New-York tribune., 1897-07-18
WILD RUSH FOR CLONDYKE.
nrrr1c1yrrIEs AND DANGERS OF THE
LONG JOURNEY.
rx >,-AN HARDSHIP AND PROBABLE DEATH
FOR MANY WHO WILL sTART-MoNH
MINERS RETURN WITH GOLD.

MINERS RETURN WITH HoiD'
rpy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIpuNE.l
San Francisco July 1.-THE Clondyke ''''"'":
continues to possess San Francisco. ana
the mania for going to the far !>or.h ""'
'-..a.od nv REPORTS OF the arrival OF miners
''.. go, smounts Of gold In Port Townsend.
eleven hundred people have applied FOR passage
..oor,o- ExceIsior. which sails July ~.
though at the outside only two hundred can DC
.ooomuoaated This is the last boat which
-rrs straight through to Dawson CITY Inc
rox, hoat which leaves here or september o'
os only 70 St Michaels. The Alaska COM
,norc,aI company fears starvation on the Cioh-
svko ~ the threatened rush from Seattie anu
this city takes place. Louis Sloss, presioeh' VI
the company estimates thas forty thousahu
neop,e will rush into the new digglngs' "hio
With the best efforts OF the compan! not foie
than eight thousand or ten thousand people cai'
he fed with the provisions that are on the way
Sly thousand tons Of food are at ST. Michaei q,
hut not over half this amount can be lorwaiueu
N Dawson What can be pushed through oe
nends wholly on the condition or the seaeo
I-sual,v the river freezes up by September 10,
and that puts an end to all shipments as II 10
,,oposs,ble to move supplies by dog sledges
over the vast distances. II is seventeen num-
dred miles from ST. Michaels to Dawson and
steamers on the river. 1t is not possible to
charter steamers here and send them up as
special boats must be constructed, with nat
bottoms All the boats on the river were made
here sent up in sections, and put on the river
The company lost its boat last season. by way
of Juneau the trip to the Clondyke is DANGER
ous and severe at this season, and II Is tempt
ing death TO start later :han September ID
from Juneau. In going in by this way frequent
portages must be made.
Leaving Juneau one goes to Dyeaty by way
OF the Lime Canal, and from there TO Lake
Lindermann. thirty miles. on foot or portage
The lake gives ride of five or six miles, and
then follows another long journey overland TO
the headwaters Of Lake Bennett which is
twenty-eight miles long ON foot one goes
again for a number of miles, and then at Carl
boo crossing the river furnishes transportation
for four miles TO Tagish Lake, where another
twenty-one-mile boat ride may be had. This
is followed by weary stretch OF mountainous
country. and then Marsh Mud Lake is
reached The traveller gets another boat Tide
OF twenty four miles and then down creek for
,wenty-seven miles TO Miles Canon and White
Horse Rapids.
This is one Of the most dangerous places on the
entire route and should be avoided by all stran-
gers The stream is full Of sunken rocks and
runs with the speed Of a millrace. Passing
White Horse Rapids this journey is down a river
thirty miles TO Lake Labarge. where thirty one
miles Of navigable water are found Another
short portage and Louis River is reached Then
comes a 200-mile journey which brings the trav-
eller TO Fort Selkrk. At this point the Pelly
and Louis rivers come together, forming the
Yukon From that point on it is practicaily
smooth sailing, though the stranger must be eX-
ceedingly careful
Chrcoot Passing is a dangerous part OF the
trip and II is subject 10 severe snow storms. IN
the fall these come up suddenly and only Indians
can survive IL caught out in one on the pass III
the expected rush occurs the supply or Indians
for carrying luggage across the portages IN the
Juneau route will give out. These Indians are
peculiar. When they have made little money
they like TO spend it, and no amount OF per
suasion can induce them to work as white men
do when much money is offered. Also the sup
ply of boats on Lake Lindermann VIII fall, ano
hundreds of prospectors will be forced 10 pulio
their own boats or turn back.
These dangers Will probably deter many from
yenturing out on the Juneau route but the reck'
less and improvdent will not be discouraged
and those who have had experience OF the haru.
ships of an Alaskan winter predict that TINS eolC
rush will be the most disastrous in the hlstof!
Of American mining eXcitements