The San Francisco call., 1897-10-02

companies at once took steps 20 allay the
feeling of Indignation on the part OF the
miners. They feared serious consequences,
even violence on the part of the miners,
because supplies had been left behind and
liquor taken into the country.
When the North Fork sailed from St.
Michael there were several hundred men
still awaiting an opportunity to go up the
river. The new steamer built TO carry the
100 Hum boldt passengers had been
launched ana expected to start on its river
cruise in couple of days.
She is named Seattle No. /, draws
nineteen inches of water light and three
feet six inches loaded. 1t is not believed
that she can proceed far. although Mayor
Wood is anxious to get to Minook, where
the passengers would go into winter
quarters, using the boat as a hotel. The
steamer Mare Island with her 103 passen-
gers intended to make the sts-t Cor the
gold helds on the 18th. AS she draws
nearly FIVE feet of water, it is safe to pre-
sumo that her passengers will winter very
close to 81. Michael. Then there are 125
passengers on the Merwin who hope to
get into the interior.
The schooner Baranoff. which left Dutch
Harbor with the Ito passengers from the
old steamer Eliza Anderson, has not yet
arrived at st. Michael.
James Byrnes is returning to Seattle
a ter an absence of two months in the
futile effort to reach the Klondike. He
says that at Fort Yukon, an old pros
peclor informed him, the river was eight
feet lower than ever before known. He
believes that Mayor Wood OF Seattle will
be compelled 10 winter on the Yukon. He
hopes, however, TO return within the time
allowed by the city charter for him to hold
his Office. His intention was to rush his
boat UP the river TO Dawson. land his ex-
pedition and then hurry out by way Of
the river. lakes and Chilcoot Pass.
j. L. Marks, pnrser OF the North Fork,
states that the Yukon River fell two feet
eight inches in three days. it now being
the lowest water known in the river o.
tcials of the companies are warning pros
pectors not TO attempt the trip up the
river this season.
1t is utterly possible, they say, to
make any great progress, and it is feared
that the shortage OF provisions will entail
much suffering. Whisky is plentiful and
sells on the river at SIS per bottle, while
at st. Michael water brings cents per
gallon.
The revenue cutter Corwin, which LETT
this port with orders from Commandant
Hooper to Captain Tuttle of the Bear to
quell any outbreak at st. Michael, arrived
at the latter place oD the 14th inst. The
Bear took advantage of her presence 10
run over to Port Clarence for a week.
This will slightly delay the Corwin, which
had expected to depart Immediately for
San Francisco. She will leave as soon as
the Bear returns, which latter will also re-
port south bound about October TO- The
appearance OF cutter had the effect of
dispelling any inclination for an uprising
among the discouraged and in some in
stances ill-used prospectors now at st.
Michael.
Among the North Fork passengers is
Elmer +. May barry of Seattle, who went
north on the first trip OF the Portland.
He says there are fully 1000 people at
Minook Creek. They have an abundance
OF supplies and are established in winter
quarters, preparatory TO advancing up the
river at the first opportunity. 1 have not
great deal ol faith in Minook Creek, and
in my opinion the mem bers of the colony
are not so enthusiastic as when they be-
gan the journey. However, they will
persevere, and have hopes of making
rich strike. Claims in the Mincok dis
trict are staked out on Hunter, Badger
and Little Minook creeks.
w. 4. STEEL :