Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-09-02
NEWSFROM KLONDIKE
THE STEAMER PORTLAND
PORT AT SEATTLE.
thirteen Lucky Miners Come Down
There Is Great Danger OF q Famine
This Winter on Account of Lack Of
Food Another Warning Sounded.

treasure steamer Portland arrived
here at o'clock yesterday morning.
She brought back miners from the
Klondyke, but not so very much Klon-
dyke treasure. She carried thirteen
miners, each of whom brought only
small portion Of his stake. The total
amount Of dust on the vessel is per-
haps S175,OOO
The miners on board, with the
amount of their total mining profits,
parts Of which were brought with
them, are as follows: ]. Rowan, $780,
900; Jim Bell, S45, 900; Joe Goldsmith,
$4,000; N W. Powers, S35, GOO; w. W.
Caldwell, $35, 900; w. Oler, $50, 900; G
K. lilly, S25, 900; F. W. Cobb, S25, 900;
w. zahn, $4,000; A. Buckley, $40, 900;
G. s. Lansing, $4,000; B. w. Farm
ham, $40, 900; NJ. R. Camler, SIS, 200.
H. N. Stanley, who went to ST. MI.
chaers for the Associated Press, re-
turned on the Portland. He says:
II have been seven weeks ut the
mouth of the Yukon, at st. Michael's,
where 1 saw all the miners coming
out and interviewed them AS o re-
suit, feel it my duty to advise every
body to stay out until next spring.
Wild, and in many cases, exaggerated
reports have been circulated since the
first discoveries were made. The
strike, however, was, and is, one of
the greatest, if not the greatest, in
the worlds history. Probably SO, QO0,-
600 was cleaned up this spring, and
next spring look for from SIS, 900, 900
to S7,00O,nO0 The fields have hardly
been opened up as yet, but those going
on now must bear in mind that every
IL ng in that region was staked long
b re any reports reached the outer
W ID, and that those going in now
must prospect for themselves, buy
claims from the present owners or
work for the owners.
People Living In Tents.
Gas to shelter, 80 per cent of Daw-
son was living in tents in July, labor
is scarce and houses cannot be built.
How are 1000 people to Withstand the
rigors of a nine months winter of
semi-darkness, when the mercury goes
20 degrees below zero?
''As to labor: It is true that last
winter, the winter succeeding the
great strike, men were scarce and
wages were SIS a day; but if no new
strike is made, what is to keep wages
up this winter? There are about $40
claims on Bonanza, Eldorado and
bunker creeks that will probably be
worked this winter. An average of
eight men to each is, l think, liberal1
If but s,7OO men are employed, and
there are 5000 or more seeking work,
what must be the result? Wages must
go down.
II am told that much grub has
gone over the divide, yet from what I
know I would wager my last dollar
that not to exceed 500 tons of supplies
over and above what the carriers ate
will reach the diggings No man going
in can arrive with more than four
months supply.
81 am told that there is plenty at
ST. Michaela So there may be, but
after September Is it might as we'll be
in New York city, for to try to trans
port it by dog train or sled over that
1000 miles of icy river is absolutely
impossible. There is not, nor will
there ever be, dog train that can
take enough in to feed itself over 1900
miles Relief is, therefore, impossible.
Transporting over the divide in the
winter would be quite as difficult
No Way to Send Relief
!"To draw provisions for the trip
from Dyea to Dawson any time before
the spring breaks up is an impossi-
bility. Relief for those caught in the
Klondike after winter sets in is equally
impossible, and in the name of hui
manity 1 ask that stop be put to
this wholesale transportation of peo-
Pile without supplies Let no mNn he
allowed to enter that region unless he
carries with him enough food and
clothing to last him a year.
There are women and little chill
dren in there to-day who should be
sent out as far as st. Michael's before
navigation closes. hear much of the
boats that are building to go up the
river, but aside from one steamer
ready on August IL, no new boat can
be added to the carrying corps this
fall
Supplies Scarce at Dawson.
II am aware that there is a popular
impression that supplies can be bought
in sthe vicinity of the mines. They
may at present buy at six times
Seattle prices, but they are taken at
even those prices faster than they can
be got in, and before winter is half
over if even the present population
stays in, there will be actual starva-
ton.
"'Grub' was completely cleaned out
this spring, and IL last winter there
was such a scarcity that moose hams
sold for $50 each, -four at $3.50 a hum
dred, bacon at 81 pound, what will
not happen this coming winter2 Why,
will not people actually starve to
death?
holy War In Prospect
PARIS, Aug. 30.-The Memorial d.
plom atique asserts that the ameer Of
lAfghanistan has ordered the faithful
Iko hold themselvea In readiness for n