The San Francisco call., 1897-09-11

strait OF San Juan Qe uCa ulleu Win
miners from the Klondike who have tenn
porarilv abandoned fabulously rich claims
to escape starvation. The two stores at
Dawson City have been closed for six
weeks, neither of them having pound of
provisions left in stock. Each day brings
scores of anxious gold. seekers to the
camp, most of them lily provided with
clothing and scarcely any OF them with
sufficient food to sustain themselves
month. Those who were there before,
men who have passed a year or more IN
that region, are forestalling the terrible
suffering that is bound TO ensue and are
fastening back to their former homes
laden with golden dust.
The Cleveland was sighted off Cape
Flattery at 2:45 o'clock this morning. A
thick fog hung over the entrance Of the
straits and the tug Sea Lion, which had
been patrolIing the entrance since Sunday
with corps of correspondents on board.
had some. difficulty in locating her.
Finally Captain Sprague caught the loca-
ton of her siren and in q few minutes
her lights loomed scarce thirty yards
away. Three sharp blasts of the Sea
L Lon's whistle brought the steamer to
halt. A small boat was swung over the
side of the tug and into it tumbled the
reporters. A few strokes and the boat
was alongside and Up the steel sides
clambered the news-gatherers Captain
Charles Hall was on the bridge Of the
Cleveland, but resigning his post to his
chief officer led the way to his stateroom,
and to one of the reporters narrated the
incidents of his voyage from st. Michael
and the facts he had CLEANED of the great
gold region.
The Cleveland sailed from San Fran
cisco for ST. Michael by way of Puget
Sound July "a Leaving Seattle August 5
she arrived a st. Michael on the 18th, and
was there eleven days, being detained
some time by rough weather, which great
ly retarded the work of discharging her
cargo. Every berth on the steamer was
occupied on her passage north and more
motley gathering never came under his
notice on board ship. Full a third of the
adventures were gamblers or worse. and
with these Captain Hall had considerable
trouble. One of them named Sigel under
took to assume com mand OF the vessel the
day after her arrival at ST. Michael. He
was backed by a number of his fellows
and Captain Hall was forced to take
prompt measures to suppress him. This
he did with such effect that Sigel had to
be helped to his berth for repairs.
Captain Hall found the little settlement
at St. Michael overrun with gold-seekers.
Hundreds had got that far on their jour-
ney, but were unable to proceed on up the
river. The steamer Weare, of whose fate
. thoe hr0n ,doS ito
tidings, was known to have gone aground
on the flats thirty-fve miles below Circle
City. Her passengers had been picked up
by the steamer Healy and taken to the
mouth of the Yukon, but they were un-
able to say what her fate would be. 1t
was believed, however, that she would be
total loss. The disaster to the Weare
had prevented those who had secured
passage on her from going up to Dawson
and to these were added the passengers OF
the steamer Excelsior, which left San
Francisco July %, and the expeditions
that went out on the steamers National
City and South Coast soon after. A very
few of the Excelsior's passengers. includ-
ing S. w. Wall, The CALLS SPECIAL corre-
spondent, secured passage on the new
river steamer. Charles HI. Hamilton,
| which started up the Yukon the day the
Cleveland reached st. Michael.
Many OF the Excelsior's passengers were
preparing TO turn back, being thoroughly
discouraged by the gloomy reports
| brought out by returning miners. The
passengers on the National City and South
Coast were encamped along the banks OF
the Yukon near st. Michael, and during
held indignation meetings daily. They
were careful to conceal their intentions
from all but few who had broken away
from the main bodies, and it was evident
that the greatest discomfort prevailed.
One day when Captain Hall walked up to
their camp he was requested not to loiter
as special meeting vas to be held at
once al which matters of Importance were
to be acted upon. What these important
matters were he did not learn, nor could
anybody at ST. Michael enighten him. A
few membe had succeeded in securing
passage up the river to Dawson on the
steamer Bella. Others arranged to come
back on the National City. Twenty were
booked for return passage on the South
Coast, while others Were anxious to re-
lul IL lOmC OA ZIG NiONSA@heb wv "OAO Ill
able to secure passage.
While at ST. Michael the steamer Ex-
celsior ran on the mudf1ats and was tied
up for eighteen hours, breaking two blades
OF her propeller. After being hauled out
OF the mud the Excelsior started back to
| Unalaska on August 26, and was there
when the Cleveland stopped on her return
trip, having arrived September 1. Fortu-
ately the Excelsior carried an extra pro-
peller and this was being shipped when
the Cleveland left there. 1t was expected
that she would be able to continue her
voyage by September 6.
Before the Cleveland left st. Michael
some of her passengers had mbined
with party of the Exceisior's passengers,
forming a company OF sixty men. These,
under the presidency of a Mr.. Gleason oil
New York, had purchased the steamer st.
Michael and barge, paying 1000 in
cash for them. They also had $4,000
pounds of provisions, and it was their in
tention to follow the Healy up the river
to Dawson. If the Healv succeeds in run
ming the ice gauntlet and shallow water
thew too will probably get through this