New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-26
DESTRUCTION or SHEEP CAMP.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE DISASTROUS
LANDSLIDE IN WHITE PASS.

por. Townsend Wash Sept %-The tug Pioneer.
Captain Nelson. arrived here yesterday morning
direct from Skaguay with the news OF the lana
glacier slide on the Dyea trail last Saturday which
accompanied by the less Of the lives OF several
people. the exact number no; being known
Eighteen In ALL seventeen and one woman.
reported missing
The accident is described by some as snow
slide. by others as landslide and by others as
the tearing loose by the rains OF huge glacier
that overhung Sheep Camp and the trail Inc
news reached Skaguay Sunday evening. and the
Pioneer left there at oclocl; Monday morning.
William Sprague. brother Of Captain Spraeue' Oh
the tug Sea Lion, was passenger on the Pioneer
and he tells the following story Of the destructive
slide:
Il heard the news OF the slide on Sunday even
ing from a woman who claimed 10 have witnessed
H. The accident was caused by the rain. During
the first part Of the week II was cold ana ice hau
formed all around on Thursday change came
and Thursday night and Friday morning 'hefe
was d warm rain accompanied By CHINOOK
wind which thawed everything The rain came
down in torrents the worst storm of the year TOT
that section. and continued ell Friday and Satur-
day forenoon About noon Saturday The shde
came striking the Dyea trail at Sheep Camp ana
carrying all in its path.
sheep Camp literally wiped out OF ex-
istence. Fortunately there were no' many people
there Each one left his outh; and bag behind and
fed for life. Some were caught In the deiuge.
Just how many may never be known but eighteen
were missing altogether. Two OF them were
man and his wife named Crockett. believe. VINO
were running restaurant at Sheep Camp ON!
one body has been found. 1t was that OF Choyh-
ski a cousin OF the prize-fghter. he was iouno d
quarter OF a mile from where he had been camped
on the trail and wac in terrible condition when
discovered His body. which was bruised ana
mangled in horrible condition. ont ne was
not dead He suffered agony and died WITH
in short time after being found -Four OF
Ave other missing men were Indian packers ana
one Of them is reported TO have had A"V on hi'
and was lust starting out for Dyea when the slide
came There is great excitement along the ua
and at Dyea and Skaguay over the report OF the
big slide and 1t was reported that fty persons mao
been killed but the facts are as have stated 'hem
already
Charles Finn assistant engineer OF the pioneer
confirms the story. Finn believes that one OF the
glaciers which to be seen hanging along me ,e
mountain sides was washed out oy me nea t,s, he
fore reaching the trail and sheep Camp this
glacier through the lake at me 1907 III
the glacier and numerous powders as they
crashed along through sheep amp Finn Is G.
in the slide He says there is consternation at
Dyea and skaguay over the report OF me acc,Hehi
across this year Il was told that the Skaguay
trail vas literally obliicrated, and there was no
Charles Tinsiey. chief engineer of the Pioneer
talked with an Indian who witnessed the avalanche
Captain Nelson Of the Pioneer describes the rain
ever Witnessed. II came down In torrents and
there was foaming mass OF water pouring o0wn
being four feet deep, where a few weeks ago the
ground hard as floor captain Nensoh
NV the Storm Of last week and is now being
abandoned by every one there