The San Francisco call., 1897-11-04
KLONDIKERS RETURN.
A Tale of Woe From Those Who
Left on the Ste eamshIp North


Left on the Steamship North
Fork.
Another bedragg ed lot of Klondikers
reached here on the steam schooner Presi-
den: at about 10:30 P. NJ. last evening
They were mostly men and women who
left here on the North Fork. and they
state that they got no further than Mi
nook. There were about twenty in the
party.
As soon as The President docked at Fol-
som wharf . the party all scamDered on
to the wharf and off as soon as they uld
get under way. An account of the man.
ner in which they Jared and other details
are furnished in the following letter by
Mrs. Elma McNaught. one OF those who
returned on the vessel:
On Sunday, October 10, a small party con-
sisting OF Colonel Rogers, OlOf Win aingS tadt
Captain NJ. Tyson CORNER commander of the
Mare Island). Thomas 3. Shipp, Colonel j. H.
Person. H. Z. Warwick, A. {. Cnbel, George
Mason, Charles Johnson, b. F. Gray, A. w.
Medows, Henry Peters, d. J. Wheeler, Mr.. aud
Mrs. T. NeusSler, Otto Pau, b. K. Jones I. ..
Griffith, II. KendaIl and Mrs. John McNaugnt
left ne Mare Island and went into camp at
81. Michael with the intention OF either re-
naming there till the snow should freeze and
they could move by SIeds, or of securing some
kind OF Il 9oat that would take them and their
h.
about forty-five mics slant from st. Michael,
where they could engage Indians with dogs
and sleds to take them across the por age. a
distance OF 125 miles. which would bring
tnem out on the Yukon River at Nulato, about
600 miles from ST. Michuel.
on Wednesday, October 49, Captain Tyson
made an arrangement with the captain OF the
steamer President, which had arrived few
days before with lumber for the Liebes Fur
Company, TO take the party to Unalakhk, the
fare 10 be $l5 in casn each and the hep OF
{ most OF the men IN dlScharQlnC the PreSl-
dents cargo. The captain stated at the time
that he had been una bic to engage men to aid
his crew, though he had been Offering a do
lar an hour for labor. Men could not be had
at any price. 1t was represented to the party
that the work OF di>charging the cargo would
occupy about day or a day and a nall. In
stead, il proved to be three days of the hfrd-
est work imaginable. The heavy lumber had
10 be loaded Oh 10 barge, which, on account
OF the shallow water. could not approach
nearer than fifty yards OF the shore. There
ii was reloaded into row boats, and then ear
ried the shoulders of the men, who had to
step from rock to rock TO land ii above high
water Wnen the freight had all been moved
the men were then called upon to haul two
scOws out OF the water and put them up on
dry land. The men thought they were pay
ing rather high price for their passage, bpt
accepted the situation good naturedly.
! lon Saturday, October 16, the party came
Coard the President with their supplies and
amp outfits. About the tire OF starting from
land it commenced to snow hard and just ut
dark they arrived along side tie steamer
tlreU, COlQ anu nuuBGS, dllQ tHcu trouble COM
menLed.
Every body was anxious to get under cover
and the freight was thrown into the hold
with more haste than care Flour, beans
sugar, coal oil, matches, powder and cart
ridges were heaped INTO one indlstngulsh6ble
mass. supper was now supposed to be i'll or
der but the hungry gold-seekers had sur
PRISE in store for them. They had been
boarded fairly well during the lime they were
work but now that their time OF service
was about ended the captain concluded tn at
foe ftgsr no u lnU
dIkers. The two ladies of the party told
that they might eat in the dinlngroom, but
the men were sent down in the hold, where
food served in pans set out on boxes, without
plates KNIVES forks, was placed before
them. few of the more yenturesome tackled
the cook and succeeded in securing few
plates, cups, etc.
On The following morning the dishes were
sent up to the kitchen, but when the morning
meal came down II was accompanied by the
same table service unwashed. and the paSsen-
gers who had given an equivalent of $50 in
labor and $15 in com, TO ne taken dis tance
OF Iorty-tive miles, were told that they m ght
either wash The dishes themselves or use them
as they were.
The Goa pile furnished beds for such of the
men as did not find the iron grating of the
engIne-room grateful refuge. The dey fol-
lowing their reception on the President
proved TO be stormy, so the steamer did not
leave ST. Michael, but The next morning
start was made and about IL O'Clock arrived
at UnaIaklik. The weather was cold and there
wR> con iderab e ice aloug shore.
The tide being ont the ater was too shallow
to land freight, though Captain Tyson sue
ceeded in getting about 800 pounds of his
goods on shore, which he was subsequently
compelled 20 abandon. 1t WIS seen by those
who tried 10 land that it would be a very diff
cult task TO do anything until the rising OF
the tide or every piece of freight would have
to be taken from the small boats and carried
for a long distance by hand, so II was decided
to wait until the following morning.
In the meantime four OF the party, consist.
ing OF Olof Wnningsisdt, charles S. Rogers,
Thomas b. Ship and Mrs. McNaughl, entered
into business agreement tnat would neces-
State their presence in San Francisco during
the winter, and they at once secured passage
from the Captain 1or this city.
with the dawn OF Wednesday morning the
lmpauence OF the captain knew no bounds. |
He vented his Ill feeling on whoever ap-
proached him. An icy wind prevailed, and
the SKIN boats which it had been arranged |
shouId be sent out by the Indians 10 take off |
the lrelght did not appear a the time agreed |
upon captain Nelson then decided that he |
would wait no longer and without telling the |
passengers what he intended TO do or offer |
ing 10 take Them back to ST. Michael, whittier |
they were all willing to go, he weighed anchor |
ana started Tor San Francisco. The idea of |
such proceeding had been broached among |
tne passengers, but was laughed a as n good |
JOKE, lot no one dreamed that in this day and |
age could such high-handed outrage be per- |
petTated.
The men who intended to take the portage |
10 Nuiato are all strong, energetic people,
equipped with Two years provisions, which |
had cost them, i'll addition to the purchase
price, 10 cents pound to get il TO the point
from which 1t is now returned. They are
naturally aggricved at the treatment they have
received After having paid their fare 10
Dawson and made q large outlay for supplies