The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-08
SCORES MAY PERISH
ANOTHER WARNING TO THE HORDE
OF WOULD-BE KLONDIKERs.
Letter from n Government Official De-
picting the Situation on the Ska
quay and Chilcat Trails.
THOUSANDS SEEKING GOLD
BUT NOT MORE THAN 20 PER CENT.
WILL REACH THE DEGGINGS.
Others May he Caught on the Way by
the Arctic Winter Dnd FrOzen-The
Lake WaNa Gold Field.

WASHINGTON. Sept. THE Treasury
Department to-day made public the follow
ing letter dated Dyea, Aug. o. received
from a government official now on the way
TO the gold fields, stating at the same time
that the writer, whose name is withheld
had been twelve years in the service and
was thoroughly reliable:
Il deem it my duty to write you on
subject that does not come strictly within
my line of duty. as it trenches somewhat
upon the functions of the Treasury Depart
ment. / have had a long talk with Mr..
Ivey, collector of customs for Alaska, who
is at present al Skaguay, three miles below
here. The Skaguay trail is the most large
ly used overland route Though by no means
the besD to the Klondike. Mr.. Ivey in
forms me that there are now between tide
water and the lake something like four
thousand people and about two thousand
horses. The commander of one of the YES
sells now at Skaguay states that sixteen
vessels are chartered to land cargoes at
that place between now and the 18th of
September, and that the number of passen-
gers will average two hundred to each YES
sci, making 5000 more people who will at
tempt to go in this fall
Il have talked with some of the most
experienced traders and miners in this
vicinity and they are unanimous in the pre-
dction that not over 20 per cent. of this
vast number will get through to Dawson
before winter sets in. The other SO per
cent. will be caught on the trail and those
who survive and get back to tidewater will
have to winter at Skaguay or return south.
II the rush continues two weeks longer
hundreds will inevitably perish on the trail,
which is extremely dangerous after the 1st
of October.
THE postmaster and Indian trader at this
place (Mr. Heron) states that more than
one thousand men have gone up the Chill
cat pass during the past thirty days and
that seven hundred of them are still this
side of the lake (twenty-four miles from
here.) Vessels are arriving every day or
two and at the present rate of influx an
other thousand will enter the trail by Sept.
20. Mr.. Heron is of the opinion that not
more than twenty out of one hundred will
get through, and he says this trail is far
more dangerous than the Skaguay after
the SHOWS set in. He says if the rush con-
tinues another week the resultant loss of
life will be appalling. 1 attach the greatest
weight TO what he says, for the reason that
IL is his pecunlary interest to have many
as possible come this way. yet he advises
an immediate stoppage of the stampede
1T is difficult to suggest a way to stop
mates that if the Inspection rules of the
treasury Department were properly
forced it would materially decrease the
number of passengers on the incoming ves-
sels, Nearly every vessel that arrives
here brings twice as many passengers as
the law allows 1t to carry. and many of
them are condemned crafts which have
been fitted up for this trade. Mr.. Ivey
will no doubt at once present the facts
outlined above to the proper authorities
and ] merely give them to you for your
information
"ThA situation is annallino and II &c i'm,
possible for me to adequately describe the
mad rush for the gold fields. ] had no con-
ceptlon OF Its immensely till l saw. / have
talked with several men who have recently
arrived here from the Klondlke two of
whom left there less than thirty days ago
They unanimously agree that while there
is a rich gold field there the facts do not
say there is bound to be much suffering
and actual starvation. Provisions are al
ready scarce, and the prices of many ar
tlcles absolutely prohibtory in the case of
man of ordinary means.
My Usual good luck has attended me
mere. Mr.. Heron, the postmaster, is an
old Montana friend, and he has made it
possible for me to go forward by Indian
POUND, taking precedence over hundreds.
many of whom have been here two or
three weeks awaiting their turn. He as
SureS me he can make the way easy for
me at the lake in securing 4 boat etc. So
i reel comfortably sure OF going right
through. The mail facilities are very bad
here, as the PoStofice Department has not
made any allowance for the rapid growth
here are powerless to cope with the mass
OF mail matter and / have doubts as to
whether this letter will reach its destina-
ton. / am forced to close this letter to
leaving unsaid some things which l shall
have to include in my next letter"