The herald., 1897-09-16
Comes Down From the
KIOndike Mines
PROSPECTORS ARE RETICENT
FOR FEAR OF INCREASING THN
RUSH
Plenty Of Gold in the Country But
Bread Cannot Be Bought
With It
Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15.-The Alas
ka Commercial company's steamer Ex-
celsior, which sailed from st. Michaels,
Alaska, on August 14th last but was COM
PEELED to put into Unalaska for repairs
on account of an accident to her pro-
peller while at sea, arrived in port today
with sixty-three passengers and about
one million dallars worth of treasure.
1t was at first reported that she brought
down two millions and a half dollars
worth of gold dust, but this proved upon
investigation to have been greatly exa6-
gerated.
The Alaska Commercial Company
alone had on board about 100000 worth
of gold dust and nuggets. While the pas
sengers, as rule, were very reticent az
to their wealth, the following is list OF
those who brought down $4,000 or more1
Ben Wold, $6O,000
A. Harper, 100000.
Mike Knatsen, $50,O00.
A. Andrews, $50, 900.
H. Summers, $4,000.
Hank Peterson, $35, 900.
Will Hayes, 5000.
F. Densmore, $50, 600.
j. McQuestin, $4,000.
Chas. Raimsom, $50, 900.
John Horn, $25,OO0
o. Rapp, $4,000.
W. A. Sherman, $15,000
E. P. Leggett. $4,000.
H. Schafer, $4,000.
At least twenty-five more brought from
$4,000 to $4,000 each.
The miners assigned as their reason
for their reticence that in their opinion
too much had already been said about
the country and that too many were go
ing into it unprepared on that account
Frank Dinsmore and A. Andrews are
reported to have made at least $100, 600
each during their residence In the Klon-
dixie region, but both decline to deny or
affirm this report.
Dinsmore, who has spent sixteen years
in the Yukon country says this is his
first return to civilization in eleven years.
He and his companions are unanimously
of the opinion that the rush is unprece-
dented and none of the trading compan-
les being prepared to meet it, great hard
ships for all who stay there during the
coming winter are likely to result.
The Excelsior's passengers are unani-
nous in the opinion that the Klondyke
region is richer than was at first sup
posed, but they are also of the opinion
that unless the exodus to that country
is stopped temporarily there will be ter
rible suffering.
Louis Sloss, Jr., of the Alaska Com
mercial Company was one of the passen-
gers on the Excelsior. He went to Daw-
son City for the company and reports
that all the good claims are taken up.
There is no chance for the new corners
unless a rich strike is made in some
other section. Mr.. Sloss says that his
company's store at Dawson City was
closed for but one day to receive freight
from a river steamer. He thinks that
provisions will be scarce, but has this
to say that there will be no actual star
walton.
There are about three hundred impa-
tient miners at st. Michaels, most Of
whom will have to stay there until
spring unless they have already secured
passage on the river boats. There are
plenty of provisions at st. Michaels and
every effort is being made to get sup
plies up the river to Dawson City.
MORE MONEY
PORT TOWNSEND, Wash, Sept Is.
The schooner Volante, Captain H. ].
Hanson, arrived this morning direct
from St. Michaes. She brought eight
passengers, r. w. Schneider, j. s. Wall,
B. ]. Hayward Alex Wilson, Theodore
Mitchell, John Parrot, James Aver,
Andrew Haag.
The men all left Dawson City the 18th
of August, reached St. Michaels in eight
days and left for the Sound August 2Sth.
They brought down with them an aver
age of $50 ounces of gold each, the great
est amount, 1874 ounces, being brought
by, j. S. Wall Of Milwaukee, Wis, the
smallest amount, eighty-two ounces,
was brought by r. w. Schneider Of
Crookston, MINI. The entire eight are
jubilant at getting to land where there
is no danger of starvation. They say
that gold will not buy food sufficient to
sustain life at Dawson this winter, as
there is no food there to buy. Mr.. Wall,
who is agent of education, gives l1ar-
rowing account Of what he says IL Ger.
tain to be the condition at Dawson in
less than twS months. He says when he
left there Ihisky was the only COM
modify to be\bought.
r. w. Schrtiber, who brought out
eighty-two ounces of gold, was in the
country less than four months. He has
two claims on3Bonanza and one on Ell
Dorado. and WI return in the spring.
All of the V4ante's passengers were
unanimous in &he statement that the
labor branch business in Dawson
City is overdon Rnd there are two men
to every job.
A COED r LID ROMANCE
PORT TOWNS ID. Wash, Sept. Is.
On the steamer ty of Seattle, which
sailed from here this evening for Alaska
4. 'cts, were eighty passengers, sixty Of
whom were bound for the Klondike, via
Dyea and Skaguay.
Among the passengers is one whose
story partakes Of romance, Illicit love