The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-08-30
GOLD SEEKERS
RETURNING |
They Come with Small Fortunes From
the KlOndike.
SCARCITY IN THE FOOD SUPPLY
All opinions Agree That It VIII be I'M
possible to Transport Enough Food
TO Provide For the KlOndiksrs
and Starvation iB Imminent.
SCARCITY IN THE FOOD SUPPLY

If dust on the vessel is perhaps $685. 900.
The miners on board, with the amount
IF their total mining profits, part of
which was brought with them, are as
follows: J. Rowan, 5000O; Jim Bell,
s45, 900; Joe Goldsmith, SS5.0OO; N. w.
Powers, S35, 900; w. w. Caldwell, $685.
900; w. Oler, $4,000; c. X. zilly, $25,O0Oi
f. w Cobbs, S25 900; w. Zahn, $4,000;
A. Buckley, $4,000; NJ. s. Lansing, $15,
GOO; B. W. Farnham, $4,000; M. r.
Camler, $4,000
William Ogilvie, Dominion land sur
veyor, who has been making topo-
surveys of British possessions
along the Klondlke, has been recalled
by the government for consultation as
to important matters affecting new
gold fields, and is now en- route to OF
tawa via San Francisco. He will make
report embodying suggestions for
new mining laws governing the sale of
liquor and taking wood for fuel etc.
He made a census of the production
of the new fields, and finds % claims
produced $S26,O0O, and says that $7O,-
900, 600 is no exaggerated estimate of
the amount that win be produced by
1sO claims on Bonanza Hunkers and
Eldorado in three years.
Mr.. Ogilvie estimates that at the rate
the 140 claims on EldoradO creek are
now producing and considering ground
yet to be worked in the next three
years, $50, 100000 should be produced
here alone. To this must be added the
likelihood of new gulches and the de-
velopment of claims already found,
but not opened so as to permit OF
greatest production. Though the
strikes on Stewart river, Hunker, Hen
derson and Indian creeks are rich ones,
none of these is as rich as claims on
EIdorado and Bonanza creeks.
Until the wonderful discoveries Of
Klondike We're made ground worth
ten cents to pan, with one, two or three
feet pay of dirt, were considered very
good for the Yukon, and miners made
fair money with rockers and sluices
This year miners are passing entirely
over ground of this richness in their
search for sand and gravel that will
pay like that of the Klondike discov-
cries. Up to date none of the claims
show any signs Of exhaustion, and
scarcely a dozen are more than well
opened. Every one has large areas Of
ground to be worked. Mr. Ogilvie says
1t is impossible to make anything like
an accurate estimate Of the probable
yield of the mines. The ground is not
at all even in richness, and the width
Of pay streaks varies greatly.
The most important news from st.
Michaers is that the Yukon river
steamers left there two weeks ago for
their last trip UP the Yukon. 1t was
not certain that they would reach
Dawson this fall in which event pas
sengers who left the sound on the
steamer Portland as early as June 25
would only reach Circle City before
navigation closed. This makes 1t GER
tain that hundreds OF miners who have
left Puget sound and California since
Aug. / for ST. Mlchaers will have to
winter there. At least they can scarcely
get started up the Yukon before the
river freezes over solid.
All vessels touching at st. MichaePs
this summer have had great difficulty
in keeping their crews, who have
caught the gold fever very soon after
arriving. One schooner, from Victoria,
was entirely deserted, and her crew
from captain TO cook, started up the
river for KIondlke The crew Of the
schooner ]. NJ Colman endeavored tC
desert also, but the attempt was dis
covered in time, and by display OF
firearms the men were compelled tc
remain on duty. The mates Of the
schooners Jewett and Colman and the
carpenter of the Fred e. Sander were
paid off at st. Michaers, and departed
at once for Dawson. Every vessel from
St. MichaePs has come away short
handed. The Portland lost several OF
her crew. but was able to obtain new
men by paying high wages.
W. A. Ryan, one of the special cor
respondents en- route to the Yukon
gold fields, writes from St. Michaefs
under date of Aug. Is to the effect that
there is grave danger Of famine on
the KlondilIe this winter According t
all reports received from the upper
country 1t will be impossible to land
sufficient food at Dawson City to sup
port the population already dependent
upon that base of supplies r. T. Lying
| local agent of the Alaskan Commercial
! company at st. NNchael's, declares tina
/ there are already over 1000 idle mel
| in Dawson, and new parties arriving
| every day via the ChillSoot pass, whil
! the total amount of freight LANDED
there this year will not exceed 400
/ tons, of which not more than three
| fourths is provisions. Miners return
ing from Klondike who left there Il
July report that the food was run
ming very low then and IL was dis
posed Of as fast as discharged from tn
steamers. Old timers realize the situa
tlon, and predict distress and dealt
as a result Of the Klondlke craze.
II, N. Stanley who went TO st. Mich
aels as a press representative, returned
TO this city on the steamer Portland
He says.
Il have been seven weeks at tn
mouth of the Yukon, at st. Michaels
where 1 saw all the miners coming ou
and interviewed them, AS a result
feel It my duty to advise everybody t
stay out until next spring. wild and Il
many cases exaggerated reports hav
been circulated since the first dlscov
cries We're made. The strike, however
was and is one of the greatest, II no
the greatest in the worlds history
Probably $4,000, 600 was cleaned up thi
spring. and next spring look for fror
So, OOO, OOO to S7OOO,OOO The fields hav
hardly been opened up as yet, bu
those GoinE Ia now must bear In min