Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-11
PAUSE, CONSIDER!
Carefully Think it Before You
Start for Alaska.
Winter Has Set In and Reports from
There Are Most Dubious.
Steamers from St. michaeIs Bring Nothing
But Tales Of Suffering.

san Francisco, Sept 10.-The Exam
iner prints an extra edition containing
the following news from Dawson City:
Otter Point, b. c., Sept 10-The
steamer Cleveland has arrived from St.
Michaeis, bringing with her from the
Yukon gold fields a story of distress
board and officers in charge of the
ship, tell the story of disaster and dis
tress at Dawson.
The winter has set in at the mining
city of the frozen North and two great
stores of the plain have closed their
doors, for they have nothing to sell.
Those who have been seeking gold now
must seek for food or starve
While there may be Il tendency to
eXaggerate the actual state of affairs.
there can be no question that famine
threatens the adventurous men and
women who made their way to klon-
dixie. Hundreds Of unruly spirits arr
locking to Dawson. Threats of vio-
lence are being made on every side.
The first scenes of winter are appar-
ent to the Yukon, which is beginning to
freeze and in few weeks will De
closed. Enormous prices are now be-
ing paid for food ut Dawson and it rs
Impossible that more than four vessels
with provisions can reach Dawson be
fore the river is a mass Of ice.
Captain Hall, master OF the Cleve-
land, says that he has 100000 in his
safe. The purser believes that he can
account for $1J0,00 on board.
The Cleveland has some of the pas
8
reports that on July %, the stores of
the Alaska Commercial Co. and of the
North American Trading and Trans
portation Company. announced that
they had no more food TO sell.
Drunkenness, gambling and disorder
We're rampant and conservative obscr-
vcrs predict the most serious conse-
quences.
There is gold everywhere but the peo-
pie of Dawson want food more now
than they want gold. At st. Michaels,
there is not enough structures to ac-
commodatc the crowd and scores of
people are living in tents
If fortune favors, four vessels will
be able to reach Dawson from st.
Michaels before the Yukon river
freezes. They will carry provisions,
but it is by no means certain that they
will reach the Klondike They offer the
only hope, however, for a renewal of
supplies.
August IS, the Excelsior left St
Michaels. Reports were current that
her treasure amounted to 81 600 600, but
there are none on the Cleveland who
can verify this assertion.
Shortly before the Cleveland left for
Seattle, the United States revenue cut
ter Bear put into st. Michaels with
Capt. Whteside, his Wife, the first and
fourth officers and four scamen of the
steam whaler Novach. The Novach
was caught in an ice pack in the Arctic
ocean. OF her crew AZ were lost
Thirty-one We're crushed in the ice and
frozen to death.
The Bear saw the vessels signals of
distress near Point Barrow and lost no
time in going to her assistance The
captain. his wife, two officers and four
sailors were glad to leave. but nine
positively refused to so. They were
lost.
The Cleveland also brings news that
when the Humbolt stopped at Gun
alaska on her journey to st. Michaels
The passengers were in open rebellion