The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-13
HE QUIT THE TRAIL.
CAPT. HARRY STRIVE THINKS
sKAGUAY ROUTE INPAssABIE.
Men Wasting Energy, Tine ana
Money In An Effort to Accomplish
an ImpossibiIity Discourage
meat CAUSING Many 60 Turn Back.

Capt. Harry Ssruve one OF the best
known men IL Seattle. VINO went north
morsah or more ago. bound FOR the Yukon.
quiz the trail last Sunday and came down
on the steamer George z. Starr. arriving
a. o'clock yesterday morning. Capt.
Szruve spent thirty days With his parry
ard six horses trying 10 gee over the sum-
init OF the Ssaguay trail Several OF MS
horses were lost over the mountain side,
but he bought others and psrsevered az
what seemed a hopeless task After reaen-
ing the last ford OF the Skaguay river, al
the foot of the summit. he concluded there
was no use IN keeping up the struggle,
and. selling his oxf-flt, came back 20
Skaguay.
Mr.. Strive has . quantity OF provisions
now al Skaguay. cached In a cabin ne
built before leaving. HIS present inten-
sions are 20 make another Try AZ the pass
IN February.
According 20 the account OF the SITUATION
at Skaglay as given by Dir. Struve, there
Is precious little show for any or the Sc
attic men now on the traA. he says tnat
not more than 100 have crossed the sum
mir OF White pass, while the great ma
torlty of those who have lanceu al
Skaguay during tho past two monShs nave
wasted their energies and money IN
frlitless eqadeavor 70 accomplish some
thing that was physically Impossible
People are deserving Skaguay oy the
score Many have gone 90 Dyea and niFed
Ire rnaian nack trains to take them over
the summit Many others have gone 20
Juneau 70 pass the winter, while NUMBERS
are preparing 20 come 10 the Sound 10 wat
tdil snow covers the trail TO the lakes, anu
Skaguay river freezes so that they can
sled il 10 the lakes az the summit
ITS a crime to tempt men 20 go INTO
the Yukon over White pass" said MT
all
at his command Talk about the trail
there Is no trail over White pass Inc
muck and moss, which thinly cover the
rocky pathway across the mountains mas
been worn away by the horses OF the Pan
trains, until Ii is as slippery as zee 'Ae.,
and outfits are strung out along the iran
from Skaguay bay to the summit Many
are camping where they happen TO nave
their goods, powerless 10 move farther.
Others. with the persistence born or oes-
peration, are pushing ahead at snali
pace while those who had enough money
left TO pay the Indian packers az the Shli-
koot pass have gone IN that way III tiie
hope of reaching the lakes before winter
sets In.
Not 10 exceed 100 men and outfits have
gotten TO Lake Bennett by the Skaguay
trail while fully 1000 have gotten over the
Chilkoot pass They have paid well Tor IL.
There is absolutely no show Whatever TOT
a poor man 10 get into the Yukon this ran
by the overland route. man must De
prepared to spend money like a prince. II
he expects to set eyes on Dawson city be-
fore the river freezes this winter"
In a general way Mr.. Struve describes
the trail much as did George b. kittinger
and many others who have been over II
and who have returned to Seattle. MT.
Struve says positively that II has not been
materially bettered; that men have work.
~ ha plaPpG
blasting has been done from time TO time.
but TO no lasting advantage. Said he: ut
would take nearly half million dollars 10
put the Skaguay trail IN condition for
travel over It."
Marshall Bonds party are over the sum-
NIT and going down the chain OF lakes TO
Lake Bennett They had abandoned the
trail. after passing the summit. and de-
pended on making the portages between
the small lakes, which form a chain TO
Lake Bennett. They have eighteen pack
ers employed az s. per day each and board.
Another of the passengers on the Starr
said that II Bond gets through TO Dawson
City before winter closes navigation on the
Yukon, II will be only at an expense OF
$4,000
From the statements made by other pas
sengers on the Starr and from those on
the City OF Seattle II Is evident that those
who are lucky or persevering enough 10
EeI 10 the fukpO from pNtd oAdSudy
are going In very light. The great major
ity have discarded all OF their outfits, save
about 600 pounds on an average, includ-
ing clothing. OF course, this amount OF
food win not keep them long. and = Il is
feared that many OF the newcomers into
the Klondike Will suffer from the food
famine that seems destined TO transform
the golden E1dorado Of the north Into
stravation-stricken India
Capt Strive tells Of many Seattle men
who are disheartened and have about de-
termined to quit the trail Falcon Joslyn
was one OF these. Capt. Hogie's party was
on the summit with fairly good prospects
OF getting through.
Those who have gone over the Chiikoot
pass snd the few who make the ascent over
White pass will have great trouble IN
curing boats 10 take them from the lakes
down the Yukon" said Mr.. Struve. '"The
boat builders are completely swauped
with orders T. costs $500 to get any kind
OF a craft, and then the chances are against
you"
Tom Nelly. formerly a White river val
ley rancher, was reported as having ar
rived at Dyea from Dawson City two days
before the City Of Seattle left for this
city. He was accompanied by another man
and they poled up .he river from the
klcndike, making the trip In twenty nine
days. They brought out very little gold.
Scarcity OF food compelled them to leave
the mines.
Jack Madigan. John Mather and j. A
jackson, who were IN the Strive party.
are still on the trall and have not given
e