The record-union., 1897-08-24
MINERS BLOCKADED
AT SKACUAY.
Find the Trail Over the Mountains
impossible.
A Thousand Men Set at Work to Put II In
Condition.
The Present Rush, It Is Anticipat-
ed, Will Land at Least Ten
Thousand Persons at Skaguay-
Dyea Filling UP With Miners
Who Will Winter There.

SEATTLE (Wash), Aug. 23.-The
steamer Rosalie arrived here this
reports that about 1000 people are at
Skaguay and that the trail is impass-
able. About 900 miners are working
upon it and it is expected that it will
be ready in a few weeks. Not over
twenty men have crossed over in the
last three weeks. AT Dyea miners are
getting across as rapidly as could be
expected. Juneau is rapidly filing up
with miners from Dyea and Skaguay
who propose to winter there.
With the arrival of the steamer Ros-
allie from Skaguay to-day comes the
news that the town organization at
SkaSuay, under the leadership of A
j. Mckinney, has taken definite action
! TO oDen the trail. On the arrival OF
| the collier Willamette none of the pas
sang|rs were allowed to take their bag
gage until the entire cargo had been
placed on the beach. Then the indf-
vidual holdings were segregated 1t was
| seen at once that to get over the trail
was impossible. A miners meeting was
convened, and it was decided to declare
the trail closed. The miners put their
action into immediate effect by tear
ing out several cross pieces of the
bridge across the Skaguay River Then
about 100 citizens went to work on the
trail, and the following day their num-
ber was increased to 900 They had
about fifty pounds of giant powder
and a small quantity of dynamite. and
expected in four days after the SAIL
ing of the RosaIie to reopen the trail
in a greatly improved condition. The
dangerous places, where many horses
have been lost, will be fixed up. and
will be corduroy
Concerted action on the part of the
miners, it is thought, will result in
many prospectors getting through to
the mines who otherwise would have
been blockaded all winter.
The condition of affairs at the lakes
is about the same as reported last
week. Ttnnber is in great demand. and
impatient gold hunters are rushing
work on improvised boats and RATS.
The present rush, it is confidently an
ticipated, will land at least 10000 peo-
pie at Skaguay
w WAIlN1INC ~ ERS,
SITKA, Aug. 14-People are start
ing Alaskaward from every section of
the globe in such numbers that there
will Of necessity be a blockade at Dyea
and Skaguay, as it will be simply i'm
possible to freight the goods over the
mountain before the winter sets in.
There is already more freight on the
ground at Skaguay than can be gotten
over and other innumerable ship loads
constantly being dumped off at Skag-
uay and Dyea is destined to never get
any further-at least this year. AL
though the Klondike placers are rich
the press should cease for the present
to say much of this fabulously rich re-
gion without warning all of the ex-
tremely difficult journey required to
reach the land of gold.
EXPEDITIONS TO SAIL.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 23-Several
expeditions now being fitted out will
depart in the very near future for the
gold fields of Alaska
The steam schooner Navarro is an
nounced to sail on next Wednesday af-
ternoon at 2 o'clock, and preparations
for her departure are being rapidly
stern-wheeler Thomas Dwyer to ST.
Michaels. and the latter vessel will pro-
ceed up the Yukon to Dawson City As
she draws but eighteen inches when
loaded, it is expected that the trip can
be made without much trouble
The agents of the California and
Alaska Trading Company announce
that they will have about seventy-five
passengers secured before the Navarro
sails. They are in receipt of a tele-
gram from Vermont stating that twen-
ty-five men now on their way to this
city would take berths on the steamer.
The steamer Noyo will also sail dur
ing the week for ST. Michaels. At that
port the passengers will be transferred
to the gasoline schooner Chetco, which
will leave here about next Thursday in
time to connect with the Noyo.
The schooner La Ninfa is being fitted
out at Main-street wharf for her trip to
the Copper River The Southern Alaska
Mining and Development Company is
the promoter of the enterprise and it
expects to leave here for the north on
next Monday.
About fifty prospectors will go up on
the La Ninfa, which will carry suffi-
cient supplies for fourteen months. Two
steam launches and two whale boats
will also be taken along.
It is the intention of those who are
going on the schooner to first prospect
about the Copper River and later pro-
ceed to Dawson City.
Among other vessels announced to
leave shortly are the schooners Berwick
and Laura D. The former is bound for
the Copper River and the latter to ST.
Michaels.
On the trip of the Mexico north a
steerage passenger named Berry, who
was bound to the Klondike, attempted
suicide by jumping overheard. When
he struck the water he commenced to
swim, and was picked up by one of the
steamers boats. No reason for the
act could be learned at Juneau.
A STORY EXPLODED.
CHICAGO, Aug. 23.-MEss Cora NJ.
Black Of Los Angeles, Cal, who is Wis
iting in this city, explodes the story
about the reported mountain of gold in
the island of Metlakahta, off the coast
of Alaska. The island is the property Of
tribe of Indians. having been given
them few years ago by the Govern
ment as a reservation. Through the