The herald., 1897-08-26
But News From Kl0ndyke
Is Scarce
RAIN MUD AND DISc0NTENT
DESCRIBES THE CONDITIONS IN
ALASKA -
The Portland's Load of Bullion Has
Not Yet Reached Port But Is
Expected
Associated Press Special Wire.

! Associated Press Special Wire.
SEATTLE, WASH, Aug. 25.-The
steam collier Willamette of the Pacific
Coast Steamship company. which left
Seattle August 9th with $50 men bound
for the Klondyke, arrived back this
morning at 10 o'clock
She brought no gold, as the only offer
was of $40, 900 made by party Of four
men who wanted to winter at Juneau.
AS it was uncertain that the steamer
would stop there the purser refused to
take them. One party said that friend
who had buckets full Of gold was coss=
PEELED to live on beans and small piece
of bacon not as large as hand per day.
Among the returning passengers was
Thomas Stanton Of Seattle, who missed
connections and decided to wait until
spring. He said 1t was shameful the
way in which the Skaguay trail was ad-
vertised, as it was more impractioabls
every day. He went over to Porcupins
river and gave up in disgust. He says
that there is no trouble at Dyea. The
placed by frame buildings. A saw mill
will be in operation next week and
men are making wages getting out lum-
Der for it. Six stores are started and
do well.
Entering the straits when everyone
was looking for the Portland, the Will
lamette was mistaken for that vessel.
She was spoken by three tugs In the
r. I,DvS
o'clock this morning out from Port An
geles.
The Willamette took up the largest
number Of passengers ever to go to
Alaska, but brought back only seven.
OF thirty-six sailors who went up only
six returned, the others either deserting
or quitting at Skaguay.
News is received by the Willamette
of the suicide Of an unkno own man on the
Dyea trail and the poisoning Of several
Indians at Sitka. There are conflicting
stories as to the condition of the Skag-
way trail.
Tie first day or two out on the up trip
there was much confusion and annoy
ance at meal time, especially in the
steerage, where 600 men were fed. The
tables would only accommodate about
sixty-five, and consequently every plate
had to be set nine or ten times. AS fast
as a man would get up another would
slide in. The organization known as
"the committee" took things in hand at
once and endeavored to arrange with
the steward some plan to avoid confu-
sion. The stewards plan was for the
committee to allow only enough men in
the saloon at once to fill the tables But
every one wanted to be at the first ta-
bles, so that plan failed
The story Of putting eight men in
chains ives denied by the officers, but
they admit that one man who was drunk
and threatening was handcuffed and
tied to the bridge. They say he was put
off at Seattle before starting. However,
there is reason to believe that the COM
| mittee caught three men in red-handed
| crime and put them off at Juneau on the
way up. A revolver and fur cap were
! reported stolen on the way to Skaguay,
but the articles were found afterwards.
A set of false teeth was also swept out
by the men who were cleaning UP on
the return trip. The damage done to the
goods by the horses amounted to $50,
which amount the purser paid to the
committee before leaving Skaguay.
The horses were unloaded on the wharf
at Skaguay with only the loss of one
animal. This horse was accidentally
pushed into the sea. 1t had just been
brought up out of the steamers deck
where it was very warm. The cold
water at once chilled it through and 1t
soon sank in the icy water.
Another accident occurred while the
unloading was in progress. Fred Laf-
ferty, one of the crew, was knocked into
the water by the bungling work of one
of the sailors who was handling the
tackle. There was great excitement for
a minute and the icy water almost para
lyzed Lafferty. A rope was thrown him,
however, as quickly as it could be pro-
cured and he was hauled out. A small
amount of supplies belonging to the
miners was also lost overheard.
The city of Skaguay is described as a
place of 5000 people. For five miles up
the trail there are tentsall along on both
Sides but greater share of the people
have never been any distance at all up
the trail Rain and mud and discomfort
and confusion prevail everywhere.
The men have a severe respect for the
vigilance committee, but they refuse to
obey any authority when it comes to
working on the trail. Buildings are go-
ing up rapidly and stores and saloons are
opening every day. The first dance
house and saloon was opened while the
Willamette was in port. 1t is run by
Billy Chapman, formerly of Juneau He
took up a piano and the opening was
celebrated with grand free dance.
Chapman took in $134 the first hour that
the dancehouse was open for drinks and
/ L.
vertised either. On the outside of the
dancehouse is tree upon which several
significant notices are posted and from
limb of which bangles a new one-inch
rope with a moose. This was put there
by the vigilance committee, and it Is
more effective than hundred volumes
of statutes against crime. The notices
read: "Free dance tonight" Packers
wanted on the trail. Apply to Mack 4