Evening journal., 1897-09-25
ANAWFULLANDSLIDE
First Great Disaster to Klondilze
Gold Hunters.
NEWS COMES BY THE TUG PIONEER.
II Is Reported That Eighteen Persons,
Including One Woman, Are Missing,
Among These a Well Known
PrIzeighter's Relative.

PORT TOWNSEND. Wash, Sept. 25.
Tug Pioneer, Captain Nelson. has ar
rived here direct from Skagguay with
news of the first great disaster which
has befallen the gold seekers. A large
party, toiling wearly over the Dyea
trail toward the Yukon, last Saturday
was overwhelmed by a landslide or
glacierslide and many killed.
Eighteen persons in all-17 men and
one woman-are reported missing, and
while it is not supposed that more than
seven or eight were killed it would not
surprise those who brought out the
news to learn later that none Of the
missing ever turned up alive.
The accident is described by some as
a snowslide by others as a landslide
and by others as the tearing loose by
the rains of a huge glacier that over
hung Sheep camp and the trail. The
news reached Skagguay Sunday even
ing, and the tug Pioneer left there at 3
o'clock Monday morning.
Win Sprague brother of Captain
Sprague Of the tug Sea Lion, was pas
Benger on the Pioneer, and he tells the
following story of the destructive slide:
Il heard the news of the slide on Sun
DAY evening from a man who claimed
10 have witnessed it. He said the acci-
dent was caused by the rain. During
the first part of the week it was cold.
and ice had formed all around. on
Thursday a change came, and Thurs
day night and Friday morning there
was a warm rain, accompanied by a
Chinook wind, which thawed out every
thing.
"The rain came down in torrents, the
worst storm of years for that section,
and continued all Friday and Saturday
forenoon. About noon Saturday the
slide came, striking the Dyea trail at
Sheep camp.
Just what caused it could not be
told, but there came a slide Of earth and
rocks and water that carried off all in
Its path Sheep camp was in line with
the flood, and it was literally wiped out
Of existence. Fortunately there were
not many persons there that day COM
pared with the crowd usually at the
camp. This is where the loss of life
occurred.
Everybody left outfit and baggage
behind and fed for his life. Some were
caught in the deluge. just how many
may never be known, but is were miss
ing altogether.
Two of them were a man and his
wife named Crockett, I believe, who
were running restaurants at Sheep
camp. 1t is believed that the woman
at least was lost. No trace Of either of
them had been reported up to the time
left Skagguay.
"One body had been found. It was
that Of Choynski, cousin of the prize
fighter. He was found a quarter of a
mile from where he had been camping
on the trail and was in terrible condi-
tion.
when discovered. all Of his clothes
had been torn from him. his body was
bruised and mangled, but he was not
dead. He was suffering untold agony
and died within a short time after be-
Ing found.
-Four or five of the missing men were
Indian packers, and one Of them is re-
ported to have had $4,000 with him and
was just starting out for Dyea when
the slide came.
There is great excitement along the
trails and at Dyea and Skagguay over
the report Of the big slide One report
was that so persons had been killed. but
the facts are as / have stated them to
you already"
Charles Finn, assistant engineer Of the
Pioneer, confirms the story as told by
Mr. Sprague.
He was on shore at Skagguay until
o'clock Monday morning and made
diligent inquiries about the reported
landslide. Mr.. Finn believes that one
Of the glaciers which are to be seen
hanging along the mountain sides was
washed off by the heavy rains and that
Il came crashing down the hill dealing
destruction along It's path.
Just before reaching the trail and
Sheep camp this glacier swept through
lake at the foot Of one of the hills, and
instantly there was an outlet for the
lake. and its waters followed the gla-
cier and numerous powders as they
came chasing along through Sheep
camp. This. Mr.. Finn believes, is a rea-
sonable explanation of the accident and
he is certain from what he heard while
on shore that at least seven were
drowned or crushed to death in the
slide.
-The slide left destruction along its
path, and the waters We're so swollen
that the footbridge at the mouth of the
Skagguay river. erected at the time Of
the drowning there, was washed out.
"One of the men I talked WITH" he
added. was an Indian packer who had
escaped the flood by running, and he
declared it was the worst storm he had
ever known in that country.
HE knew the names of several OF the
nllcclllEs Hut Was NNNll ARN ulutlh dlAth
landing i'm Skagguay TO talk clearly.
There is CONSERVATION at Dyea and
Skagguay over the report of the acct
dent and it will deter hundreds from
trying to get across this year
Il was told that the Skagguay trail
was literally obliterated and that there
Is no use trying to get over it this year
The steamship Alk also arrived here
from Dyea and SkagEuay. and Captain
Patterson reports that the Knowles
Gold Mining company, with property on
Berners bay. has just struck it rich in a
aew quartz ledge.
The discovery was made just OF
Berners bay, and it is said thousands OF
persons have walked over the ledge
during the past five years The ledg,
Is 81 feet wide and has been traced fol
over 1000 feet.
The min test gave an assay of 800 I,
the ton, and concentrates went $3.50 e
the ton. II Is claimed that concentrate.
can be dug up all over the claim under