The San Francisco call., 1897-10-24
STAMPEDE
FOR FOOD
At DAWSON
Confronted by Famine,
KIondikers Cannot
Get Away.
FACE TO FACE WITH
STARVATION.
Ice-Bound Yukon Holds Back
Supplies and Prevents
Escape.
TALK OF AN EXODUS TO
CIRCLE CITY.
Story of Suffering Told by Men
Who Reach St. Michael
! Over the Ice.
ICe-Bound Yukon Holds Back
Supplies and Prevents
Escape.
TALK OF AN EXODUS TO
CIRCLE CITY.
Story of Suffering Told by Men
Who Reach St. Michael
= Over the Ice.
Special Dispatch TO THE CALL

ST. MICHAEL, ALASKA, Oct. (via
steamer Humboldt 10 Seattle, Oct. 23).-
Several weary, footsore and almost fam
i.hed miners found their way into Fort
Get-There yesterday. They bring the
latest tidings as TO the conditions at Daw-
son City and along the Yukon River.
1t can now be stated as a positive fact
that NO great wealth or large numbers of
KIondikers will return via the aIl-water
route this fall from the land where the
waters gIeam with pebbly wealth of gold.
Navigation on the Yukon River has
been abruptly halted by an icy clutch
that is not likely to loosen until the warm
winds and bright rays of June shall have
cut channel through an ice gorge nearly
1900 miles in length. The weather, how
ever, for two days past has been quite
mild, with warm rains, and many profess
10 believe that it may have the effect of
causing a freshet in the river and a break
in the frozen water.
Half a score or more of river boats,
laden with eager prospectors and pro-
visions that would give sustenance and
courage 10 hundreds of miners, will fail
Of their mission. Instead OF reaching
Dawson and thus affording those who de-
size an egress to land of comfort and
plenty, most Of these boats will remain In
the frozen waters along the Yukon dur
ing the winter months.
The hlondike district, the source of
mans golden hopes, will this winter un-
doubtedly enshroud IN the gloom of
physical suffering and mental despair
the hopes and prospects OF an army of ad-
venturous men. The scarcity of provisions
and the inability of the usually all power
ful gold 10 purchase nutritious food Will
Ieave It's marked and weakening stamp
upon many robust frame and vigorous
constitution.
There is no discrepancy in the reports
received as TO a probable famine in Daw-
son. All agree that the failure of the
river boats 10 make their September trip
to the keadwaters of the Yukon must have
a disastrous effect. The commonest kind
OF food will be a luxury that money can
not buy. Liquor there will be in plenty,
as a solace to mans desperation and all
the evil of his nature that is aroused bv
the unfortunate conditions which prove
his curse.
A couple of weeks ago an alarm was
carried into the golden camp tha at bid men
fly for succor into more promising land.
Heralds conveyed the unhappy message
that provision boats were held in check
and urged that the needy make immedi-
ate departure for Circle City. There de-
serted cabins offer shelter for a thousand
or more, while ample food can be sledded
about eighty miles up the river from Fort
Yukon, supply station.
If this warning were needed at once
there was time 10 take to small boats and
frayarsa fha nepasSarv 400 r,iia r;rofa
City from Dawson before the upper waters
Of the Yukon were tightly frozen.
1t was practically a relief expedition
that started f1om Dawson on Septemb Der
and of which four of the original party of
twelve finally reached st. Michael yester-
day almost at the sacrifice OF life
The little freigh ht steamer Margaret had
succeeded in skimming through the shall
low water and reaching the Mecca to
which SO many footsteps are turned, but
Captain Hanson, who was her master and
also assistant superintendent OF the
Alaska Commercial Compa realized the
tmpossibllity of larger steamers crossing
over the Yukon fats
de devised the idea of running back to
Fort ukon with mum Der of representa-.
tive men from Dawson, so that they might
bee Tor themselves the shallow water and
return to warn the residents of the i'm
pending famine and induce them to at
once seek safety in flight to Circle City
while the river was still open. 1t was
also his intenti to take about 200 tons
of provisions.
but the Margaret never returned with
her valuable cargo to Dawson. Instead
she IS laid up for the winter at Andreaf
xxi, near the mouth of the Yukon. The
pilgrimage of the Margaret being at an
ehd and her passengers, five of whom had
ttarted from Dawson and FIVE more had
peen picked mp along the river from
Mlnook Creek down, found themselves in
an unpleasant predicament.
Ihey could either return on the steamer
10 Andreatski and 60 into winter quar-
tefs or cutacr0sS the country about l25
miles 10 st. Michael. They decided unon
me latter course, and on October g. with
TX Inoian", the ex J edition took up its
weary march. 1t included c. c. Bruce !
I. Bromley and F. c. Stevenson of San
Francisco and Frank a. Grosscup of Los
Angeles.
The Indians one by one dropped off at
alHereht villages until the party was left
NIthouL guide. On the night OF the 9th
.aey sept under the lea of an ice covered
hlll with strong wind blowing off sea,
Inc next day they crossed various frozen
tmaIl streams and the canal separating
me Island, but'when the shades Of night
gathered Knew not where they were.
pilAulhg fsnowstorm came up, and
Horan ard Duoeii, from lack of food ana
,heer exhaustion, could go no farther.
The otherswere almost in as weakened
ttate, ana hnaliy all lay down with but a
loubie pair OF blankets to protect them.
Through the long night their suffering
vas intense, both from the cold and not
having parteken of II mouthful of food
lince early the previous morning.
' the first streak of dawn they strug-
Eled to their feet, stiffened and thor
pughly disheaTtened. Soon an Indian
VAS encountered, who pointed the direc-
ion to 81. Michael, and bafore proceeding
ar il was manifest that tha traualers b ad