The record-union., 1897-07-26

Great Sacrifices in Order to
Visit the New El Dorado.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 25.-The de-
sire of the gold-struck throng for the
rich diggings in the Clondyke district
resembles for all the world the craze Of
Fasteners to reach California in the
days of old and the days Of gold. There
is little or no method in this longing of
the masses to reach the Ell Dorado in the
great unknown territory Of the north
west. People who have had no expert
ence in mining, or have undergone none
OF the hardships incident to such a jour
ney as viii follow a trip to the Yukon
country are clamoring for passage, and
straining every nerve to secure the
funds necessary on which to make the
trip. Many are making sacrifices in
order to visit the country that promises
so much.
Every steamship Office in the city is
literally overrun with people seeking in
formation concerning the Clondyke
country. Those who have the money
have not hesitated to pay for the pass
age, trusting in many instances to good
luck to give them food on which to sub
sist during the coming winter. The EX-
celsior, which leaves on Wednesday
next, has a full passenger list, but big
bonuses are being offered every day for
a berth on the vessel.
The steamer Umatilla left this morn
ing for the north with 300 passengers
and a full cargo Of provisions. She left
for Port Townsend, where she connects
with the City of Topeka, sailing direct
to Juneau. The owners of the Umatilla
have applied to Inspector of Hulls and
Boilers Birmingham for permission to
carry all the passengers that the yes
sells owned by the company will hold
The Topeka, which is scheduled to leave
Seattle early next week. has already
more passengers than is permitted by
the law. The same is true of the George
W Elder, which is scheduled to sail
July Both. The people at Seattle are
begging the steamship company officers
70 provide them with transportation.
More people are anxious to go to
Alaska and the Yukon country than can
possibly be accommodated at the pres
ent time. 1t is believed by many that
the vessels now fitting at San Francisco
and destined for Dawson City by way of
St. NIichaels will never reach the former
place. The river begins to freeze about
September 10th. and it is not possible for
vessels leaving San Francisco after Au-
gust 1st to reach Dawson City for at
least five or six days after the extreme
cold has set in.
THE GOLD FEVER AT SEATTLE.
SEATTLE, July 25.-No greater crowd
ever Assem- bled on the wharves of Sc
attic than that which witnessed the de-
parture of the steamer City of Mexico
for Dyea this morning. On the Mexico
were 2S3 passengers who left to seek
their fortunes in the Clondyke district.
The advertised time of sailing was 9
o'clock, but it was considerably after y
before she left the wharf Long before
that time the wharf was completely
blocked with people who were on hand to
witness the departure, and the crowd
spread out along the wharves and docks
TO the north for nearly a mile. At a con-
servative estimate there were fully
5000 people on the wharves, twice as
many as had assembled to bid adieu to
any preceding steamer, showing that
AdA ltOtil dpdlliS lllS 11OlluS Nc lever ID
more virulent than ever.
In addition to her passengers, the
Mexico carried some 1900 tons of
freight, consisting almost entirely of the
outfits of the gold seekers. She has also
on board fOrty-eight horses and one
burrO, to be used in packing these sup
plies over the Chilkat Pass from Dyea
to Lake Linderman.
The steamers Rosalie and Edith have
been chartered by Frank E. Burns to
make trips to Dyea and Skagaway, leav-
ing here July 31st- The Rosalie will
carry 200 passengers, with their freight.
while the Edith viii carry rs head of
horses. It is intended to have the YES
sells return in twelve days for another
voyage. Should the business justify,
the Rosalie may be continued perma-
nently on the run. Fares are the same as
established by the companies now car
rying to those points, and no cut is anti
cipated so long as the present rush con-
tinues.
MINING AT COOKS INLET.
SEATTLE. July 25.-The schooner
Stella Erland, from Cooks Inlet. July
7th. arrived here at 4 o'clock TODAY
with nine passengers. She brings down
$1,000 in gold dust from the placers
being worked on creeks emptying into
the inlet. Three hundred men wintered
there, and since the commencement Of
summer all have done we'll. Seventy
five claims are being worked on Link
and Mills Creeks. Returns are report
ed from these claims from SO to $40
a day per man. One claim on Link
Creek, owned by man named Smith,
cleared up as high as 800 a day to
a man for a brief time Wages are
So - to So 80 a day.
Fifty men of a party which went
from California last year on a co-opera-
tive mining scheme at Coal Bay aban-
doned their work at that place and
came over TO Cooks Inlet about July
1st- When the Erland left all of them
were working for wages.
None of the Erland's passengers had
heard of the strikes on the Ciondyke
until their arrival in this city.
PREPARED FOR A LONG STAY.
PORT TOWNSEND, July 25.-Two
thousand people stood on Union dock
here at o'clock waving adieus to
friends leaving on the steamer Mexico
for the miners Mecca, the Clondyke.
The steamer left here with 400 pas
sengers, all except fifty being bound
for the gold fields. All went we'll pro-
visioned and equipped. Many have
supplies for three years stay. The
party was made up of men represent
ing all callings and professions