The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-26
FROM THE GOLD REGION,
Arrival Of the Steamer Willamette
at Seattle.
BROUGHT NO PRECIOUS METAL,

Ono of the Returning Passengers Left
Friend at Dawson Who Has Sew
eral Buckets of Gold, But Has Very
Mcager Food Supply.
Seattle. Wash. Aug. 26-The steamer
Willamette pulled into the Ocean dock
from Alaska yesterday, carrying as
passengers j. w. Virgin, ]. Fl. Webber,
w. II. Hockaday, C. Fl. j. Wiseman,
A. Bell and Arthur Needham. The Will
lamette left Skaguay Thursday, AUG
", Juneau Friday. and Sitka Satur-
day morning. She brought down no
gold. although $4,000 was offered by
party of four men who had crossed
overland from Dawson City, leaving
there Sunday, July 4. These men,
however. only wanted to come as far
as Juneau, where they expected to
winter and as the purser was not sure
at the time the gold was offered thai
the boat would stop at Juneau he de-
clined to take 1t on board. They re-
ported that provisions at Dawson are
growing very short. One of them said
that he had friend who had several
buckets of gold, but was living on two
spoonfuls of beans and piece of
bacon as large as his hand per day.
The officers of the Willamette en-
phatically deny the story that anyone
was put in irons on the up trip. The
story originated, they say. from the
fact that a refractory stowaway from
Tacoma was put in irons between Seat
tie and Tacoma before the boat left
for Skaguay.
of the returning passengers of the
steamer. He went north to Join a
Seattle party that left on the Mexico.
The others had taken his outfit with
them, and he proposed to meet them
on the trail The steamer was so much
delayed in starting that Stanton ar
rived too late, and decided to wait
until spring before going to the Yukon.
He says:
1T is shame the way the Skaguay
trail has been advertised, as every day
proves it to be more and more imprac-
ticable. I went over the trail as far as
Porcupine river, and that was all / |
wanted although did not have pack
to speak of. Dead horses can be seen
all along the trail, while many others |
are so badly skinned up and bruised |
that they are fit for nothing. Foot
sore men and others with strained |
backs are common, especially among /
the men who went UP with the inten-
lion OF packing for wages. The biggest
crowd of prospective Kondikers is to
be found camped along the trail all the
way from the bay to the summit
think very few men will get through
this year.
over at Dyea there seems to be very
little trouble. The trail is much sleeper
but horses do not get hp to their necks
n mud and slush, Many men are 60
ng over to go the other way. Things
are very lively at the town and on the
oay just now. At first it was all tents,
,ut frame buildings are rapidly going
lp Next week a sawmill will be in
operation. Men are already at work
setting out lumber for the new mill,
Ut good wages. Six stores carrying
tocks of mixed goods have started up,
md are doing very we'll"
letter brought by the Willamette
rom Skaguay, Alaska, says: A civil
nglneer of Juneau, c. L. Garthside,
nd six assistants are now surveying |
he White pass in the interest of an
English syndicate, which intends to
un railroad from Skaguay, the en-
rance to the pass, to Taku Arm, a dis
ance of 6S miles, and eventually to the
iootalinqua river, ITO miles. This
Dad, when completed, will form the
hortest and quickest route to the Yu-
on country, and it is the intention of
he company to build wharves and
'arehouses at Skaguay. The highest
ltitude of the road will be at the sum-
lit of the White pass, 10000 feet. The
lmmit Is about 20 miles from Skaguay.
FORK on the railroad will be commenc-
in the spring, and the road to Taku
ill probably be completed in six
onths from then.
The great majority Of people arriv-
e cannot possibly get down the river {
lis year, and those of them who al
ady realize this fact are locating lots
Skaguay and starting to build. In q !
ear the town will undoubtedly con- ,
in $500 to 5000 inhabitants. The va |
GUS paths and trails leading through
lie forest have been christened, and |
e infant town has Broadway and
veral avenues The White pass, in
! present crude condition. Is practi-
BILE for the entire distance to Lake
emmett, and man without a pack | +
n go over 1t in "a hours. Pack ami {
ais can traverse It with load of $50 q
unds, and it seems to be the better 1
all for those who have brought horses G.
tn them. For the miners who have o
horses the Chill1oot pass seems pref 4
able, as it is impossible to hire men s.
re to pack outfits.