The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-23
Gold Seekers Who Are
Going Over White Pass.
THEY SHOULD BE STOPPED
Views OF Mr.. Bennett Who Has
Just Returned From Alaska.
FOOD SHORT AT DAWSON CITY.

Seattle, Wash. Sept "23.-One Of the
most distinguished passengers to arrive
in this city on the steamer Queen from
Alaska was Burton /. Bennett who was
sent North by Grover Cleveland to fill the
office of United States District Attorney
for Alaska "From what i can learn, - he
said, :" there is not, and will not be,
enough TODD at Dawson City this winter.
With favorable weather the trading COM
panies may got more Up the river than
was anticipated, but it Is not likely. Ii
will be impossiD Dle under the NEST favor
able circumstances to supply all those who
are there. l feel sure of that after careful
inquiry and from letters / have received
from Dawson City.
But, as say, If Dawson City suffers,
think OF the men ON White pass. The
world may not realize IL. but there are
men up North who are walking right into
death. The snow Is probably lying on
White pass and IL not soon will be. Ma y
propose 10 winter at Skaguay, but from
what / can learn, hundreds do not pro-
pose To stop there. nor will they return
to civilization. They bavs the gold
fever as no other body of men had IL.
Every time they hear of a strike in the
gold fields they get craZier than ever.
They will not stop tor snow; they will
not stop for storm. They will keep push
ing over White pass all winter
II am satisfied that while the snow is
coming down in all its fury on the pass
and the wind is blowing awful gales this
winter, you will see men on White pass
Ii is frightful thing To think of, but it
is true and these men should be stopped.
I would not be surprised TO learn of many
deaths upon there this winter. It is tho
most damnable rush / ever heard of.
These men do not know anything about
N A.
time, yet they keep on. ana Just about the
time that winter is at its worst some OF
them will be caught on White pass. They
will never escape.
II am satisfied that those who remain
ut Skaguay this winter will be all right.
Spring will soon be with them aud they
can start for the North. Oncs there they
will all come back rich III they are will
ing TO stay and work for few years.
There Is gold IL every body OF water, big
or little. In our country. Why, the people
OF the states, with all the newspaper talk.
do not know what the rush will be in the
coming spring.
From letters have received from the
states. there Will be 10 COO people in Alaska
six weeks after the spring rush has COM
menced. / think that the reports about
so much crime in the vicinity OF Skaguay
have been exaggerated. We are doing what
we can TO sec that order is preserved and
we nave pteu lblrlF sucCessluI' vi CouTse,
there are some criminals there, but crime
is very small.
1--WE have officers at Skaguay. They will
winter and l look tor no trouble there.
Zone thing Is certain. and that is, that
the United States government will have
to take steps at once 20 give Alaska new
government At present ii il one judicial
district. | favor three. one for Southeast
Alaska. ore FOR Western Alaska and one
for the Yukon. In that way the country
would he much better governed. Ana
the land laws should he extended At
present one cannot get ritlo to land in
Alaska The point is very important in
advancing tne claim for new legislation
for the country.