERIAL FOR A GREAT TRAGEDY ON
THE YUKON BEFORE NEXT SUMNER.

WITH SUPPLIES FOR ONLY HALF THAT
NUMBER-wARxrNG TO FooLHARDY
GoLDsEEKERs-Two SIDES
TO THE NORTHERN
ELDoRADO
Seattle. Wash. Aug 29-The steamer Port.
land from ST. Michael's. at the mouth Of the
Yukon River, arrived here to-day bringing q
number OF returning miners and others from
Alaska
The Portland arrived here at 3 o'clock this
morning fourteen hours after she was sighted
off Cape FIattery The steamer carried thirteen
miners, each OF whom brought only a small
part Of his stake The total amount o, dust on
the vessel Is perhaps S515oO The Portland
was delayed by he failure OF the p B. weare
10 arrive at ST. Mchaels and by a storm on the
North Pacific Ocean. The miners on board.
With their total mining profits, part OF which
were brought with them. follows J. Row.
ans. $4,000; Jim" Bell. Si5.Opo: Joe" Gold
smith, S3oWO y. W. Powers. 5000: w. w.
Caldwell. $4,000 w. Oler. S3000o: c. * Zy.
$4,000; f. W. Cobb. So. 900; W. Zahn. S15.GO:
A. Buckley. $4,000: NJ. s Lansing $1,000;
b. w. Farnham. $1,000; NJ r. Camler. $1,000.
II. n. Stanley. who went to st. Mlchaes for
the Associated Press, returned on the Port
land. which reached here to-day. He says:
Il have been seven weeks AT the mouth Of the
Yukon. AT St Michael's. where I saw all the
miners coming out and interviewed them. As a
result feel II my duty to advise everybody 10
stay out until next spring. Wild. and in many
cases exaggerated, reports have been circulated
since the first discoveries were made The strike
however, was and Is one Of the greatest n not
the greatest, in the worlds history Probab bly,
S2WO0OD was cleaned up this spring and next
spring look for from S5O00O00 TO S1Go0O00
The fields have hardly been opened up as vet,
but those going in must bear in mind that
everything in that region was staked long be-
fore any reports reached the outer world and
that those going in now must prospect for them
selves. buy claims from the present owners or
work for the owners
mo new strike had been reported ur 10 the
time OF my leaving st. Mchaers and another
may not be made for five years. although Alaska
Is an enormous country and will yet believe
produce moro gold than we dreamed OF But II
Is also In many way a bleak barren desoate
country-a country Incapable Of supporting any
great amount Of animal life. and country
OF such rigorous climate both winter and spring
that none but the most hardy can possibly
live in IT, Even they must have abundance Of
food and warm clothing.
Il am aware there is popular impression
that supplies can be bought In the vicinity Of the
mines They may at present he bought AT six
times Seattle prices. but they are taken at even
those figures faster than they can he got In. ard
before winter is half over. II the present popula-
ton stays in there will be actual starvation
THE SUPPLIES INADEQUATE
The average man requires about ton ~
carefully selected food and clothing for a
years supplies In the summer Of 1895 about
$500 tons OF supplies went up the river. and the
new population OF 800 TO 1000 suffered from
want OF this $500 tons probably 800 we're
rum, tools furniture and supplies other than pro-
visions. This season. allowing the most favor
able circumstances. not more than 400 tons
OF supplies be got up the river. fully
half Of which s rum and tools. we'll as
supplies other than food. There are more than
three times as many people there there were
last winter. Figure 1t out for yourself.
Grub was completely cleaned this spring.
and last winter there was such a scarcity that
moose hams sold for $50 each. -four $l20 a hum
dred bacon 81 a pound. What will not happen
this coming winter? Why will not people actu-
ally starve to death?
"As to shelter, 30 per cent of Dawson was liv.
ing in tents in July. labor is scarce and houses
cannot be built. How seven thousand peo-
Pile to withstand the rgor of a nine months
winter of semi-darkness, when the mercury goes
20 degrees below zero?
LAS to labor II is true that last winter-the
winter succeeding the great strike. when men
were scarce-Wages were So a day bur II no
strike is made what is to keep wages up
this winter? There but $40 claims on Bo-
nanza. Eldorado and Hunker creeks that will
probably be worked this winter. An average Of
eight to each is think. liberal If but
300 men are employed and there are five thou
sand or more seeking work. what must he
the result? Wages must go down. | am
told that much grub has gone over the divide;
yet. from what know. would wager my last
dollar that not 10 exceed five hundred tons ~
supplies over and above what the carriers ate
will reach the diggings No man going in can
arrive with more than four months supply
II am also told that there is plenty at st.
Michaels So there may be. butafter September
l5 it might as well be In New-York City. for 10
transport it by dog train or sled over 1000
miles of icy river is absolutely impossible There
is not. nor will there ever be- dog train that
can take enough to feed itself over loo miles.
Relief is, therefore, impossible. over the divide
in the winter would be quite difficult.
RELIEF IMPOSSIBLE.
ITO draw provisions for the trip from Dyca
to Dawson any time before the spring breaks up
is an impossibility Relief for those caught in
the Klondike after winter sets I'm is equally i'm
possible, so in the name Of humanity | ask that
a stop he put 20 this wholesale transportation
Of people without supplies Let no man be al
lowed to enter that region unless he carries with
him enough food and clothing to last him a year
There are women and little children in there
to-day who should be sent out as far as st.
Michael's before navigation closes. hhear much
Of the boats that are building to go up the river
but. aside from on esteamer ready August II
no new boat can be added 10 the carrying craft
this fall. The Klondike is a land OF ice and
snow well as a land OF gold.
Let il not be made a land OF gaunt hunger
wretchedness and death. Let one be allowed
L..