The San Francisco call., 1897-10-24

bell, S. G. Mllllgan, thomas b. Shipp,
George Hansbrough and a number of
others took axes and cut the ice away
from the ship. They continued to cut it
as fast as it formed through the day. To-
ward evening the weather moderated and
a very high tide commenced flowing in !;
the engine was fired up aud, about IL
O'Clock, we had water enough to float u.s.
and an hour later the Mare Island,
which seemed for that occasion to be i'm
bued with human feeling, was pIowing
and plungiHg seaward.
We left the Merwin and the Alice stuck
fast and as the ice has not melted |
presume they are still there. The Mer-
win was situated not over mile from
land, and if II can hold together till the
ice gets solid her passengers can easily get
on shore with most of their goods.
We continued our journey till noon of
the next day, when the bigh wind and
rough sea made it unsafe 10 proceed. So
the ship was run IN on the west side OF
ST. Michael Island, in sheltered spot,
ABOUT thirty five miles by water from the
town and about ten miles by land.
The wind has blown gale direct from
Greenland ever since, so we are stlll Iy ing
here, and may do so for week to come
We are anchored about quarter OF mile
from shore, where there Is an Indian viii
lage. There is plenty of fish and game
and series of lakes that are frozen nearly
solid, which have afforded US a delightful
placs for skating and sledding. A large
mum ber OF the passengers have avaied
themselves OF the opportunity, determin ed
that if there is no profit in their exp di-
ton TO extract at least little pleasure.
The expedition has proven q dismal
failure. We have paid $500 each to be
taken TO Dawson City and now find our
selves at a place which we could have
reached for an expenditure of not more
than $50.
Some of the passengers who started
with barely enough money to reach their
destination lave not the means of either
returning 10 their homes or of securing
transpor tation by any other vessel in the
spring, for if any OF us get TO Dawson it
vail be by other means than the Mare
Island. 1t can never go up the Yukon
River unless it rs empty, and then it would
have to be towed part way
The plans of the different members of
the expedition are at present rather unde.
cIded. By going forty miles up Norton
Sound by water there is a portage of about
125 miles from Unalaklik to Nulato which
will bring one out go miles up the Yukon
Here it is believed gold can be found in
moderately paying quantities, and some are
now preparing to undertake that long and
hazardous journey dragging their outfits
on sleds. The choice is between that and
wintering at ST. Michael which Is said to
be the coldest place In Alaska. As soon
as the weather grows calm we will run
into st. Michael and the cruise of the
Mare Island will be ended. Before the
ice came down there wonld have been a
riot on board had an attempt been made
to turn back to st. Michael, but one sight
of Ihis great restless sea turned to ice was
sufficient TO bring complete harmony of
ideas and the one great oVerw helming de-
sire was to reach that thriving town.
II, frfI IlU tad
his Judgment highly commended.
As soon as the snow freezes, some will
try shedding np the Yukon. 1t Is claimed
that at a distance of 100 miles across coun-
try from here gold has been found, so some
will try thatway, while others will endeAv-
or TO get up to Goiovin Bay, where the
Laffy party have gone, and try their luck
there. a very few intend to go to Seattle
and try TO get over the pass in the spring
Quite a number OF the men have taken
severe colds from the water getting into
their beds. Only five ladies' are now left,
all in good spirits, and they seem 10 put
up with Inconvenience in a better tenn
per than the men.
Thirty seven of the Merwln passengers
have turned back, and some of them sold
their outfits al ridiculously low prices. A
space and pick were sold at 81 each while
only a few days before some men from
our boat paid s. each for similar articles
at the company store here.
/ recently had talk with a man well
acquainted with affairs at Dawson, and
in answer to my inquiry as 10 The amount
OF GOLD brought down by the late vessels
he said it would be at least couple of
millions, but that he had positive knowl-
edge there are over three tons of gold dust
yet there waiting an opportunity to come
down; that the stories told about the I'M
menss quantities of gold there can hardly
be exaggerated
He spoke of a man who has a good
claim on the klondike, out OF which he
haQ taken $1,000, but had to abandon it, as
he found it i'm possible TO buy food. He
also asserts that not an ounce of food is
for sale in Dawson, and when l told him
that it was expected when our boat left
San Francisco that four or five thousand
people would probably get in through the
pass he replied, God help them if they
DO not take provisions, for they will surely
starve."
He further added that he was firmly
of the opinion that mines as good as the
Klondike would be found long way thi.
side of that place. ard that $50 miles up
the Yukon plenty OF gold exists.
ELMA MCNAUGHT.