The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-09-15
HUNDREDS NAY PERISH
IN TEE MAD PUS4 THEKLONDlKe
GOLD FIELDS.

Grsae Suffering, 3ta-y&.ion and Death In
Hvttable II thc Present Rate of Influx
Continues any Lon9,r-1he situation De-
scr!bcd SIS Appalling.
The United S:stss Treasury Depart.
Tnent has mada public the following
ietter Ir0n q government official now
Il DJea, ca the way TO tee gold fields,
stating Al tie same time that the
Eriter whose Eane IS withheld, mad
beeo twslve years in the service and
v&s thoroughly reliable. The letter
says:
I deem II or duty 10 write you ona
Su5jzct that does not come strictly
wi,hing ny l;oe Of duty, as it trench.
the treasury department. l have had
d lo2g taik with Mc. Ivey, collector of
cusEc31s fcr Alaska. who is at present
81 Ska2uay, three miles below here.
The ekzs trail is the most largely
us&6 o7srl.nd route (though by no
means he basO to the Klondile. Mr..
" = informs NE that there are now
o.t=2sn t;d9EA:er and the lake some
thing Ike ,000 people and about 2. 600
hor. e.. The c>mnander OF one of the
vessels roH az Skaeuay states that
sixteen vessels are chartered to land
cargoes at that place between now
and the 18th Of September and that
the number OF passengers will average
200 to each Tessel, making 5000 more
people who will attempt to 60 in this
u Iaave talked with some OF the
most eyGeriance1 traders and miners
IL this vicinity, and they are unani-
nous IN the prediction that net over %
per cent. Of this vast number will
get through to Dawson before winter
sets III. The other so per cent. will
be caught On the trail, aud those who
survive and get back to tidawater will
have to winter at Ssaguay or return
South. II the rush continues two
weeks longer, hundreds will inevita-
bly, perish On the trail, which is ex.
tremely dangerous after tae first OF
.October.
The postmaster aud Indian trader at
this place (Ar. Heron) states that
more than 5000 men have gone up
the Ch;lcootpass during the past thirty
days, and that 700 OF them are still
this side of the lake "a miles from
here Vessels ara arriving every day
or two, ard st the present rate OF in
fux another thousand will enter the
trail by September 10. Mr.. Heron IS
Of the opinion that not more than 20
out of 100 will get through. and he
says this trail is far more dangerous
than the Skaguay after the SHOWS set
in. He says if the rush continues an
other week the resultant loss OF life
viii ba appalling. I attach the great
est importance 10 what he says, for the
reason that it is to his pecuniary in
terest to have as msny as possible
come this way; yet he advises an i'm
mediate stoppage OF the stampede.
It's difficult to suggest way to
stop this thrush of people, but Mr..
I=sg inl;aaates that ii the inspection
roies ot the treasury department. Were
pro oerly enforced it would materially
decrease the number OF passengers on
The iacomine vessels. Nearly every
vessel that arrives here brings twice
as many passengers as the law allows
it to carry, and many OF them are con-
denned craft which have been fitted
up for this trade. Mr.. IVey will nc
doubt at once present the facts outlln-
ed above to the proper authorities,
and merely give them to you Tor
your information.
The situation is appalling, and it IS
impossible for me adequately to de.
scribe the mad rush for The gold field.
/ had 70 conception OF its immensely
until I saw it. I have talked with
several ren who have recently arrived
here from the Klondike, two OF whom
lett there less than thirty days ago.
They unanimously agree that while
there is q rich gold field there, the
facts do not justify the present stam-
pede, and they say there is bound to
oe much suffering and actual starva-
ion. Provisions are already scarce
and the prices OF mary articles aoso'
lutsiy prohioitory in the case OF man
OF ordinary means.
My usual good luck has attended
ne here. Mr.. Heron, the postmaster,
is an old Montana friend, and he has
made it possible for me- to 60 for yard
5y Indian carriers at tue prevailing
rate 81 cents per pound, taking pre-
ce5ence over hundeds, many OF whom
have been here two or three weeks,
awaiting their turn. he assures me
he can make the way easy for me at
the lake in securing boat, etc. 50
feel comfortably sure OF going right
through.
Tae mail facilities are very bad
aera, as the p ostofi;e department has
1t made any allowance for the rapid
growth OF postal business. The postal
authorities here are powerless to copa
with the mass OF mail matter, and }
nave doubts as to whether tnls letter
will reach its destination I am tore
ed to close this letter to catch ooat
which is about to leave, ar leaving
unsa;d some things which l shall have
to iac.ude in ny next letter.