The herald., 1897-08-24
]. G. BARTLEY

the least sign of the abatement of the
fever
From time to time it has been an
nounced that this or that man has
started, but where ones departure has
been noticed half a score half gone
quietly without making public their in
tention of so doing. The reason for the
secrecy with which some of them have
proceeded is that they preferred to go
quietly, both in order to escape statesmen
for all kinds of supplies and to avoid the
questions and requests of those who
cannot go. 1t would be impossible to
give the exact number of those who have
started from here but it is safe to assert
that no less than 100 men have left this
city for the Klondyke country since July
LIST. That more than twice that number
have not gone is' because many were
kept at home by the fear of the hard
ships which would necessarily be Incl
dent to a winter trip.
Another reason which caused many to
defer their departure until spring is
their inability to secure the ready money
necessary for expenses. Among this lat
ter class are not included the many
thousands who would go if they had the
money, but who never had and perhaps
never will have the amount requisite
for such a trip The announcement of
the fabulous wealth of the country there
found many a man who owned property
who was unable to dispose of it with
out making a greater sacrifice than he
could afford. Some of these men have
later succeeded in realizing upon their
holdings of whatever property they pos
sessed and have started late. A greater
number, however, deferred the trip until
next spring, and will spend the inter-
vening time in making their prepara-
tions. If the accounts of the condition of
affairs in Dyea and Juneau which have
been contained in the press dispatches
are true, the men who are waiting are
perhaps of the wiser class, and some of
them will reach the gold fields in ad-
vance Of some of their neighbors who
are now on the way.
The stories of what may now be ex-
pected in the mountain passes, what
those Who have started are now endur-
ing and the almost absolute impossible
ity of making the journey through this
late in the season. have not had the effect
of keeping all those who would like to &C
at home. The last large party from here
departed Friday, and smaller party
will start tomorrow. Many who have
already gone have quietly purchased
tickets to San Francisco or Puget SOUND
points and have proceeded from there
The greater number have said nothing
except to their families as to their inten.
tions, and only comparatively small
number have announced their purpose
OF going to Alaska when they purchased
their tickets.
Among those who started early so a.
TO be sure to reach Dawson before th
rivers close the following went togethe
July %: Frank Cheneworth, w. II. Pur
dy, I. L. Lewis. w. j. Perrine. Georg,
and Sam Copeland, S. T. Fennix an;
John Lloyd. They are now somewher
in Alaska as they sailed from Seattle O,
one of the early special steamers. F
r. Black, L. J. Smith, W. A. Greenouel
ana A l.. Hooper left July "a. hayin.
becn supplied with tickets to Dyea b,
II. Il. Rice. James F. and John M. Rry
son departed few days later. 1t wa,
tneir intention to accompany a numbe,
OF friends from northern points. H. T,
Cannon, A. H. Doig. E. j. Russell. Henr,
Arguy, Capt. c. w. Anderson, N. G
Cox and S. Merrill composed tbe las
large party which left in july. hut i,
addition to them the following ar,
known to have started singly about tn,
same time: p. G. Battman. Geo Avfie
lotte, 2. T. Bannon. Geo Krakel. p. ]
Heffren. w. j. Jenning and Caspe
schneider. Grant Hughes and thre,
friends sailed from San Francisco abou
August on the George w Elder. and ;
few days later Ed Russell. formerly ;
cailman at No. engine house, left tn,
same port on the Wala Walla. He wa.
one Of party Of five, the others resid
ing in different parts Of Southern Cali
fornia. w. e. Packard and son left from