The sun., 1897-12-25
STARTING FOR THE YUKON.
SEATTLE STEAMERS ARE CROWDED
WITH GOLD SEEKERS.

Tho Tide or Travel Hns SET In Earlier Thar
was Expected-About 400 Vessels Will En-
gage In the AinsLan Trnde NcHt Icnr-BOO
Men LEFT Dawson for Fort Yukon Last Fnii.
SEATTLE. Wash. Dec. "a. Tho tide OF travel
has again set toward tho north and steamers
sailing from Seattle are crowded with gold
seekers bound for tho Yukon. At tho regular
steamship Offices they report tn bookings of
freight and passengers as ahead OF tntlcipa.
tions and in some instances freight has been
refused. Tho general impression among tho
transportation companies was that business
would not open before tho middle Of January,
but 1t has como with a rush n month earlier. Tho
older companies havo moro than doubled their
capacity, employing ten steamers on tho in
ner route. while several new companies
have boen organized with vessels to tho
number Of fifty or moro and contracts have
been let to local shipbudcrs for twenty
steamboats, and twenty -four steam barges suit.
able for the Yukon River trade. to bo completed
ready for use on the opening of spring naviga-
tion. Conservative estimates place the number
of vessels Of all descriptions to be engaged in
the Alaska trade this summer at one hundred.
This does not include transports. schooners.
sloops, and smaller craft engaged In prospecting
and other business along tho Alaskan coast.
1t 10 the belief OF the transportation companies
that thcy will be amply able to handle the bust.
ness although 1t is anticipated that from rs. 900
to 100000 men will outfit in Seattle. 1t ia esti.
mated that there arc now in this city 1000
strangers who have come hore for the purpose
Of out6tting and getting to tho Klondike and
other points on the Yukon.
The steamer City Of Seattle which mado tho
round trip between Seattle and Skagway in ten
days, the quickest on record. brought down
three through passengers from Dawson, who
left that place on Nov. /. Up to that time 500
miners had left Dawson for Fort Yukon in order
10 relieve the food pressure at tho former place
and to avail themselves of tho surplus at Fort
Yukon. The meat supply at Dawson has been
largely increased by tho slaughter OF cattle that
had been driven over the trails. The meat was
lying frozen in the warehouses;. The weather
up to the time OF the departure Of these men
had been comparatively mild the codcst being
90 below zero. They were forty days making
the trip from Dawson to Skagway, and camc
through without any trouble. They estimate
that they travelled 300 miles. They went into
the country in July. and succeeded in making a
location and bringing out 81 900 in gold dust,
and they propose returning next month. Four
more steamers are duo to arrive from Alaskan
ports tonight.
TACOMA. WASH. Dec. 24.-Three men who ar
rived to-day from Dawson say there is no danger
Of starving there this winter. About 900 men
neo ieft since sept. i, most or them going to
Fort Yukon. Their departure and the arrival
Of several parties with cattle and sheep have
greatly relieved the food situation. To-day's
arrivals are D. p. Quinland, John Denny, and
W. 8. Gardner.
Quinland declares that with two warehouses
full Of frozen beef and mutton he does not believe
any one will go hungry. They report that over
one hundred men are now en- route out and that
the trail Is in good condition. They think prop
erly equipped expeditions will reach Dawson
this winter with little trouble. Dogs are now
worth $3.50 to 5000 each in the interior Candles
sell for $75 per box OF 100.
Quinlan reports rich gold discovery on
Quartz Crock, tributary of the Indian River,
running almost parallel with Sulphur Creek.
Surface indications were very rich in Septcm.
ber. He secured claim for which he refused
81 900 before it was tested. Near White Horse
Rapids another rich strike has been made by
two Englishmen. They have reached the coast
| with ninteen and thrsc.quarters pounds of gold
in dust and nuggets. This was the result of
eleven weeks prospecting, but the entire
| amount was taken in q few days.