Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-08
PERlLS OF KL0NDIKE.
LETTER OF WARNING PUBLISHED
by TREASURY DEPARTMENT..
THE SITUATION APPALLING.
thousands stu Rusbipg Toward
the Northwestern Gold Fields
Hundreds WIZ Inevitably Perish
ON the Way.

WASHINGTON. September THE
Treasury Department to-day publishes
The following letter from a government
official now at Dyea. on the way to the
goid-helds, stating at the same time that
the writer whose name is withheld, has
been twelve years in the service, and is
thoroughly reliable
"DYEA. August 22.-I deem 1t my duty
| 10 write you on q subject that does not
come strictly within my line Of duty. as
1t trenches somewhat upon the functions
OF the Treasury Department / have had
| long talk with Mr.. Iyey, the Collector
! or Customs for Alaska, who is at present
| at Skaguay. three miles below here. Tne
| Skaguay trail is the most largely used
overland route Though by no means the
best one) to the Klondike Mr.. Ivey in
forms me that there are now between
tidewater and the lake something like
four thousand people. and about two
thousand horses. The commander of one
of the vessels now at Skaguay states that
sixteen vessels are chartered to land car
goes at that place between now and the
18th OF September, and that the number
of passengers will average 200 TO each ves-
sci. making 300 more people who will
attempt 10 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
prediction that not over 70 per cent. OF
this vast number will get through TO
Dawson before winter sets in. The other
80 per cent. will be caught on the trail,
and those who survive and get back TO
tidewater will have to winter at Skaguay.
Hundreds will inevitably perish on the
trail. which Is most dangerous after Oc-
tober 1st
MIR Heron, the postmaster and Indian
trader at this place, states that more
tnan one thousand men have gone up the
Chllcoot pass during the past thirty days
and that seven hundred of them are still
this side of the lake Uwenty-fOur miles
from here. Vessels are arriving every
day or two, and at the present rate OF
influx another thousand will enter the |
trail by September 10th. Mr. Heron is OF
the opinion that not more than 20 out OF |
100 Will get through. and he says this |
trail is far more dangerous than the |
Skaguay after the SHOWS set in. lie says
II the rush continues another week the |
resultant loss of life will be appalling. 1 |
attach the greatest weight TO what he |
says, for the reason that 1t is to his pecu- |
mary interest to have as many as possi- |
ble come this way; yet he advises an i'm /
mediate stOppage of the stampede.
TO STOP THE RUSH.
ut is difficult to suggest n way 10 stop
this inrush of people, but Mr. Ivey inti-
mates that If the inspection rules of the
Treasury Department were properly en-
forced Ii would materially decrease the |
number Of persons on the incoming YES
sells. Nearly every vessel that arrives |
here brings twice as many passengers as |
the law allows il TO carry, and many |
IF them are condemned craft which have
been fitted up for this trade. Mr.. lvey |
will. no doubt. at once present the facts
outlined above to the proper authorities, |
and i merely give them TO you for your |
THE situation is appalling, and 1t is
impossible for me adequately to describe |
he mad rush for the gold-fields. | had |
10 conception of its immensfty till l saw
[. / have talked with several men who |
ave recently arrived here from the Klon- !
ike. two Of whom left there less than |
hirty days ago. They unanimously agree |
hat while there is rich gold-field there, |
he facts do not justify the present stam-
ede. and they say there Is bound to be |
nuch suffering and starvation. Provis-
ons are already scarce. and the prices of
lany articles are absolutely prohibitory |
\ the case of man of ordinary means.
MY usual good luck has attended me
ere Mr.. Heron, the postmaster is an old | {
lontana friend, and he has made 1t pos [
lble for me to go forward by lnoian car {
cIS at lnt prevailing idlt-ot tcHlS pNi i
ound-ta}lng precedence over hundreds, |
lany of whom have been here two or
1ree weeks awaiting their turn. He as |
1res me he can make the way easy for | j
le at the lake. in securing a boat, etc. | /
o / fell comfortably sure Of going right v
trough. a
"rhe mail facilities are very bad here, | II
5 the Post-Office Department has not
ade any allowance for the rapid growth |
? the postal business The postal au-
..rI,. /
lie mass of mail matter. and / have | 7
)ubts as TO whether this letter Will
,ach it's destination. / am forced TO
ose this letter to catch a boat Which is
)out TO leave. and am leaving unsaid | :,
,me things which l shall have TO in
40 m nv next letter u