New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-08
PERILS OF SKAGUAY TRAIL.
TERRIBLE SUFFERING IMMINENT AMONG
THE GOLD-SEEKERS.


uRY OFFICIALS AT DYEA-HuNDREDs LIKE
LY TO PERISH If THE PRESENT
RUSH CONTINUES.
Washington, Sept THE Treasury Department
to-day made public the following letter, received
from a Government official now in Alaska on the
way to the gold fields, saying at the same time
that the writer. whose name is withheld. had been
twelve years in the service and was thoroughly
trustworthy:
Dyea. Aug. "a deem 1t my duty to write you on
line of duty as 1t trenches somewhat upon the
functions OF the Treasury Department have had
a long talk with Mr. Ivey. collector of customs for
who s 1 @ he alef Largely
used overland route Gho1gh by no n.oa ms the besO
to the Klondke Mr. Ivey informs me that ,hST@
like four thousand people and about TWO thousanu
horses The OF one OF me sTe char
tered to land cargoes at that place between now
gers viii average two hundred to each vessel max
ing thirty-two hundred more people VINO VIII a.. a.
of Ike most experienced traders and miners in this
vicinity and they are unanimous IN the prSuct.2
get through to Dawson before winter sets IN me
other 80 per cent will be caught on the aal a w
have to winter at Skaguay or return SOUTH ~ t,Io
evitabiy perish on the trail which is extremely
dangerous after october l. Att. r,aoo
Mr.. Heron, states that more than one tnoISat az,
have gone up the Chkoot pess Gutft ;b tiro
last thirty days and that seven HSfrf8 H NILE
from hero Vessels are arriving every day or W.
a % s sa ere he ifa sy sep,em6sr To-
of thu opinion that not more than twenty our o 81
IS far more dangerous than the Skaguay aIter ono
eib"r w"ek tho Resultant loss of life will be appa
ing. l attach the greatest weight to what ne say. say
for the reason that IT is 10 his peGGnaE xe re
advises an immediate stoppage Of the stampede. l.,
T. tn n
Inspection rules OF the Treasury Department; were
properly enforced 1T would materiay decrease us
Nearly every vessel that arrives here brings twice
as many passengers as the law Allows II 70 CT !!
and many of them are condemned Grai, w' w NO
doubt at once present the facts outHned ap p
the proper authorities and merely gHG 'nT nno IT,
ing and It is impossible for me adequately TO de-
scribe the mad rush for the gold fields. had no
1 have talked with several men who have recent ,
y arrived here from the kondke; 'wH be o; nonI
mously agree that while there Is rch gold 1e!d
there the facts do not justify the present sampeGe
and actual starvation. Provisions are already
scarce and the prices OF many articles aoso!utey
Nv usual good luck has attended me here. Mr.
Heron, the postmaster, IS an old Montana frlend;
bV Indian carriers at the prevailing C37
per pound, taking precedence over hundTeds many
ing their turn. He assures me he can make the
way easy for at the lake in securing boa,
etc SO feel comfortably sure Oh gong IsH'
This mail facilities are very bad here as the Pos
the rapid growth Of postal business. Inc posiai
authorities here are poweress to cope with the
mass Of mail matter and have don0ts as 10
forced TO close this letter to catch boat whicl
things which / shall have to include in my next let
ter.