The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-05
TASK is HOPELESS.
EVERY ATTEMPT To CROSS WHITE
PASS RESULTS IN FAILURE.
Skaguay Trail Declared Open for
One Day-The New Road Il Quick-
ly Cut to Pieces, and the Blockade
Becomes Worse Than Ewer-seat-
tie Men VIII Winter on the Coast
ben Trenaman and Others Build
ing Cabins.

The Skaguay trail over White pass Is
beyond the power OF human effort 10
remedy. Hundreds OF miners at the new
camp on the Alaska shore have given up
ali hope OF getting through this winter.
They are preparing 10 winter at Skaguay.
Dyea and Juneau. Hundreds more are
selling their outfits and preparing 70 re-
turn 10 civilization and warm fresides in
the states.
A few hardy spirits. animated by grim
determination 10 do or die. have remained
on the trail and will camp where their
goods lie till the first freeze comes this
fall. Then they will be able to cross the
boys that make the trail q terror alike
for man and beast, and when snow flies
they hope TO penetrate the Yukon valley
by dog sled.
This is the story brought down from
Skaguay by Harry Frederick, a well
known young business man Of this city.
Mr.. Frederick went to SkagGay August
u for the purpose of ascertaining what.
II any, tndGcement there might he Tor
enc to embark IN business there. He re-
turned home on the steamer Resale,
which left the camp of dishea-tened geld
hunters Monday. arriving here yesterday
morning.
Mr. Frederick gave the names Of the
following Seattle men who are now at
Skaguay. unable 10 cross the summit:
Capt Harry Strive and party. who were
bound for Stewart river; George Noble,
Wesley Young. John r. Wing, George
Allen, the son OF ex-senator John B. Al
len; Dave Boyd. A. j. Madigan, John
Mather. Ben Trenaman. formerly in
structor at the Seattle Athletic Club;
Julius Augustine, Mat Scurry and party,
Frank Boarman, II. S. Turner, J. Evans,
and Mr.. Haddock. The outlook for any
OF these getting over the trail before win
ter sets in Is very dubious, says Mr.. Fred
erick.
The trail had been closed for three DAYS
by the miners. and a soodly number or
them set 10 work blasting out the OBJ
structions that lay in their pathway TO
the gold fields beyond the mountain bar
rier. Others went to work to corduroy
the road where rain and the boys had
made the trail impossible for either men
or animals. A few Of the worst spots
were fixed and then the horde of miners
began to grow impatient for another
trial at the pass. On Monday morning
last the TRAN was opened. AT daybreak
1000 men and as many horses stood
ready to cross over. Some of the first
succeeded in getting a little way. The
first that went over the soft places, where
logs had been laid in an effort to make
II a corduroy road, spoiled the trail and
made it as bad as before. The logs and
timbers slipped quickly out Of place, there
being no foundation 10 the road. Added
blasts on the tops of the mountains.
Horses sank down beneath their burdens
ard died. In a little while the trail was
again blocked and hundreds of angry, des-
perate men turned back. cursing their
fate and the man who built the trail.
'I have gone part way over the TRAN my
SELF said Mr. Frederick yesterday, and
have talked with many who have been 70
the other side. The trail was opened
Monday morning at daybreak. and at noon
a man came down saying that there was
a blockade and that the horses were max
ing the Doggy places as rad "a ever. A
jam resulted and when left the situation
was not the least bit more reassuring than
cat skaguay saw Capt. Harry Strive:
He had lost some of his horses, but had
managed 10 get his goods part way over.
He was back In Skaguay. though, and 1t
was said that he had given up all hope
OF getting through this winter. There
was a rumor that he was coming back here;
John r. Wing and George Allen VII
winter at skaguay. heard them tel
Ben Trenaman that hey had sold their
outfits and were going 20 stop there III
next spring. Trenaman is building him.
live with him. They said they had mace
a little money cut OF the sale OF h IT
goods They expect TO earn something al
Skaguay this winter. Their horses gave
MAI scurry / saw at skaguay a day or
two before the Resale sailed. His party
had not gotten over 9 orge h hi,si,,s.l
| believe I do not know whether ne H.
tends going back or not.
y do not believe. from what l heard tnat
r-cra than City people have crossed the
summit of White pass. Not half have
their goods farther than the arst NIL AZ
the foot OF this is q big CAMP OF tents ana
miners There Is ano her at the beach.
/ was told that on Sheep camp, on the
Dvea or Chfkoot pass, l.51 men were
camped. A few were get ing ever that
way, but very slowly Ine lnalahs Re-
ceive from IS TO 8 cents per pound ior
pacling over the Chiko5t. ] heard that
two big swedes were working there ana
carrying rs pounds each Ihey wee
"a nnnaber Of men are working at pack
ing over the Skaguay tran. 1aey set .
per DAY. Zach can carry aDout SSNehNs-
FIVE pounds four or five mlies ~ dsy
"Cgblns are going up rapidly. People
are getting ready 10 winter at SkagEay
and lumber is In demand. 1 learned
that NJ Lake Lindsrman number OF
miners who could not get their goods over
the pass had secured Work ou!idlnS poats
for lie more fortunate ones. They were
making good wages. ! Was ssr 5 .S.a S'l'' 1''0
Mrs Church. OF this city has a restau-
rant al Skapuay aud is ing good 6usl-
ness. She gets - cents per meal SkSs
uav Is lively enough tor any QUE -
fvgo saloons and dance house sell lots OF
had LIQUOR, aad there appears 10 De PisheS
Of money in clrcdiatloi- , nv, -
y.
I cel,ed a letter from the latter yesterday
+ IN which he speaks Of the loss o. horse
F IN the tran The letter does not give any
( frdisation Of the writer's intention Of seal
ing his OUTFIT and camping at Skaguay un-
III sslrinE breaks The letter was written
on the trail August .. AR Wing IS
anxiously waiting fer further news from
his son.
Judge Strive was some what worried yes
terday on account OF a rumor which
reached thls city that Capt Harry Struye
+ had suffered some injury on the trail. or
was ST. Apparently. the story was with
out foundation. 3tr Frederick reported
that CAPT S,ruve was In excellent health
and as good spirits as could be expected
F from any one who hsd attempted 70 sur
mount the Inaccessible heights of tina
( y ate pass.
The friends q the Seattle men now
stalled az the foot q the pass vii feel a
/ deep interest and concern in their failure
/ - get into The promised land. Il Is held
! that II Capt. Slruve and George Kitln-
( gers parties we're not able 70 &c; through.
/ few OF those now there wia see the
I lakes before next spring. T1e striking
4 feature about the account % the con-
4 ds1on of affairs a. Skaguay. al given ~
/ Nh Frederick IS that tne 6.a13 gold hunt
{ ers AZ the fo0t OF the pass have b-ea IN
/ able 70 cRntraiiEe Ehe!r energies and num-
( haTs on the difficulties that beset me way
( 80 the kio1Glke and remove tAem FOR good
/ ard al.
! ), II HaEer,y. che Associated Press cor
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