The San Francisco call., 1897-08-29
IT'S MADNESS
TO GO IN NOW
All the Returned Klondikers
Tell the Same
Story.
Sufficient Food Cannot Be Taken
in to Supply Those Already
at Dawson.

SEATTLE. WASH, Aug. 28.-,S. P. Web.
ster, the correspondent of the Post-Intelli
gencer Alaska News Syndicate, says:
WARN people TO stay out of the Yukon
country this year. Tell them it mean:
starvation. Telegraph to every paper in
the country that the people there will
starve if more people 60 in.
81 have heard these warnings repeated
time and again by every one of the Yukon
miners who returned on the Portland.
More than this, several have
frankly stated that had they realized
there would be sufficient supplies IN there
for the coming winter they would not
have come out. These men are in
earnest. They know what they are talk.
ing about. These warnings, too. they
ask d me to write before we knew half the
story OF the Iush 10 the region.
when We reached Dutch Harbor, on
our return, and secured few papers, the
latest dated August 5. the one topic oi
conversation was what the situation would
be at Dawson this winter.
when the Excelsior arrived at st.
Michael with her load of 130 odd people
and the miners heard the Cleve and would
bring $50 more they talked strongly then.
After leaving Dutch Harbor the partial
extent of the rush dawned upon us.
my Godp said one man to me, what
are they thinking of Are they crazy ?
There Will be terrible suffering on the
Yukon River. Starvation Will stare them
in the face long before spring
From my personal inves igation at St.
Michael l am convinced the miners do
not speak too strongly. The companies
are doing their utmost to get supplies up
the river, and were it possible to do
so would have food for all But they
labor under disadvantages which cannot
be appreciated until seen. A serious mis-
Company in carrying up too much liquor
on the last trips of two of heir boats.
The miners want food, not liquor.
Last year, with 1900 people on the river
and facilities for transportation very little
under those of this season, there
was serious shortage. This year
these same 1900 people must have
supplies. and they. with those who went
in last spring, making total of probably
5000 people on the river before this
last rush, will require every pound
that can possibly be taken in. |
doubt if 5000 tons of freight will be
taken up the river this season. This does
not mean 5000 tons of food, by any means.
Perhaps the larger half will be food, but
shovels, furniture, hardware, stores,
liquor, clothing, blankets, etc., will fig.
ure up nearly one-haii.
There is gold in the Yukon country
plenty of it--but to seek it this season un-
der these circumstances is no less than
sheer m adness. 1t is more--it is crim in al
to those who are already in the country.
1.-The miners estimate that not less than
$40, 900. 900 will be taken out of the Klon-
dixie district next winter. Some think
the amount will reach SIS, 100000
"All this summer the miners have been
getting into shape for the winters work,
tematic plans, and claims worked to the
utmost limit. Last winter the work done
was little more than prospecting.
''On all claims where gold has been
found owners have made every prepara-
ton for work. Cabins have been built.
wood gathered. sluice-boxes made
and every hing placed in readiness
for a start at the first possible moment.
AS soon as the ground freezes mining
and drifting will begin and continue
without lntermission until about the Ist
of May.
1.-THE dirt will then be all ready to
shovel into the boxes anu when the ice
breaks sluice- boxes will be in operation.
Last season the remarkable rich strikes
were confined almost entirely to Bonanza
and Ell Dorado creeks and the pups
em applying into them. Even on these
creeks not over one-hali the claims were
worked.
''The hillside claims along Ell DORADO O
and Bonanza are being worked for the
first time this summer.
They are sluicing up rich. On some of
them as high as $50 day has been mad e
with rockers. Nearly all the hill claims
were located by men who went in during
the spring. This ground is now entirely
taken up.
"These claims require m ore work than
these along the creek. the dirt having to
be carried to the creek for washing. They
will undoubtedly add materially to the
amount of dust taken out"