The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-11
Stores at Dawson City Have
Closed Their Doors.
Drunkenness, Gambling and General
Disorder Prevail.
WhaIer Nevach Crushed in the Ice aud
AZ OfH:r Cr.w Pr Shed.

Otter Point Is. u, sept ll.-lne
scoamer Cleveland has arrived from 81
Michaels. bringing with her from tho
Yukon gold fields story of distress ana
disaster.
The miners she has On board and the
officers in charge of the ship, tell the
story of disaster and distress at Dawson.
The winter has set in at the mining city
of the frozen North and two great stores
of the place have closed their doors, for
tnoy have pothing to sell. Those vino
have been seeking gold now must seek
for food or starve.
While there may be a tendency to exag-
rerate the actual condition of affairs,
there can be no question that famine
threatens the adventurous men ana
women who made their way TO the klol-
dixie Hundreds of unruly spirits are
Aocking to Dawson. Threats of violence
are being made on every side.
Indignation meetings, heavy with utter
ed threats of vengeance, are held at St.
Michaels by those who have little hopes
of advancing up the sriyer, and less of
getting back to civilization
BEGINNING TO FREEZE.
The first signs of winter are apparent
on the River Yukon, which is beginning
10 freeze, and 4. few weeks will be-
closed. Enormous prices are now being
paid for food at Dawson, and 10 is impos-
nble that more than four vessels with
provisions can reach Dawson before the
river Is a mass OF Ice.
ON the Cleveland there are 80 passen-
gers. men. women and children, who
have come from Dawson City. There are
few miners in this party that are able 10
tell OF prosperity, though most OF them
wish to exaggerate their possessions.
Capt Hall, master of the Cleveland, says
that he has $40, 900 in his safe. Ihe pur-
ser believes that he can account for Sl5,
coo on board.
The Cleveland has some of the passen-
gers of the II. B. Weare on board. The
Weare left Dawson City in time To con
meet with the Portland, had she not met
with mishap and struck on the flats
above Circle City. Ihe passengers report
that on July 20 the stores of the Alaska
Commercial Company and OF the North
American Trading and transportation
Company announced that they had no
more food to sell.
CONSERVATION RESULTED.
Three weeks before that. the same com
panies were unable to furnish outfits. and
when the announcement was made that
no more goods were availa ble consterna-
tion resulted on the part OF the people OF
rate OF 90 to 40 a day.
Drunkenness, gambling and disorder
were rampant ana conservative observers
predict the most serions conseq uences.
There is gold everywhere but the people
of Dawson want food mole than they
want gold now. AT St Michaels there
are not enough structures TO accommo-
date the crowd and scores OF people are
living In tents.
shortly before the Cleveland left ST.
Michaels two of the expeditions. those
OF the National City and of tho South
Coast, held Indignation meetings, threat
ening dire vengeance upon those who had
brought them there and were unable 10
carry tnem further. They had been left
stranded at 1t. Michaels and cannot pos.
sibly reach Dawson before next spring.
THE ONLY HOPE.
II fortune favors, four vessels will bo
able to reach Dawson from 81. Michaels
befor, the Yukon river freezes. They
will carry provisions but IL is by no
means certain that they will reach tho
kloDdike. They offer the only hope, how
ever, for a renewal of supplies.
Aug. 2S the Excelsior left 81. Michaels
Reports were current that her treasures
amounted to one million dollars, but
there are none on the Cleveland who can
verify this assertion. The Excelsior was
caught on the dangerous flats OF the
YUKON and broke two blades OF her pro-
pelIer. When the Cleveland reached Oun-
alaska. she found the Excelsior undergo
ing repairs. II is probable however. that
she left Ounalaska last Monday TO resume
her journev TO tho South
DISASTER ON TIE SEA.
Shortly before the Cleveland left for
Seattle. the United States revenue cutter
/3ear put irto 1T. Michaels with Capt.
Wbiteside, his wife. the first and fourth
officers and four seamen Of tho steam
whsler Nevach. They are all that re-
mains TO tell the terrible story Of death in
the Arctic.
The Nevach was caught in an icepack
In the Arctic ocean. or her crow, ~ were
lost. Ihirty-one were crushed in the ice
and frozen TO death. The Bear saw the
vessels signals OF distress near Point
Barrow, and lest no time in going TO her
assistance. The captain. his wife, two
officers and four sailors were glad 10 leave
the dismanted crippled ship. bot nine
positively refused 60 go. They were lost
In the dosolate field of ice. and it Is feared
they have perished with their comrades
The Cleveland also brings news that
when tho Humbolt stopncd at Ounalaska
on her journey 90 81 Mich IclS the pas
sengers were In open rebellion. 1ney