The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-11
THE CRY is NOW FOR FOOD
PASSENGERS ON CLEVELAND
TELL THEIR STORY
FREEZING AND STARVATION AHEAD
Only Four More Vessels May Reach the I'm
ruly and Wretched Mass Meantime Drunk
enness, Gambling and Disorder Are
Rampant Serious Results Feared.
Rampant. Serious Results Feared.


San Francisco, Cal, Sept. 10.-The En-
aminer prints an extra edition containing
he following news from Dawson City:
Otter Point. b. c., Sept. 10.-The
steamer Cleveland has arrived from St.
Michaefs, bringing with her from the
Yukon gold fields story of distress and
disaster.
The miners she has on board and of
fiicer in charge of the ship tell the story
of the suffering from Dawson.
The winter has set in at the mining city
of the frozen north and two great stores
of the place have closed their doors, for
they have no ling to sell. Those who
have been seeking gold now must seek
food or starve
While there may be tendency to ex-
|aggerate the actual condition of affairs
there can be no question that famine
threatens the men and women who made
their way to the Klondyke. Hundreds of
unruIy spirits are focking to Dawson.
Threats of violence are being made on
every side.
The first signs of winter are apparent
on the Yukon. which is beginning to
freeze, and in few weeks will be closed.
Enormous prices are now being paid for
food at Dawson, and it is impossible that
more than four vessels with provisions
can reach Dawson before the river is q
mass of ice.
On the Cleveland there are thirty eight
passengers, men, women and children,
who have come from Dawson City.
There are few miners in this party that
are able to tell of prosperity. Most of
them wish to eXaggerate their possessions
and if one were to believe the stories
they tell he would say treasure ship in
which they come carries S5000,0O0.
Captain Ham, master of the Cleveland,
says that he has 100000 in his safe. The
purser believes that he can account for
S1J0000 on board.
The Cleveland has some of the pas
sengcrs of the =. Il. Weare on board.
The Weare left Dawson City in time to
connect with the Portland, had she not
met with mishap and struck on the
flats above Circle City. They report
that on July p the stores of the Alaska
Commercial Company and Of the North
American Trading and Transportation
Company announced that they had no
more food TO sell.
Three weeks before that the same
companies were unable to furnish outfits
and when the announcement was made
that no more goods were available. con-
Sterna ton resulted on the part of the
people of Dawson with gold seekers
piling in at the rate of 20 to 80 day.
Drunkenness, gambling and disorder
were rampant and conservative observers
predict the most serious consequences.
There is gold everywhere, but the peo-
pie of Dawson want food more than they
want gold now. At st. Michaels, there
are not enough structures to accommo-
date the crowd, and scores of people
are living in tents
If fortune favors four vessels will be
able to reach Dawson from st. Michaers
before the Yukon river freezes. They
will carry provisions but it is by no
means certain that they will reach the
Klondyke.
They offer the only hope, however, for
renewal Of supplies.
August 2Sth the Excelsior left ST
Michaers. Reports were current that
her treasure amounted to one million
dollars, but there is none on the
Cleveland who can verify this assertion.
The Excelsior was caught on the dan
cerous flats of the Yukon and broke two
blades of her propeller.
1t is probable, however, that she left
Onalaska last Monday to resume her
journey to the South.
The Cleveland brings news that when
the Humboldt stopped at Onalaska on
her journey to st. Michael's, the passen-
gers were in open, rebellion.