The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-26
IN A GLACIERS WAKE.
Authentic Report Of the Destruction
of Sheep Camp.
CHoYNSKl THE ONLY ONE KILLED.
The Associated Press Correspondent
Gives n Graphic Account of the
Destruction In Alaska.

Victoria. B. c., September 25.-The
steamer City Of Seattle arrived from
Skagaway at noon bringing the following
special to the Associated Press;
Finnegan's Point, on Chllcoot Trail, Sep
TENDER o--Shsep Camp, nine miles above
here, was nearly wiped off the face OF the
earth yesterday by q section OF glacier
breaking loose from the main body, whicn
crashed down the canon for two and half
miles, carrying death and destruction In
its wake The first report to get out was
that not less than seven men had been
killed and dozens MANNED and hurt. Later
reports. confirmed by a hundred witnesses,
brought the certain death loss down to one,
a man named Choynsk Of San Francisco,
said to be a cousin of the pugilist of the
same name. Several were hurt somewhat,
but none fatally. There may be other
deaths, but SO Tar no other bodies can be
found. The loss of supplies will reach
S25. 900. Many have lost all their sup
plies.
The glacier from which the slide started
is two and half miles above Sheep Camp.
1t was loosened by the warm weather and
heavy rains. 1t was over 100 feet in
height and twenty five feet in width.
When 1t started it made noise as OF a
thousand cannon and the startled inmates
OF the tents sprang to their feet in all
stages OF undress lt was raining at the
time and for that reason many were yet
In bad and rushed outside to see what
was the matter. One glance up the canon
was enough. Some rushed into their tents
to get their most valuable things, while
others took to the foothills without any
thing, over boulders and large rocks, which
at any other time they could not have gone
over at all.
Choynski was camped with some com
panions at this place and did not get out
Of his tent until the flood of water had
struck 1t. He grabbed tent rope and was
carried by the flood to the length OF his
rope and the water thrashed him up and
down until finally he was torn loose and
dashed along by the raging torrent and
beaten against rocks and boulders until
life was almost extinct. Some one finally
caught his body and brought it ashore.
| Rough but tender hands held him until
| life was extinct. He was only able to num-
bic his name before he died. There were
fully 1000 camped there yesterday.
| George c. Marks of San Francisco, who
came 10 Sheep Camp few days ago to buy
outfits of those who were discouraged or
broken, had $4,000 In belt under his bed.
He lost his money but after hard strug-
gle in the mad waters his life was saved.
Tents, goods and provisions of all kinds are
| buried for mile from the head of Sheep
Camp down to the canyon. Fosty tents, &C.
cupied by probably over 100 persons, are
buried in the ruins. All is confusion. Many
discouraged, disheartened pilgrims have
come down today, intending to take the
| first steamer for home. Some of them have
not dollar to their names. still others
have their money. One man lost $500,
which was found by digging where his
tent had gone down. The log house. which
had been built here up on the slope was
left standing. The trail will be passable
for horses again in few days.
| There are hundreds Of discouraged men
tonight at Sheep Camp. They know not
what to do. The course OF the avalanGIe
was not over 200 feet wide in any place
and only those who had not selected ordi-
nary precaution for camping were in
jured, but many who were camping only
| temporarily lost their all.
| 7 w Hnrertv