The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-07
PERILS OF THE KLONDIKE
HUNDREDS OF GOLD SEEKERS SHUT
OUT FROM THE PROMISED LAND,
And Menaced by Scarcity of Food
casion to Hurry to the North.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.


FORT YUKON, Sept. q, via Seattle,
Nov. 1-Seven thousand miles to Indian
apolis! Less than four hundred more to
Dawson! Navigation closed and the re-
naming four hundred miles impassable
That tersely tells the whole story, and the
following bulletin, posted in the offices of
the steamers Alice and Healy to-day, does
not in any way mitigate the chagrin and
the disgust of the hundreds of disappointed
gold seekers shut out from the promised
land just as they had reached it's boun-
DIARIES. But this seeming hardship will be
received with gladness and content when it
is learned that those already in the golden
city are doomed to privation, suffering, and
in many instances starvation during the
rapidly approaching winter Here, at least,
are warm cabins, ample provisions and
wholesome surroundings, while lack of
shelter, meager rations and unsanitary con-
ditons of all kinds menace the throngs al
ready crowding the little city to it's utmost
capacity, and many times more than its ca
pacity But just now these facts are
neither known nor cared for in the bitter
ness of the moment, and all is clamor and
hubbub on board the boats and up and
down the banks, where the passengers have
collected in groups to discuss the situation,
"cuss' the transportation companies and
talk of the appended bulletin:
1.-The following statement is submitted for
the consideration of the passengers of the
steamers Alice and John j. Healy, now at
Fort Yukon, Alaska. In brief, the situation
is this: The steamers with passengers and
supplies for Dawson find it absolutely i'm
possible to cross the bar in the main river.
four miles above this, and soundings and
examinations of the other channels in the
vicinity show that none of them are avail
able for steamboat navigation. The steam
ers must, therefore, discharge their cargoes
at such points on the river IS are selected
by the captains or agentA of the re-
spective companies. The passengers may re-
turn to St. MichaeTs or distNn0ark at such
points on the river as they may choose.
The masters of the steamers VIII not guar
antee a continuous passage to st. MlchaelS,
or agree that passengers may winter on the
boats in case they are caught IN the lee.
The boats are provisioned Tor the winter
for the crew only. From conditions known
to us to exist at Dawson, we do not advise
any person to attempt to proceed to that
point unless their food supply is fully as
sured. Many persons already there Will be
forced to leave for places where food for
the winter may be obtained. Those who are
contempla ting a return to St M1chaeIS 10
winter should consider the fact that, whlle
there is an abundant supply OF provisions
at that point, there are not bulldlngS
enough to shelter the people already there.
There is no lumber available Tor erecuqg
tainable. The climate is very Indictment, the
winter gales being exceedingly severe, so
that 1t is out OF the question lOT men W
live in tents at that place. The question of
transportation facilities by sea from st.
Michaels is a very serious one, as many
of the steamers which brought up passen-
gers will have returned. There are already
more people at st. MichaeFs than can be
properly cared for.
cat Fort Yokon and vicinity there is
certain amount OF food which will be for
SALE and considerable more is expected on
the Weare and Bella and her barges There
is plenty of wood for buildings and cabins,
and also for fuel. There is less wind at
Fort Yukon that at any other point on the
river.
been established by one of the transporta-
ton companies At Manook creek supplies
have been landed and trading station mas
less work done on the claims already stalxed
in the district, and there is said to be ia
Vorable region for prospecting in the Ylcln-
ity 1t is expected that upwards of five
hundred people will winter there, and, so
far, not enough food has been landed there
for that number.
cat Circle City, while there is some flour
on hand other provisions are very scarce,
except in the diggings out of town., and all
of them are owned by private parties, VINO
hold them for their own use. Men are leaV-
ing Circle City daily for Fort Yukon and
other points where they may obtain grub
1.-THE masters of the steamers agree to
take such cordWood as may be cut along
the river at the rate of "a per cord to dis
tances of not less than twenty miles apart,
and where there is not to exceed two hun
dred cords at any one point 1t is to be
understood that this must be split pine,
spruce or birch wood, cut in four-foot
lengths and delivered to the river between
Dawson and ManOok. Payment for this
wood will be made in the spring Of 1898 by
the agents of the respective companies at
Circle City and Dawson.
'In view of the facts herein stated we
are of opinion that it is advisable for the
passengers now on the steamers Alice and
John j. Healy, at Fort Yukon, to pass the
winter at points on the river, where the
food supply is the largest and lumber for
fuel and shelter is most abundant. The
most favorable place, considering these fea-
lures is at present, without doubt, Fort
Yukon"
This document is signed by P. H. Ray.
captain Eighth Infantry w. p. Richard
son, first lieutenant Eighth Infantry Chas.
G. Yale, statistician United States mint,
and Chas. Smith, deputy collector of Gus
~ A SERIOUS SITUATION.
TO the average man, endowed with the
ordinary amount of common sense and fair
mindedness, this statement would seem to
embody sound advice and the exhibition Of
disposition on the part of the companies
to treat their passengers with consideration
and justice Moreover, Captain Ray is thor
oughly posted on all matters Alaska, hav-
ing had many years experience in the coun-
try, and is a recognized authority on all
that pertains to life in this almost unknown
land and has made it his special business
on his recent trip up the Yukon to familiar
ize himself with the food supply and other
conditions affecting the safety and welfare
of the miners. 1t would seem that his adj
vice in this matter would have been taken
as conclusive. But, while the great majority
Of the men simply vented their disgust at
the i'll luck which closed the river at the
last moment and meanwhile were casting
about to make the best of the situation,
another lot, about twenty in all, refused to
either leave the boats or suggest any rea-
sonable settlement, thinking, evidently, by
threats and swagger talk to force the com
panies to either send them back to Seattle.
or feed them all winter, free of cost Their
argument was that inasmuch as they had
not been carried through to their destina-
ton the companies must provide for them
until they should be eventually landed at
Dawson, although every ticket issued by
the various transportation lines provides
against just such liability and each pas
senger signs a contract to that effect But
human nature under the arctic circle is
no different from elsewhere in this wide
world, and there are always a select few
who figure to get the best Of it."