The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-29
MUST FLEE EOR THEIR LIVES.
Continued From Page I.

and then opened again the midie OF DC
tober. II is barely possible that some OF
the fleet may yet arrive, but the hope Is
very forlorn indeed. Capt Hansen SAID:
IT do not expect any boats up this sea-
son. When 1 left the flats the water was
too low to allow the barge drawing twen-
ty-two inches to ascend, but when / was
couple of hundred miles this side / no.
ticed that the river had risen consider
able, and / hope sufficiently for the boats
to get up. We have almost exhausted all
Of our stock in supplying extra mine OPP
orators, and there are now more than 30
untitled orders on our books. The best we
can do is to advise people to go TO Fort
Yukon, where there is an abundance of
food, TO live during the winter. They can
| find plenty OF employment cutting cord
wood for the use OF steamers next year.
I realize only too well that the situation
is serious, but we have done all in our
power to get provisions, and IL the Loo
people who have arrived had adequate sup
plies there would be no cause for general
Alarm"
Another phase which Is assuming a
most serious aspect Is the lack of dogs
and dog food. There IL not one-tenth
enough dogs to haul provisions from Fort
Yukon to Dawson City to supply the I'M
provided men, nor is the number large
enough to assist the small army TO go up
the river over the ice to Dyea or Skaguay
on the coast.
Capt. Healy's Statement.
Capt. Healy is much distressed over tho
outlook. and In summing up the situation
said:
I'VE certainly expected the boats would
get up in ample season with sufficient sup
plies for the miners. and we sold our stock
down until we have less than one sack
OF iour for each employe in the company.
We are absolutely helpless. 1 am afraid
that one-fourth the people IN the Klon-
dixie are unprovided with winters supplies.
Although we had hoped and had reason
to expect that several steamers would
have reached here earlier than this with
large stock Of food. l am candid In
saying that not one OF US ever anticipated
such rush to these gold fields. That we
were unprepared for, and members Of
our company early in July In Chicago and
Seattle issued a general warning to peo-
pie not to come without having at least
one years provisions. We have over 700
untitled orders on our books from mine
workers for winters supplies.
Eyes. the lack OF grub will greatly less
en- the estimated output OF gold, but there
will be $40 shipped out next season where
there was 81 last spring. On my mines I
had iricnded to employ thirty men, and
now -gsfst I am unable to get provisions,
I will not be able to put a man to work.
will be the condition that will confront
other owners"
The estimate that at least 800 men
came to the Klondike this season with
from seven to nine months supplies Is
generally conceded That IL one-th!rd more
than the number that were here last win
ter, and together with 600 or 500 men who
were far-sighted enough to get provis-
ions early In the spring. will comprise the
force Of laborers, that win work the
minc4 this winter. Since last year the
area and scope Of territory In which valu.
able mines have been or ara now being
developed has more than Increased IN pro-
portion To add complications to the Sit
uation generally . majority of the mine
owners are heavily In debt paying a high
rate OF interest on obligations that will
become due In May and June. Most OF
their ground has been leased In laws ana
they were quietly lying back and wait
Ing FOR the iessees to dig the gold OUT Of
me ground TO iiquidate their Indebtedness
Now supplies are short. men are forced
10 cancel their contracts and go else
where TO get grub. The mines must be
worked TO save the owners from ruin
A Few days ago large majority Of the
mine-owners In secret session promul-
gated this notice:
LABOR NOTICE.
Decision Of mine owners At n meet.
Ing held ut junction of Eldor.ao
and BONANZA creeks September n.
1897,
"Reseived, That from the 1T s.x
OF October, 1897, 70 the lst day OF
June, 1893. the wages to miners
shall be $1.OO per hour.
"MINE owNERs.v
In less than twsnty-four hours the situa-
ton changed. The mine owners car, no
longer dictate. They have notes and OBJ
legations 10 liquida.e. The l.5Do or COO
miners with grub are the masters and not
the owners. ana right well do they realize
the change OF power The wages will NO,
be 81 an hour. and the owners win be for.
tnnate indeed II the rate in no, Advanced
70 I'D a Jay instead OF the old rate OF SIS
Inc Berry brothers. who instIaated the
cur. admit the inability OF the owners IN
force reduction this season ana ,h.gr
remarks AZ this time are very guarded
though they In fact have nothing 70 an.
prenend. az they have ample prov,x,on.
lof the winter. There can be no oues-
uon tnas tue Yield OF gold will be cous,d-
esao.e less IN proportion to ,he number
OF claims prospected and ready for onar-
atlng as compared with las, wear Hsw-
ever. the richness O: the gravel IL smnIs
assurance that many tons OF yellow meta
~ill De shipped TO the United State, :. rIv
next spring. There IL fully n 0s.e coo a.
Dawson City today awaiting .htn,,.r.
* enough provisions can Be ro..an i've
TIE country next summer 20 supn,v ar ono
workrnsn. and there 10 DO adverse Cara.
osan iesisis.on as 10 royalty. etc. the
yiesd CT gold IN the spring following WIFI