The San Francisco call., 1897-07-27
RUSHING,
JAMhIUC,
VAILINC
That's the Trend Of the
Growing Tale Of the
Klondyke Fever.
STORIES OF THE YUKON CRAZE.
The Rush Grows, the Jam Al
ready Appears and the
Wailing Is Sure.
TIE YUKON MAY PROVE A TRAP.
More Vessels Are Being Purchased
and Steamer Accommodations
Are Sold Days Ahead.
THE YUKON MAY PROVE A TRAP.
More Vessels Are Being Purchased
and Steamer Accommodations
Are Sold Days Ahead.

IuOoG ICuluIC dl4 Iu0
Yukon developments of yesterday was the
report from Port Townsend that already
there is a hopeless jam of freight, etc,
this side of Chicoot Pass. and that with
the limited facilities for packing it over
the range to the lakes but comparatively
little of 1t would get into the Yukon Val
ley his year.
This report was to be expected. Within
two weeks some thousands of tons OF sup
plies, baggage, etc., have been massed
against the mountain barrier. The In
dian packers, the mules, horses, dogs, etc.,
available for getting the freight over the
pass to where boating begins are just
about gauged to the old demand before the
rush began. Now an avalanche ofimpedi-
menta has landed on the seaward side of
a steep and snowy mountain. One man
can pack fraction of his own outfit over
the sleeps. A mule can pack but about
$50 pounds up the toilsome ascent. And
there you are. It is possible for people to
get their stuff to Juneau and on to Dyea
on overloaded and multiplying steamers;
but men wi II be in nice fix when their
baggage is landed in mess of several
thousand tons at the foot of the wall,
with navigation about to close on the
other side and boats to build.
This is the situation here that the people
leaving by hundreds will face at once.
And still the steamer accommodations
are sold two weeks ahead and the freight
moving toward the jam increases daily.
Possibly the men who are shipping mules
and burros to Juneau will make a lucky
play.
I,
mighty bearing ON that threat of winter
famine in the interior. Each ton of pro-
visions blocked on the way is that much
less to eat by the Yukon between now
and next summer, and each man who in
his eagerness abandons part of his sup
plies and pushes to get through himself,
at least, is one more consumer of limited
supply.
But if any body thinks that this news
has any particular effect on the rush here
| they are badly mistaken. The crowding
OF steamers and the search for new ones
| to crowd goes on.
This will develop much ingenuity,
and will entertain the world with
| the Chilcoot International Transportation
Exposition of 1897. The sawmiIl on Lake
Bennett will be able to supply but frac-
tion of the demand fer lumber for boats.
| Of course large proportion of those
who are going with the rush are not going
| to dig gold but to win it from those who
do. Legitimate and illegitimate, wise
and foolish business schemes are crowding
in. The stories of $50 blind studpoker
games with thousands on a table have
started such an exodus OF gamblers that
the Sausalito Monte Carlo is likely to be
deserted. They are even planning horse
| races for the Klondyke. .
The chance for people getting stuck on
the way to Dawson by the Yukon River
route is also coming to the front as possi-
bility to be talked about. This fate is a
probability for any who try the trip by
private conveyance as some are planning.
The Excelsior and Portland will connect
at st. Michaels with the river steamers of
the respective comp panies. which will
leave just in me to get to Dawson before
navigation closes according to the habit
of the river. The crowding of freight and
passengers may cause delays. There are
bars and snags in the river and these or
an carly freeze may stop astern wheeler's
progress thousand miles from next 10
anywhere. That would be interesting.
The nearest Indian settlement or mission
along the river would become the goal of
u toilsome tramp in the snow.
The steamer PuebIa arrived yesterday,
bringing no miners and remnant of the
golddust brought out on the Portland a
few days ago, amounting to $16,6l4. Two
I more of the miners who came down on
the Portland arrived by rail from Seattle
to-day. They were ]. L. Boucher and H.
Dore, who have few thousands each.
| Con Stamatiu, who was one of the Port
| lands lucky crowd, started for his home
| in Greece yesterday with his little fortune,
expecting TO stay there for the rest OF his
| life.
| The accident insurance companies bar
Klondyke trips from their risks. good
many of those who have started for the
Yukon or planned to do so have bethought
| themselves that an insurance policy
would be proper feature of their outfit.
and they have found that they can get
| life insurance after rigid examination,
but that no company will write accident
| in surance risks on the trip.
The show-wirdows are adjusting them
selves to the KIondyke craze. klondyke
( shirts, boots and furs are ranged up and
down the business streets. One heather
manufacturer displays belts for gold and
socks for dust. Hardware adyer-
| tise picks, pans. compasses and so on.