Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-08-06
FROM THE LAND OF GOLD.
News Brought Down by the Queen
Monday.

Monday.
The steamer Queen arrived at Ia
coma, from Alaska Monday afternoon
She brought word that the mounted
police of the Northwest territory are
meeting all people bound for the Yu-
kon country at the British line beyond
White and Dyea passes and compelling
all who have not one years supplies of
provisions to return to the coast. But
few of the fortune-seekers who have
left the Sound within the last few
weeks for Dyea or Skaguay had crossed
the passes into the interior when the
Queen left Dyea, July %.
Two hundred or more miners were
encamped at Skaguay then, awaiting
opportunity to have their supplies
packed over the pass. The first pack
train over White pass was expected
back at Skaguay the day the Queen
sailed from there. Rev. Alfred
Hummer, of Oakland, Cal, one of
the excursionists, went ashore at
Skaguay and reports he was told by
two men there that it would cost 800
to have their supplies, weighing 1000
pounds, carried over the pass. Mr..
Hummer and Captain Carroll warn
every one not to attempt to enter the
Yukon country before next spring.
The captain says not even those who
are now at Skaguay or Dyea will be
able to reach the interior this winter,
principally because supplies cannot be
gotten over the passes. Indians are
hard at work packing, and all the
horses available are pressed into ser
vice. Men can pack they say, but Is
pounds one way, and the round trip is
70 miles.
Rev. Alfred Hummer, pastor OF the
First M. E. church, of Oakland, who
arrived on the Queen Monday from
Alaska, says:
1.-THE Queen landed 200 passengers
at Skaguay who, with the small party
left there by the Alki, comprised all
the gold-seekers at the place. They
found good place to camp. A great
many of the men went into camp.
Water, wood and mosquitoes were
plentiful. A great many of the men
went into camp to await an oppOr-
tunity to hire men or horses to carry
their provisions over the pass. All
the Indians of the vicinity who cared to
work and every horse available were
pressed into the packing service. A
strong Indian can carry 100 pounds
over the pass, but the average white |
man does we'll to carry Is pounds.
Men who have been accustomed to
clerical or other equally easy work find
packing almost beyond endurance.
The trail is new and the first pack |
train out had not returned when We
left Skaguay.
81 look upon this rush of men to
Klondyke as the result of decision
arising from feverish brain. Trouble |
will ensue in the interior this winter.
Men who have reached there with
little if any supplies will attempt to
compel others by force to divide with |
them, and the attempt will be resisted.
advise miners to keep away from
Alaska before next spring"
Captain Carroll spoke in an emphatic |
way on the Klondyke rush, and said:
advise no one to 60 to Alaska for |
gold before spring. Men who are now
at Skaguay and Dyea will not reach |
the gold fields this winter. They will |
not be able to get their supplies over
the passes. Those who reach the head |
waters of the Yukon will have to make |
boats, and by the time they finish their
craft the rivers and lake will be frozen.
You say they can take knockdown
boats from the Sound ready to put to-
gether. That is very we'll, but it will |
be difficult work getting such freight
across the passes. Of course, will
take north all the people who want to
60, and it may be will enjoy the
pleasure of hauling a shipload to the
south before spring comes again."