, 1897-11-29

Mr.. McGilvray. They brought the news
that the Hamilton had unloaded all
of her cargo and tried to get over the
bar light and failed in her efforts,
though she drew but two feet of water.
This news increased the excitement and
made the rush toward food centers all
the greater. On Sept. IA Bert Nelson
of Seattle and myself left Circle City
and started to pole up the river to Daw-
son City, a distance of 300 miles. At
the time we started from Circle City
the miners had about all taken their
departure. 1t took us Ii days and 3
hours to make the journey, arriving at
Dawson Sept. 26. Captain Hanson with
two Indians, who had left Fort Yukon,
beat us into Dawson by about an hour
and a half. Hanson gathered the Daw-
son City miners together and made a
short speech, in which he advised all
who did not have provisions to last
them all winter to either get out Of the
country to civilization or try and reach
points in the Yukon country where it
was known that food could be secured.
That night was the greatest one in the
as soon as they heard the news made
hasty preparations to get out and
nightfall saw these gold seekers and
men who can today sell out for many
thousands leaving by the hundreds for
down the river or up the river points.
The little steamer Kiukuk, which
was to make the trips from Dawson to
Pelly. where Jack Dalton's trail starts
was brought into play. She was be-
seiged by would-be passengers, who Of
'ered as high as $3.50, that they might
be aboard while she made her journey
# lis miles to Pelly. The Kiukuk left
Dawson on the afternoon of Sept. 81,
with - or Is passengers.
The next day we made up a party,
including Herbert Raymond of Seattle,
Bert Nelson Of Seattle, Harry Robert
son of San Francisco and myself. We
started up the river in a small river
boat, the same one we had used in 60
ing from Circle City to Dawson. We
left Dawson about . p. m, and were
soon on our way up the river.
while Jack Dalton left Dawson a
couple Of days later the situation there
then was the same as it was when we
left, and l can tell you that in a very
few words. The only thing you could
possibly buy was sugar, baking powder,
spices and some dried fruit. No -four,
bacon or anything of that kind could
be purchased from any of the stores.
simply because they did not have them.
So long as the stores had any provis-
ions the prices remained the same. ]
want to say the stores treated the men
all right and never advanced the prices.
Notwithstanding that they were aware
Of the shortage and knew hat they had
but to ask for high prices and receive
them. | knew of an instance where a
private party sold to a miner a sack of
-four for s75 and bacon at 81 per
pound"
II. A. Ferguson said: The situation
at Dawson was relieved by the exodus
to Fort Yukon. doubt if there will be
any actual starvation there, but there
will be a shortage. The old-timers have
provisions enough to carry them
through. The stores are practically
cleaned out. All they would sell was
five pounds of sugar to n man. Flour
could lot be bought at all. One o two
sacks were quickly picked up at 5000
a sack.
Wages are still SIS a day. but they
are sure to go down to IS by mex sum-
mer, and IS a day there is no better
than ST. 0 a day outside"
Thomas Magee, ST., the well-known
capitalists of San Francisco. in an in
terview with the correspondent of the
Associated Press. said: The eXite-
ment over the failure of the steamers
to bring food up to DAWSON continued
when the Dalton party left. The po-
lice took charge for two days Of the
stores and warehouses of the Northwest
ern and Alaska Commercial company
as a precaution only. Flour was SELL
ing at 81 per pound and no sale of less
than so pounds was made.
N plans have yet been formulated
to avert the starvation of those who
are short Of provisions. Those we'll
Supplied have not much sympathy with
those who are short because OF the
fact that the majority OF the latter
went in with little food, although
abundantly warned at Lake Bennett in
advance.
1T had not been discovered up to
Oct. Is who shot the two men in Daw-
son who were caught stealing food.
One was found dead, the other fatally
wounded, died in the Catholic hospital.