The San Francisco call., 1897-10-30

Kingman, ARR; J. H. Bascom, Rich
mond; L. Neus,ler, NJ. Neussler, Chicago.
An Indian who arrived at ST. Michael
on the evening of October Is from q point
on the Yukon above Nulato gives en-
couragement TO the North Fork expedi-
zion. He says many Indians ge; cheap
gold" from the Koyukuk. He brings re-
port that the Indians Confirm the general
impression that hundreds OF miners Will
flee from Dawson as from a pestilence.
This native lett his village about two
weeks previous, and states that Just be-
fore his departure eighteen men arrived
from Dawson and Mlnook. They were all
badly used up. Several were sick and one
man had his shoulder in jured.
The Indian cleaned bu: little informa-
tion from these men, other than that they
were coming ont b-cau OF mo food no
food But plenty gold was there. He
states that thew ia!ked OF seeing Seattle
boat" on the Yukon flats. This is evil
IDENTIFY the Humool party, or Mayor
Woods Seattle No. - steam barge:
He further reports that the Yukon
River is freezing and snow falling, and
that when less than 4 days journey from
St. Michael he TaSsed n drov- of cariboo.
Just as The Portland was heavng anchor
to sail south TIE little schooner Bessie n
from San Francisco, with her sails down
and gasoline engine " orking. pushed into
Inc bay. She carried about dozen pas
sengers and a small launch with which TO
take them up the river.
Fer nearly two weeks during the early
part of Oc ober the mouth of the mighty
Yukon was ice ocked. An insurmount-
able frozen barrier seventy miles in width
and many miles il extent cut of all en-
trance through the river channel 10 the
waters of golden promise. Three beIated
steamers sought to brave the dangers OF
hnnp
through the river. The Mare Island with
her twoscore OF passengers rom San Fran
cisco was soon caught between floating
blocks. Fortunately, with the changing
tide egress was possible and she steamed
out and went into winter quarters in the
canal back of ST. Michael.
The steamer Merwin towing a large
canvas-covered barge and both craft hav-
ing on board about l20 OF the steamer
E1za AndersOn'S passen- erS from Seattle,
was held with such tlrhJ grasp that serl-
Gus con-CQuenCes were feared. About the
10Th of October a few days of Indian sum-
mer set in, and during the early hours of
the morning OF October ii the Merwi n was
enabled TO steam into harbor OF afety.
The channel was suddenly freed from ice,
so that Their was no difficulty IN pushing
up the r.v.r about 125 miles and going into
winter quarters near the village OF An
dreafskl.
The steamer Alice, loaded with about
200 tons Of provision for the Alaska Com
mercial Comrany, had also been caught
in the ice at the mouth of the river, bui
her release came at The same time, and
she also put into the same har Dor, as did
Likewise the little steamer Thomas J.
Dyer from San Francisco. She had on
board twenty-thTee of the steamer Noyar-
ro's passengers.
The steamer J. j. Healy did not meet
cyir ~ Of
North American Transportation and
Trading Company was anxious TO get her
and her cargo of 250 tons or provisions over
the bar so to make an early start up
the river in the spring. After TWO ineffect-
ual attempts to UuSh through the ice, her
captain gave up the effort, and when the
thaw CO me, he had taken the steamer int
winter quarters at the canal.
Tne news that the river was again open
to navigation was brought 10 St. Michael
by the little steamer YuEon. She was on
her return trip a ter having taken a cargo
OF supplies 10 the Alaska Commercial
Company's depot at Anvik. ro: more
than two weeks Captain Alexander Ste
vens was kept just beyond the icy brim.
Twenty-Five miles of ice cakes, FIVE inches
thick and frozen compactly, made his ell
trance to the sea an utter impOss biiity.
But he was perseverinr, and Fl ally his
third effort TO get through 10 st. Michael
was successful.
There is a general i'm preston that gre at
Quantitiee OF liquor were taken into the
kiondlke district early IN the season, TO
the exclusion of bceadstuffs THIS the
officers OF the TWO trading com panles stren-
uous-y deny, and aIlege thar, considering
the large mum Der OF men there, the guam
itv was extremely small. All liquor is
supposed to have gone in BOND through
st. Michael. Deputy Collector OF Customs
nH q 1SS 81 q at Il "a
says his records show that but 1000 gal
Ions passed through consigned 10 Dawson
City.
In anticipation of the great tide of
humanity that will set in next spring
toward the Yukon goldhelds unusual
preparations are being made by a mum ber
of commercial and transportation COM
panies ST. Michael Island. During the
cold, bleak and long dreary months of
winter the hum OF industrial activity will
be heard along the bay OF ST. Michael. A
mum ber of river b0ats will b. built the-e
and warehouse constructed 10 house the
stores of provisions that will be shipped
by ocean steamers TO TINS supply no.nt.
Contrary 10 expectations but compare
lively few people will winter on the
island. At present there are only the
natives and he Alaska Com IN ercial COM
pany's employees nj ST. Michael. At Fort
Get There the North American Transpor-
tation and Trading Company employe-
and the soldier and prospectors who are
ca m ped in tents or at the hotel aggregate
in mum Der scarcs more than 100