The San Francisco call., 1897-08-24

accum ulatlon OF men grows continually
larger at the two points named and for q
few miles along the trail. Quite num-
Der have crossed the Chilcoot Pass to Lake
Linderman, where they are experiencing
great difficulties in procuring boats. The
White trail from Skaeuay can scarcely be
said to be open as yet. Few have crossed
il, and those who have succeeded do so at
the risk of their lives. The miners, how
ever are realizing that the only sensible
thing to do is TO turn in and make the
trail passable. In meeting they have de-
cided to do this, but if the majority shirk
their share of the work the efforts of the
few will not avail much. II will soon be
question of the miners returning or win
fering in the neighborhood of Dyea and
Sksguay.
In the meantime every north-bound
boat from Alaska continues to carry the
Ventur asome gold hunters to the mum Der
of zoo OF 300 every few days. ". La
farge, purser of the steamer Rosalie, in
formed CALL correspondent to-day that
his steamer left skaguav for Seattle
Wednesday evening last, bringing 500 let
ters down. The big steamer WillGme tie
had been unloading freight for her 700
passengers for five days and would so con-
tinue two or three days longer. She
would thus not be likely TO reach Seattle
before tomorrow night or possibly
Wednesday. On the way down they
passed steamers going north as follows:
Utopia, Edith, Islander, George W. Elder,
City of Kingston, AI.ki, Danube, Eliza
Anderson and Mayfower with scow.
- - Tt,oe
day with two scows carrying 1914 horses,
all o: which were in good condition. A
man by the name of Valentine, with
Others of Juneau, is arranging 20 build
wharf al Skaguay. The piledriyer had ar
rived before the Rosalie departed and
piles were hourly expected.
Mr.. Lafarge states that an exciting in
cident occurred while he was at Skaguay,
which he recites as follows: "lt seems
that a lawyer Green from Seattle had
missed his handcsrt for two or three days,
and being able to locate it, he pre-
sumed that it had been stolen, so he re-
ported the matter to the vigilance commit
tee and insisted that punish ment be meted
out to the offender if he could be caught.
The guardians of the peace and property
the wagon. They then held has:v meet
ing and decided that the thief should be
strung up. They got the rope and made
preparations for the hanging. The Of
fender insisted that ne had only borrowed
the wagon from his friend, but it didn't
60. As he was being led forth Green dis
covered that it was his best friend and at
once set in 10 right the matter. He had
considerable difficulty in satisfying the
crowd, but finally succeeded in securing
the release of his friend. For time ex
citement ran high. and it is believed that
the occurrence will have q salutary effect
on such crooks as infest the camp"
Among the passengers were Al Noyes
who discov cred Sheep Creek, and cele-
brated stagedriver named Creamer, from
California. 1t is their intention 10 pur-
chase thirty or forty fine horses and con-
duct a pack train over the pass from
Skaguay. They will return north as soon
as they can make the purchases.
NJ. J. Tanner of Oakland was soon satis-
fed and returns to spend the winter in
land where conveniences of life can be
procured. He left San Francisco on the
Noyo August 5, and after landing at Dyea
pushed on nine miles to Sheep Camp, at
the foot of ChiIcoot summit. He there
gave up the effort to go further and re-
traced his footsteps. He says: UNLESS
a man is particularly vigorous and stout
it is almost impossible for him to get over
the pass without the aid of packers. The
Indiana have now raised the price to $35
FER hundred TO Lake Linder Peg
sibly a thousand have progressed that
far, but most of them will stay awhile.
Boats cost from $75 TO $3.50. 1t is difficult
10 get timber to build them. A sawmIll is
running. but it only cuts six-inch boards,
and 1t is necessary to 60 quite little dis
tance to get timbe
"One great obstacle that have not read
much about is the Dyea River, which runs
ak miles up the trail and must be crossed
five or six times from the time you are
landed on the rocks. There is 27-foot
tide. The ferry charge is SIS per ton for
freight and fifty cents for each man or
beast. The people are formulating in
great numbers at Skaguay. and horses and
mules are in great demand. Two burros
that cost me but trife / sold for 500
each"
Another discouraged prospector is D. E.
Faulks of North Prairie, near Tacoma.
He went up on the Al-Ki August 3, and
expected 10 get some horses from Frank
Clancy al Skaguay. He did not succeed,
and saws he did not propose to undertake
the experience of the three or four thou
sand who are nj Skaguay and twelve miles
along the trail, so he came back. The day
the Rosalie sailed he says fifty miners
started out to repair the trail to be fol-
lowed by relays of fifty. II they continue
in the good work the trail will soon be in
a passabe condition.
G. NJ. Haller of Tacoma went up on the
Rosalie July 30 on a business mission and
returned to-day. He says that there are
are 5000 or 1000 people at Skaguay, with
continuation of tents for several miles.
Lum ber is hard TO get at $50 per 1000 feet.
hay and oats cost $50 per ton, horses be-
ing as high as 5000. Two colored women
have q restaurant and can't bake bread
fast enough to supply the demand at 25
cents loaf. He believes the miners are
in earnest about putting the trail in passa-
be condition. They have gone to work at
it and when completed this will be ths
easier way to pack goods in. Haller says
a mum Der have got over from Dyea to