The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-28

reetiy In It's Path Warning is Given in
Time For AL to Escape, Save ChoynskI
Many Pilgrims and Packers Lose
aged Lot-saIoonkeeper Baatz Gives
the Alarm
Viwtoris. B. c., Sept. 25.-The steam
er City Of Seattle arrived from Skaguay
Al noon, bringing the following special
to the Associated Press:
Finnesan's Point, on Chilcoot Trail,
Sept 20.-Sheep Camp, nine miles above
mere, was nearly wiped off the face Of
the earth yesterday morning by a sec
ton Of a glacier breaking loose from the
main body, which came crashing down
the canon for two and a half miles, car
rying death and destruction in its wake
The first report brought down last night
by men who had braved perils Of food
and precipice 20 get out-was that not
less than seven men had been killed and
dozens manned and hurt. Later reports
confirmed by a hundred witnesses
brought the certain death loss down 10
one. man named Cnoynski of San
Francisco, said to be a cousin OF the
pusihst Of the same name. Several were
hurt somewhat but none fatally There
may De other deaths, but SO far no other
bodies can be found.
The loss Of supplies will reach s25. 900.
Many have lost all their supplies after
toiling for weary days to get them that
far on the way ana many professional
packers that had been working for
months. as men never worked before.
lost their earnings in the twinkle of an
eye.
The glacier from which the slide start
ed is just little above and west Of the
Stone House" two and one half miles
above Sheep Camp.
LAKE ON THE GLACIER.
The warm weather and heavy rains
had formed a lake on the glacier and the
wind had been blowing for twenty-four
hours from the north, and had finally
broken off a section half acre in ex-
tent, which, with the water behind it,
started on its IA tai journey.
the persons who were camped at
Stone House" say II looked like a vol
cano turned loose, over 100 feet in height
and twenty-five feet in width. When
ii started it made noise as of a thou
sand cannon and the startled inmates of
the tents sprang 10 their feet in all
stages Of undress Git was raining a tor
rent al the time and for that reason
many were yet in bed, and rushed out
side to see what was the matter. One
glance up the cannon was enough, some
rushed into their tents to get the most
valuable things they could lay hands on
while others took 10 the foothills with
out anything, over boulders and large
rocks that at any other time they could
not have got over at all.
CHOYNSKPS DEATH.
Choynski was oamped with some COM
panions at this place and did not get |
out of his tent until the flood Of water |
had struck ii. He grabbed a tent rope /
and was carried by the flood to the /
length of his rope and the water thrash /
ed him up and own until finally ne was
torn loose and dashed along by the rag
ing torrent. and beaten against rocks /!
and ooulders until life was almost ex- I
Iinot. Some one finally caught his BODY 4
and brought ii to shore. Rought but .
tender hands held him until life was eX- /
tinct. He was only aole 10 humble mis- !
name before ne died
From Stone House TO Sheep Camp !
It is about TWO miles and former slides /
have left channels which have piled |
rocks indiscriminately on ali sides |
whence the name. But the general |
course is quite different to Sheep Camp,
where the most OF those who are pack
ing make one stage OF their journey,
AMI there are at all times from 500 to
600 people camped there. There were
full 900 there yesterday.
THE ALARM GIVEN.
The first person there to see that the
avalsnche was about 10 overwhelm them
was Captain F. c. Baatz. a saloon keep
er. VINO had a saloon and gambling
house in a large tent directly in the
course OF the torrent. He had Just got
Up, and hearing a noise like thunder.
looked up the canon and taking in the
situation a: a glance. ne rushed into the
saloon, grabbed up all his money AMI
told a dozen or more men who We're
sleeping under the gambling tables. He
sad 10 them that an avalanche was on
hem and started on a run down the
rail. yelling a: the top of his voice for
LII 10 get up. AS il was they escaped
With their lives. Few made any effort
o save any of their effects.
George Marks OF San Francisco, who
,ame to sheep Camp a few days ago 10
,uy outfits Of those Who were discourage
& or broken, had $4,000 in a belt under
lis bed and at the first alarm ran oui
With nothing but his underclothes on,
o see what the matter was, and then
ried 20 get his money. but the water
vas on him and ne could not get inside
gain. He mad hold of a rope and was
hrashed around by the angry water un-
il his hold was broken when he vas
a-riei into an eddy and rescued by
hose on the bank. He came down to-
liy with the crowd and does not show
my signs OF the struggle for life he has
zone through.
Tents, goods and provisions Of ali
,inis are buried in an indescribable /
manner for nearly a mile from the head
Z Sheep Camp down the canon. Forty
en5s. occupied probably by over 4 nun
rei persons. are buried in the ruins. |
IL is confusion.
DISCOURAGED PILGRIMS.
Many discouraged. disheartenei pill
rims have come down today. intending /
. take the frs, steamer Tor home. Some
Z them have no, dollar 20 their name.
till the most Of them saved their mo-
lev One man lost $500 which was
ound by digging where his ten; had
zone down. Four Saloons out Ct six
we're wipe5 out o. existence. bur the log
ouseS which had been built higher I'D