The record-union., 1897-09-12

GOIkl IL w No I'm u " eN-7hA(s N0~E>N+ -
The steam schooner South Coast,
Captain Zaddart, arrived here TINS
morning at O'Clock. The South Coast
brought down twenty-seven passengers,
all from Dawson City. The exact
amount of money brought down could
not be learned, as the men were not
disposed to talk Of their private af-
fairs.
one man, who is said by his fellow
passengers. to have $4,000, said TO a
reporter who asked him how much
money he brought out: None of your
business. You might as we'll go to a
bank President and ask him how much
is in his vault"
Among the passengers was c. T..
Rupel of Tacoma, who went to Circle
City two years ago, and later to DaW-
son City. He brought down $4,000 in
dust and nuggets. He has several
claims and will return in the spring.
He went in over the Dyea Pass and
says tnat the trail from Dawson City
TO the gold fields, distance twenty eight
miles, is just as hard to travel as is
ChilcoOt Pass. Rupel says not one man
in a hundred who have gone in this
season viii get claims, as all the coun-
try is staked off and unless new dig
gings are found, newcomers viii get
nothing.
Rupel says newcomers can go out
and look at gold in other mems claims,
but can get none for themselves. He
says it is just the same as a person
going into a bank and looking at the
gold on the counter. 1t is there, but
you cant get it.
Captain Zaddart gives it as his Opin-
ion that his twenty-seven passengers
brought at least $3.50, 600 in gold.
J. P. Light of Chicago is returning af-
ter two years in the gold fields. He
has about $4,000. He brought out six
Eskimo dogs, which he viii take on
to Chicago.
All OF the So1th Coasts passengers
are loud in condemnation of the trans
portation companies for urging men to
rush III without due preparation.
Provisions are very scarce at Daw-
son, and these men say it will not be
a month before flour and bacon cannot
be purchased there at any price.
The river steamers Bella, Alice and
Weare were all at st. Michaels when
the South Coast left loading for the
last trip up the river this season.
The story brought by the Cleveland
yesterday to the effect that the princi-
pal cargo of the river steamers from St.
Michaels to Dawson City is whisky, is
confirmed by the South Coast passen-
gers.
Light said he would not have come
out tfis fall but for fear of starvation.
He came out from the Klondike and
went % a store in Dawson where he
had So, 900 on deposit. He asked for a
supply of winter provisions, but could
get only one sack of flour and twenty
pounds of bacon.
Light says the people will starve
surrounded by gold in Dawson City be-
fore the river opens next year. Lights
story is corroborated by all the other
passengers.
At St. Michaels there are plenty of
provisions. but no place of shelter COM
mensurate with the demand.
The South Coast brings news that
Ehe steamer P. B. Weare. which stuck
on a sand bar in the Yukon, got off
and arrived safely.
THE TOPEKA ARRIVES.
SEATTLE (Wash), Sept. 1.-THE
steamer City of Topeka arrived from
Alaska at O'clock this morning. and
brings The following letter to the Asso-
ciated Press:
JUNEAU (Alaska), Sept. 6.-Among
the recent arrivals at this port are the
steamers Rosalie. Mayflower, Detroit
Willamette and Topeka, and the falling
off in the volume of travel is very no
ffceable. Tt is now calculated that the
majority of newcomers will stop at Ju-
neau, where they viii remain until
spring. being thus in a position to go
into the Yukon at the first possible
moment, should they still retain their
desire 10 make the trip
Business is good in Juneau, and the
Postoffice has extremely large mails
from the south and also for forwarding
from the north this being the distrib-
uting point for a great many Alaskan
places.
The arrival of the steamer Portland
at Seattle with but a small portion of
the much-t -talked-of cargo Of gold dust
did NOT disappoint people here. In fact,
it is often remarked by travellers that
the farther north they get the less ex-
element appears about the discoveries
Of last year.
AT SKaguav no progress over the trail
appears. excepting the improvements
in the way of rough shacks taking the
place Of some of the tents. Rough lum-
Der IS quoted at $50 to $50 per thous-
and
An effort will be made next year to
turn the tide of travel by way of Sitka,
going from there to Yakutat and Dis
enchantment Bay. and up the White
River, the distance being only about
40 niles from Sitka to Dawson as
against 700 miles from Juneau over the
present trails Thus far in the season
the weather has been all that could
possibly Be desired with the exception
OF few days recently. when a severe
wind prevailed. OF course there is a
great amount Of rain, but every one
expects that in this country.
The building of a railroad from Ju-
neau to Lake Teslin is now an assured
fact Thorough examination by the
INTERESTED parties has decided them to
commence work at the earliest possible
moment next year. This road will go
by way Of the Lakau over to the lake
when the traveller viii go by water to
his place of destination. No doubt this
viii he the first railroad established
but / viii probably be quickly follow
ed pY others, two prospective roads in
particular having the same terminus
as the Juneau road. In going into the
Yukon country the White Horse Rapids
and many other dangerous places will
be avoided. As there viii be suitable
boats plying on Lake TesIin and the
Hootalinqua River the trip will be one
of pleasure rather than otherwise.
The news that there will be q. new