The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-14
pANeRR o. srAREArroM.
me Dismal sitsatien or the Geld Seekers On
the Klondthe.

- AhaNAAN 9ttNhtNob ~ tuo Solu HookoEu ~
tho Kiondike.
wAsHTNGToN. Dec. ia letter from John
W. Braner Of Seattle, Wash, describing his OK
periences as a mail carrier between Juneau and
Circle City, Alaska. came to Secretary AlRer
this afternoon, and was Immediately sont to
vice.PresidonL Hobart for tho Of
the Senate In considering measures for the ro-
lief of the starving Klondikers.
Mr.. Braner contradicts the assertion that the
situation of the miners Is not so grave as re-
ported. At least half Of them were short of
provisions whom he was at Dawson. and many
OF those who went into the Klondiko country
after Sept. 1 were afraid that they would not
reach the gold seekers Mecca. There was dan
ger that tho river would DO closed UP, and a
largo number sold part of their outfits and, to
use Mr.. Braner's expressive language, went
in flying, light" Mr.. Braner, in his voyage up
tho Yukon, met between twenty and thirty
boats daily. Tho majority of the miners on
these boats had four months supplies only, when
they should have had enough to last seven or
eight months.
Part of the time Mr.. Braner was Mt Dawson
the prices Of provisions were uniform, but when
the commercial companies sold out and closed
their stores spectators rushed up tho cost Of
food. Tho day he left Dawson, Sept. %. some
-four was sold at $75 for a sack of fifty pounds,
and bacon was 81 a pound. Quite a number Of
miners started to get out of the Klondike coun-
try, but Mr.. Braner thinks not more than thirty
succeeded in doing so.
Mr.. Braner opposes tho plan to send n relief
expedition this winter. but he proceeds on tho
theory that dogs and not reindeer are to be used.
He says it would be almost impossible to get
enough food through from Fort Yukon TO Daw.
son to supply several thousand men for three or
four months. He thinks the better plan Is to
take provisions to the lakes, build scows in tho
winter months, and wait until the river opens
When he left Circle City for Dawson on Sept.
IA the supply OF provisions there, was nearly
steamers bound for Dawson and took enough to
supply their wants for the winter: 1t was pretty
Cormack's Post. where he arrived on Oct. "a.
the thermometer was l2e below zero. snow was
from five to eight inches deep, and the river was
full Of running ice. In crossing the Dalton trail,
the twelve horses with which his party started
died before the, had gone half the journey: !,
Senate resolution of Dec. 8. asking for informa.
lion as to whether there is danger Of actual suf.
refers to the appointment in August last of Capt.
p. H. Ray and Lieut., ". richardson. us A.,
uation, and says that from the reports of these
officers and upon information received from
large nEm6er Of American nrai Citizens arc " With
out sufficient food for the winter and that
i So%e ARE ABSOLUTELY 5soin aSo destitute m;nint a,s, The l G",sd
Oct. II, is that there is not on sale at Dawson or
elsewhere in the mining region a single pound
OF bacon, beans or -four, and that the miners
roundabout Dawson have found 1t impossible to
buy supplies of any kind, except in rare in
stances, from those who presumably had a sur
plus. and oven under these circumstances the
prices asked were almost prohibitOry. Fifty,
pound sacks of flour were selling at 300 to 1928
1t will be impossible TO get food from Fort St
Michael, 1,77O miles from Dawson City, the
Secretary says.
The only means by which supplies can be sen,
to the mining district ut the present season. the
Secretary says. would be either by tho Chilkool
or White Pass. through Lakes LindcrInan anC
Bennett, and down the Lewis and Yukon rivers
over the ice, or through the Chilknt Pass ant
over Dalton's trail. approximately 700 miles and
$50 miles. respectively. from Juneau, requiring
from thirty to thirty-ive days travel from tina
point, n most hazardous and perhaps impossible
trip, although 1t is believed il can DC accom-
plished. From the bost information that cal
be obtained, it is believed that the use o
reindeer will be the means by which these sup
plies can be got through. II ut all. 1t il
therefore that reindeer be pur
permission granted to bring reindeer driver
from that country. as it requires much skill t,
manage these animals. 1t is believed that man,
of the miners will be able to pay the cost of thu
supplies.
snow locomotives, and was favorably impressed
with the idea OF sending relief supplies to the
ktondtke miners on trains drawn by thest
powerful engines. which. according to the pro
moters. can beat a trail through the Alaska
passes without difficulty. 1t was reported t.
Dalton trail was called, had expressed the be
lief that the most feasible plan Of getting sup
plies to the starving miners this winter will b.
through the use of these locomotives.