The herald., 1897-10-17

day before left the lake, the wind shift
ed around to the South and dozen boats
started at once" Great delay is caused d
at Lake Bennett owing to the fact that
the saw mill there can only cut enough
lumber In day to build two boats.
Skaguay has during the past two months
changed from town of tents to sub
stantially built town. there being fully
five hundred houses we'll built and shin
gle-roofed. while l had good health
there during my two months stay, ]
wish to say in burst of confidence that
l never want to see such a miserable
country again. All reports about bold
bad men and fighting and shooting are
false. Why. it was so quiet there as to be
really mOnotonous."
F. w. Vaille. assistant superintend-
ent or the Pacific coast mail division,
who went north to look into the FEAST
bility of establishing a new mail route
in connection with the Canadian gov
ernment to the interior CT Alaska was
a returning passenger on the Al-Ki.
He gives it as his opinion that an addi-
tional service cannot be given for sew
eral months to come, as there are many
obstacles TO overcome. At present the
United States has a monthly service
from Juneau to Circle City, and the
Canadian mounted police are endeavor-
ing to deliver mail a Dawson City from
Dyea monthly. Carriers who started from
Dyea in September had not returned.
nor had they been reported when he
left Dyea, one week ago. Mr.. Vaille
says he will at once recommend the
oesf q hli ching of ba
poin tment of a postmaster at Skaguay.
DR.. H. B. Runnals, formerly of Puy-
allup, was elected custodian of the mail
which is sent from Juneau to Skaguay
in sealed pouches, his compensation be-
ing cents for every letter handled. Mr.
Vaille says there are 1900 people in Ska =
quay who will winter there.
MINERS MURDERED
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 16.-Advices
received from A. c. Wright of Seattle
lend strongly to the belief that Harry r
Newman and William J. Schwartz OF
San Francisco, together with four COM
panions whose names cannot be learn ed
have perished ON the Taku river while
on their way to the Klondike gold fields
The plainest inference that can be de-
duced from the meagre information at
hand is that the entire party was mas
sacred by Indians This, or else they
were drowned in the swift current OF
the Alaskan stream. Nothing more Is
krowr here regarding their fate thar
that they were alive and we'll on Sep
tember Is at point eighty miles up tbs
river from Taku Inlet
Harry Newman is about AZ years Of
age and has wife living in Los Angeles
Schwartz is about 81 years old. HI
came from Philadelphia originally ant
has no relatives on the Coast. He fol
lowed the trade of carpenter. but hae
some mining experience in Fresno
county.
THE PROBABLE OUTPUT
DENVER Oct 16-Mr. H. Bratnober
the noted mining expert, who is return
ing to London from Alaska where he
spent several months investigating the
gold fields for the Rbthschilds, spent
yesterday in Denver, leaving last might
for New York. Mr.. Bratnober, speak
ing OF the prophecy that the Klondikt
will produce $50, ,000, 900 within the rexi
year, said: "The district will probably
produce $4,000. 900 to $4,000, 900 during the
twelve months we are now entering
upon. Considering the age of the caniI
and the stupendous difficulties to be
overcome, 5000. 900 will be highly credit
able to the camp and means that the
prophesied $5O,000,000 may materiallze
in the course Of few years.
Mr.. Bratnober advises all persons go
ing to Alaska to go in the spring, and
says prospectors must not expect too
much, as some claims are exceedingly
good and others even alongside Of ex-
ceedingly valuable ground are worth
less.
MEXICAN MINES
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 16.-John S
Wilson and C. C. Douglass, miUir,g mer
of this city. will leave here on Monday
for a prospecting trip to the head
waters Of the Yaqui river in Son ora
Mexico.
The country is believed to be very rich
in minerals ard the Indians have minet
gold there in primitive way for 2O(
years or more, but until the recevIt con-
clusion of treaty it has not been pos
sible for white men to enter the coun-
try, Even on the lower waters of the
Yauui there are not over 100 white men
ard the two San Francisco men will be
the pioneers OF the district to which
they are going.
THE SCHOFIELD MURDER
Slow Progress Made in the Trial of