The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-30
PROVISIONS IN POOL
SUPERFLUoUs SUPPLIES AT DAw-
SON TO BE SEIZED BY THE
POLICE.
THE OUTLOOK is GLOOMY.
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE WILL BE
DONE TO ALLEVIATE THE
DISTRESS.
FEELING AGAINST THE COMPANIES
Whisky Brought Up the River When
Flour Would Have Been n
Better Cargo.
Snecial TO the Glnhe

Special to the Globe.
WINNIPEG, Man., Nov. 29.-Hon.
Clifford Sifton, minister of the interior,
who has the administration of the Yu-
kon district under the control of his
department in an interview here to-
day said he discounted very consider
ably the stories of prospective starva-
ton at Dawson City. At any rate he
did not anticipate that there would be
any distress, as one of the first duties
Of Maj. Walsh would be to insure a
food supply at Dawson City, and take
the necessary steps to relieve the sit
uation if any assistance was needed.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 29.-The
Call has received, via steamer City
of Seattle, a letter from it's correspond
ent, Sam Wall, who succeeded in
reaching Dawson City on Sept. %,
after perilous trip in a small boat
from Fort Yukon. He was the first to
give the news to the people of Daw-
son of the failure of the relief ships
to get up the river. The gold seekers,
he says, are confronted with famine,
and there will be intense suffering
during the winter months. What food
there is will be made to go as far as
possible. The Dominion police have
announced their intention of seizing
all superfluous stores, and especially
those belonging to gamblers and the
disreputable element, and dividing
them pro rata among the furnishing
citizens. Everything possible will be
done to alleviate the distress of the
people, but at best the outlook Is eX-
tremely gloomy, and starvation
threatens to be the fate of many
TACOMA, Wash, Nov 29.-The
Ledger's special correspondent at
Skaguay met the members Of the
Dalton party, who just came out from
Dawson City, headed by Jack Dalton
Joe w. Boyle. of Woodstock, Ont, and
w. c. Gales, known as Swift Water
Bill" When interviewed concerning
present conditions at Dawson City
and other interior points, Mr.. Dalton
stated that gold is plentiful, but food
very scarce. He does not, however
believe that actual starvation will in
many instances occur, but has no
doubt that much privation will exist.
There is some feeling against the two
large companies operating there, on
account Of their inability to cope with
the situation successfully. 1t is re-
ported by Mr. Boyle that, when the
Marguerite came up the Yukon in
September, she was unable to proceed
with her full cargo beyond Fort Y"
kon and left there most of the flour
aboard, bringing into Dawson a large
amount of whisky, presumably for the
purpose of netting larger profits than
on the flour. A stu further shortage
has been caused at Dawson, owing 10
the fact that when the Bella came up
from ST. Michaels during the first
week In October, she was stopped at
Circle City by nearly 200 armed men
and forced TO leave the larger part of
the cargo there.
Capt Hansen, of the Alaska Com
mercial company, who went to Daw-
son, called a meeting and advised all
men with sufficient supplies to start
for Fort Yukon, 325 miles below Daw-
son City and about fifty miles below
Circle City. The mounted police were
authorized to force the departure Of
the men without winter outfits, and
the company's boats carried down $50
men. During the next few days nearly
200 men arrived over the Dyea and
Skaguay trails, and it is claimed that
the larger part Of these had only sup
plies for from one to three months.