The San Francisco call., 1897-12-17
Over Two Hundred Persons
Said to Be Fleeing From
Starvation.
MORE THAN HALF SURE TO
PERI SH.
Now the Yukon is Closed and Al
Hops of Taking Provisions by
Steamer Is Gone.
Special DISPATCH to The CALL

DYEA,.Dec. II (per steamship Corona 10
Victoria, b. c., Dec. 16l.-Word as late al
Novem Der 3 has just been received here
from Dawson. party OF five Drospec-
tors-J. Kastner, George Mclaughlin,
Georgs Ruth, J. z. Holland, and William
KIng-left Dawson on that date. The Two
first named arrived little worse for their
trip, but Ruth had one foot badly frozen
and lis face and hands are slightly FROST
bitten. The other two have not yet
reached here. The party separated below
Rink Rapids.
Though the thermometer was 81 de-
grees below the three who have arrived
abandoned all their blankets except one
and made rapid trip out. All were short
of provisions. but supplies were secured
from the mounted police al High Salmon
River, where Major Walsh is now mped
by Kastner and his two companions, and
they entertain the hope that the two fol-
lowing will reach there in safety.
The situation in the interior is far more
serious than when last reported. AtDaw-
son the food question is the all-absor bing
topic. But Kastner, who is an oxper,-
enced prospector and wood sman, says
that the actual starvation would not take
place there. The loss of life will occur on
the route between that place and Dyea
Nearly 200 thirty OF whom have already
started, will attempt tooCome out, and not
more than one half will ever reach civili-
Zati on. OF the thirty passed on the trail
by Kastner and his com panions, more than
hail were out of food and almost certain
to perish. One poor fellow whom they
overlook at Five Fingers, and who was
nearly exhausted, asked if he could not
travel with them. Receiving an answer
in the affirmative, he ralie and joined
them. However, after two hours travel
he dropped behind, and it is not at all i'm
possible that the thousands of ravens
which inhabit that section have, at this
writing, picked the last particles of flesh
from his bones
MalJr Walsh and his associates will not
reach Dawson this winter. One obstacle
after another has been met until now
they are unable to longer use their boats
Nearly four tons OF provisions have been
lost, and they are now living on the plain
est kind OF food. When the last party
came out it was the inten ton OF the major
TO try to reach Fort Selkirk, where fairly
comfortable quarters can be had man.
an American by the name OF Freeman
! who was EN- ployed by the ma jor's party,
was drowned below the White Horse
Rapids.
Kastner, who is an old acquaintance of
/ Major Walsh, brought out the latter's
official mail. Though the contents are
not known, l have learned that the major
has written Minister Sifton of the Interior
Department urging immediate action if
possible in con junction with the United
states Government 10 furnish relief
Should the prov sions not be gotten
further than White Horse Rapid and
Fort Selkirk they would be the means of
saving the lives OF more than 100 persons
who will soon attempt The Zip out.
The steamers Weare aad Bella. which
LETT Dawson about the 20th of October for
Fort Yukon with the intention of maxim q
another trip with provisions, did not re-
turn. ana as the river is practically closed
all hope is given up till spring.
On the 1st of Novem ber q raft on which
there were Twelve beeves passed Dawsoa,
being unable to land owing 10 tue run
nins ice in the river. The raft will prob
bly, be carried 20 far down the river that
the meat will not be furnished to Dawson
people at all. Up the river, $50 miles
from Dawson, there is ar abandoned RAFT
on ma bar which contains the carcas
OF 135 slaughtered sneep. The loss of this
meat, which has been estimated with the
food supply of the people at Dawson, VIII
In Itself make the starvation question
more serious. HAL HOFFMAN.