Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-09-08
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SOUNDS A
WARNING FROM DYEA.
THOUSANDS WILL BE STRANDED
GRAvEsT DANGERS IN THE MAD
RUSH TO THE kLONDIkE.
Many Times nS Many Now En- Route
nm Can Reach Dawson This Fall
and Ships Are Landing
Hundreds More at
81 Dyea.

Washington, Sept. THE treasury de-
partment to-day made public the following
letter received from a government official
now on the way to the gold fields, stating
at the same time that the writer. whose
name is withheld, had been twelve years
in the service and was thoroughly reliable:
"Dyea, Aug. %, 1887.
at deem it my duty to write you on
subject that does not come strictly within
my line of duty, as it trenches somewhat on
the functions of the treasury department.
1 have had a long talk with Mr.. Ivey, COL
lector of customs for Alaska, who Is at
present at Skaguay, three miles below mere.
The Skaguay trail is the most largely used
overland route Though by no means the
bes) to the Klondike. Mr. 1vey informs
me that there are now between tide water
and the lake something like 1900 people
and about 1900 horses. The commander
of one of the vessels now at Skaguay states
that sixteen vessels are chartered to land
cargoes at that place between now and
the 18th of September. and that the number
of passengers will average 200 to each YES
sci. making $500 more people who will at
tempt to 20 In this fall.
81 have talked with some of the most
experienced traders and miners In this VI
cinity, and they are unanlmous IN the pre-
diction that not over 20 per cent OF this
before winter sets in. The other 50 per
cent will be caught on the trail. and those
who survive and get back :k to tide ;,,sI, water
South. II the rush continues tw6 weeks
longer. hundreds will inevitably haloIa perish on
s9s trail which q Is
at!in aThe eAI postmaster @ a and Indian trader at
this place (Mr., Heron) states that more
hsys psst Sry up day he and @
100 of them are still this side of the lake,
twenty-four miles from here. Vessels are
,-f,,l,. IpNy tvryr nd n
rass evssy 81 a. % another
enter the trail by September 10. Mr.. Heron
Of the e that not more ana fnah be
this trail is far more dangerous than the
Skaguay after the SHOWS set in.
week. the ias resultant tan loss loss Of life win be ap-
What % he says. for the reason that il is to to
an eea stoppage p q the stampeGs
this t nrHh is aeat " psops pu Mr. way vsy TO
mates that If the inspection rules OF the
treasury department were properly en-
number OF passengers on the incoming
vessels. Nearly every vessel that arrives
here brings twice as many passengers pass as as
been fitted up for this trade, Mr.. Ivey win
lined above to the proper authorities. and
l merely give them to you for your in:
formation. The situation is appalling, ana
1t is impossible for me adequately to de-
scribe the mad rush for the gold fields.
"I have talked with several men who
have recently arrived here from the Klon-
dixie. two of whom left there less than
thirty days ago. They unanimously agree
that while there is rich gold field there.
the facts do not justify the present STAN
pede. and they say there Is bound to be
much suffering and actual starvation. Pro-
visions are already scarce, and the prices
of many articles absolutely prohibitory in
the case of a man of ordinary means.
my usual good luck has attended me
here. Mr.. Heron, the postmaster, Is an
old Montana friend. and he has made 1t
possible for me to go forward by Indian
carriers at the prevailing rate, 81 cents
per pound. taking precedence over hum
dreds, many Of whom have been here two
or three weeks, awaiting their turn. He
assures me he can make the way easy for
me at the lake in securing a boat, etc.
So I feel comfortably sure of going right
through.
1.-THE mail facilities are very bad here
as the postoffice department has not made
any allowance for the rapid growth of pos
tai business. The postal authorities here
are powerless to cope with the mass Of
mail matter, and I have doubts as to
whether this letter will reach it's destina-
tion. I am forced to close this letter to
catch a boat which is about to leave. and
l am leaving uusaid some things which I
shall have to include in my next letter"