The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-16
Arrival at San Francisco of the
Steamer Excelsior and Sixty-Three
People from Dawson.
EARLY REPORTS CONFIRMED
NO DOUBT ABOUT THE RICHES OF
THE YUKON old FIELDS.
Great Hardsbips Predicted for All
Who Stay There This winter
Names of the Lucky Ones.


SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15.-The Alaska
Commercial Company's steamer Excelsior,
which sailed FROM st. Michael's, Alaska,
on Aug. IA last. but was compelled to put
into Unalasl1a for repairs on account of an
accident to her propeller while at sea, ar
rived in port to-day with sixty-three pas
sengers and abe ut one million dollars worth
of treasure. 1t was at first reported that
she brought down two and half millions
dollars worth of gold dust but this proved
on investigation to have been greatly ex-
aggerated. The Alaska Commercial Com
pany alone had on board about $500, 900
worth of gold dust and nuggets while the
passengers, as rule, were very reticent
as to their wealth.
Following is a list of those who brought
down $4,000 or more: Benjamin Void,
$4,000; A. Harper, 100000; Mike Klatzen,
$4,000: A. Andrews. $4,000; H. Summers,
$4,000; Hank Petersen, $4,000; Will Hayes,
$4,000: F. Densmore $4,000; J. A. McQues-
ton, $4,000; Charles Raimson, $4,000; John
Horn, So, 900; o. Rapp $4,000; w. A. Sher-
man, $4,000; E. p Leggett, $4,000; H.
Schaefer. $4,000. At least twenty-five more
brought down from two to ten thousand
dollars each.
The miners assigned as their reason for
their reticence that in their opinion too
much had already been said about the
country and that too many were going into
it unprepaFed. Frank Dinsmore and A.
Andrews are reported to have made at
least 100000 each during their residence in
the Klondike region, but both decline to
deny affirm this report. Dinsmore, who
spent sixteen years in the Yukon country,
says this is his first return to civilization
in eleven years. He and his companions
are unanimously of the opinion that the
rush is unprecedented and, none of the
trading companies being prepared to meet
1t. they predict great hardships for all who
stay there during the coming winter. They
confirm the stories already published of
the scarcity of provisions and add their
notes of warning to intending prospectors
to stay away until summer.
Following is the list of the Excelsiors
passengers:-
Louis sIoss. jr. .J.-s S. Webb, Benjamin
Wild. wife and child; S. s. Sears. j. Toll
son, I. ]. Grubbs Chris Donovan, Charles
knight Ogilvie, William Hayes. Benjamin
Olsen. William o. Rapp, Miss Gussie La
Frank Peterson Eddie Parks, Harry
Shafer. M. Kurtzen, r. Slinsead E. B.
LeEReLI. Emmett Fitzgerald. j.. "A. ElWell,
], Murray, d. f. Lcvett. Gus Hufersen,
George w. Vogel, Joseph Bowman, o. Gar
rison and wife, w. A. Sherman, George
Bettes and WIFE, c. Andrews and wife
Frank Summers, Hugh Haggerty, Johr
Thorn, r. M. Pearce. William Booth. John
Simenson, W.. L. Cannon, Ross Eckart,
Questen, Henry McQuesten, E. Hestin. A.
Metfield, Miss Fsalconer, A. Harper and
wife and seven children, Mary Karkaner,
ID. Fl. Henderson, Elmer McQuesten, M.
Walker. r. Reeve and wife and two chill
dren.
OF those who came down from Alaska
unite in confirming stories already told of
the pending danger of famine at Dawson
City during the coming winter. They say
there are at least 1000 people now at Daw-
son City and that more are swarming in
every day, but that provisions are already
running short and the prospects of getting
more are remote. The Excelsior's pas
sengers are unanimous in the opinion that
the IIlondike region is richer than was at
first supposed. but are also OF the opinion
that unless the immigration to that coun-
try stops temporarily there will be terrible
suffering.
Lewis Sloss of the Alaska Company, was
one of the passengers on the Excelsior
He went to Dawson City for the company
and reports that al good claims are taken
up. There is no chance for the newcomers
unless rich strike is made in some other
section. Mr.. Sloss says that his company
store at Dawson was closed for but one
day. to receive freight from a river
steamer. He thinks provisions will be
scarce but hesitates, to say there has been
actual starvation. There are about three
hundred impatient miners at ST. Michaels,
most OF whom Will have to stay until
spring unless they have already secured
passage on the river boats. There are
plenty of provisions at St Michaels and
every effort is being made to get supplies
up the river to Dawson. 1t is difficult to
say how much money was brought down
by the Excelsior. The miners are secretive
and will give no accurate information.
Some of them, 1t is known, could not bring
much and will be glad to go TO work down
here. The Alaska Commercial Company
received a large consignment of treasure,
but will not say exactly how much When
asked as to the amount, Mr.. Sloss said:
I'VE brought more than came down on the
Portland and we did not need any Maxim
gun to protect it
When the vessel left st. Michaers the
steamship Humboldt crowd was camped on
the flats. They we're very disappointed
lot, for none of them will get through. The
story that the passengers held an indigna-
ton meeting and were going to lynch ex-
Mayor Woods, of Seattle. is denied. They
had made up their minds to make the best
OF the situation and hold down" the flats
until next spring when water is high in
the Yukon. The river pilots reported water
very low in the river some time before the
Weare sailed from Dawson, but some weeks
after that the water raised a little and
the early rains swelled the torrents con-
Siderably. However the water was still at
what is called the low stage. which means
that the Hamilton, Belle and other steam
ers will be delayed on their trips up stream
because OF the necessity of going ahead
slowly picking the way over the bars. Pas
sengers brought word that there were from
5000 to 1000 people in Dawson and near
there. but the Alaska Commercial Com
panys agent estimated that there are only
about 5000 people at the mines about 600