The sun., 1897-08-03
SNOW In CHILKOOT PASS.
AN EARLY WINTER rs PREDICTED
ON THE YUKON RIVER.
According TO indian weather Prophets, the
Men who start Vow Cannot Get Through TO
the KIondike This Yesr-Eastern Capital.
Ton. GnInE In Tho Nnknn rnr lnHeatment.

|
| the Kiondike This Yesr-Rastern Capital,
| Too, Going to the Yukon for Investment.
| SAN Francisco, Aug. 2.-Prvato letters ro-
ceived to-day from Seattle and Victoria give
| some facts that ought TO serve as a warning to
| those who are eager to rush Off TO the Klondike.
| One bit Of news Ia that the Indians. because OF
| tho great heat OF the summer at Dawson, pre-
| dict tho early freezing over OF tho Yukon,
| which means the stoppage OF river navigation
| and disaster to any expeditions that start out
late this month from this city or Puget Sound.
Dawson is crowded with newcomers who rush
| out wherever strike is reported but most OF
them tenderfeet and they are doing little in
| dependent prospecting.
Another report says that snow has already
fallen in Chilkoot Pass and II cents per pound
is charged by the Indians to carry freight over
| the divide.
A Victoria letter gives a startling picture of
the crowd which has gathered at that place,
eagerly waiting for chance to sail for tho
Alaskan gold dggings, and tho letter predicts
that great misery will bcfall those who have
little money and are without good outfit. Tho
writer says:
There are 800 men here who think they arc
going to the Klondike. Nine-tenths of them won t
get any further than Dyea; in fact, 1t is i'm
possible for them to reach the Mines They have
across the divide. for which purpose they have
got n lot of horses that won't pack ten pounds.
They will have to go into the woods, whpsaw
their lumber, and then build boats. Most of
them don't know how to drive nail, let alone
build boat.
"Very few victorians are going, at least not
until next SPRING They are nearer to the land
and understand tho situation. The Canadian
Pacific Navigation Company loaded up tho
Islander to-day. and to night they are loading
another steamer, and the two boats will leave in
the morning. In couple Of months there
will be some good stories when the poor
suckers commence to return and tell Of their
hardships. This will be the story OF Cassiar and
Cariboo over again. Very few will mako for
tunes, and the remainder will return broken In
purse and spirit.
=" But you ought to be here to SEQ the fun
Every body is on Wharf street and at the Cana
dian Navigation Companys docks to- night. The
Canadian Pacific will clear 81 G. 900 on tho trip
of the new steamers and the Canadian Govern
mcnt Is getting its share of tho revenue by
charging duty on the outfits brought from tho
States"
1t is significant fact that tho French Cana
dians who have returned from the Klondike arc
among the first to declare that the miners
around Dawson will not pay the heavy royalties
and duties which the Dominion Government
proposes to impose this season. Henry Dor6
and J. E. Boucher are two OF these Canadians
who returned recently. They are American
citizens. but they know how their compatriots
feel on this question. Dore said to-day:
Fifteen thousand miners will be on tho
Klondike by next spring, and most Of them will
be Americans. 1t is preposterous to believe
that, after Drawing all dangers and hardships to
get there, they will submit to giving up q larg
percentage of their profits Canada cannot
send enough troops or mounted police into that
country to see that the regulations are en-
forced.
If an attempt is made to inforce these duties
the miners will hold meeting and. whatever
the decision, 1t will be carried out. American
laws rule there, and from my talks last winter
with many miners l know they will rebel
against any regulations that crowd poor miners.
Before / left there was a strong feeling that
the Stars and Stripes should float over the
Klondike gold fields. and with moro Americans
coming in this sentiment will be strengthened.
What will two or three hundred troops do
against $4,000 well armed and resolute Ameri-
can mineral Besides, these soldiers must pass
through American territory to reach Dawson.
have talked with many OF the mounted police,
and l know they would never fire on miners
even II ordered to by their officers. Unjust
taxes will be sure to start n movement next
spring which will make the Klondike American
territory"
SEATTLE, WASH, Aug. "a large amount of
Eastern capital is arriving in this city for in
vestment in Alaska and the klondike. This
morning the sum of $500, 600 was received by
one of the city banks from New York, to be
drawn upon as required by agents already at the
klondike mines
Reports were current here to-day that an ac-
cidcnt had bcfallen the steamer Portland on her
voyage to st. Michael, but as there has been no
bad weather along the coast since her departure
no reliance is placed upon the reports. Still as
she sailed from here with 240 passengers mostly
residents, their friends have felt great uneasi-
ness over the reported accident.
The steamers George +. starr and Rapid
Transit sailed for Dyea this morning the former
loaded with passengers and freight the latter
with horses almost exclusively. The Alki is
now receiving freight at her berth, and will sail
tomorrow morning. TO be followed in quick sue
cession by the Willamette and the Queen which
will carry away 1000 passengers between them
tomorrow.
A generous act was performed by Charles An
dersOn. returned klondiker, who cleared
$bO. as result of two years labor In a mine
Previous to going to Alaska he had hard luck
ana in his misfortuncs was befriended in Seattle
by G. f. Walln.
To-day he decided Walin half of his Klondike
mine, for which he had received an offer of
100000; and he QUILTED him in splendid STYLE
and the man has taken passage on tho Villa
mette. Wallin is poor man In Klondiko luck.