Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-09-11
KLONDIKES DANGERS.
Another Official Warning Sent Out
From Washington.
THE SITUATION Is APPALLING.

According TO the Letter or "a Govern
Rush For the Gold Fields should BE
stopped at Once
Washington. Sept. S.-The treasury
department today made public the fol-
lowing letter received from a govern
ment official now in Alaska on the way
to the gold fields. stating at the same
time that the writer, whose name is
withheld. had been - years in the
service and was thoroughly reliable:
Il deem IT my duty to write you on
a subject that does not come strictly
within my line Of duty, as 1t trenches
somewhat upon the functions OF the
treasury department. 1 have had a
long talk with Mr.. Ivey. collector OF
customs for Alaska. who is at present
at Skaguay. three miles below here.
The Skaguay trail is the most largely
used overland route (though by no
means the best) to the Klondike. Ivey
informs me that there are now be-
tween tidewater and the lake some
thing like 1000 people and about 1000
horses. The commander Of one OF the
vessels now at Skaguay states that
l6 vessels are chartered to land car
goes at that place between now and
Sept. Is, and that the number Of pas
sengers will average 200 to each YES
sci, making $500 more people who viii
attempt to go in this fall.
Il have talked with some OF the most
experienced traders and miners in this
vicinity. and they are unanimous in
the prediction that not over 20 per
cent of this vast number will get
through to Dawson before winter sets
In The other so per cent will be caught
on the trail, and those who survive and
get back to tidewater will have to win
ter at Skaguay or return south. II
the rush continues two weeks longer
hundreds win inevitably perish on the
trail, which is extremely dangerous
after the first of October
The postmaster and Indian trader at
this place (Mr. Heron) states that more
than thousand men have gone up the
Chilcoot Pass during the past 80 days,
and that 200 of them are still this side
Of the lake GA miles from here). Yes
sells are arriving every day or two, and
at the present rate of influx another
thousand will enter the trail by Sept.
10. Mr.. Heron is OF the opinion that
not more than 20 out Of a hundred viii
get through, and he says this trail is
far more dangerous than the Slxsguay
after the SHOWS set in. He says il the
rush continues another week the re-
sultant loss of life will be appalling.
1 attach the greatest weight to what
he says, for the reason that It Is to
his pecuniary interest to have as many
as possible come this way, yet he ad-
vises an immediate stoppage Of the
stampede.
"It is difficult to suggest a way to
stop this thrush of people, but Mr.. Ivey
intimates that IL the inspection rules OF
the treasury department We're properly
enforced It would materially decrease
the number of passengers on the in
coming vessels Nearly every vessel
that arrives here brings twice as many
passengers as the law allows II to
i carry, and many of them are condemn
| ed craft which have been fitted up for
this trade. Mr.. Ivey will no doubt at
once present the facts outlined above
to the proper authorities. and I merely
give them TO you for your information.
The situation is appalling. and IL Is i'm
possible for me adequately TO describe
the mad rush for the gold fields. I had
no conception Of it's immensely until ]
saw.
IT have talked with several men who
have recently arrived here from the
Klondike, two of whom left there less
than 80 days ago. They unanimously
agree that, while there is a rich gold
| field there. the facts do not not justify
the present stampede. and they say
there Ia bound TO be much suffering and
actual starvation. Provisions are al
ready scarce and the prices OF many
articles absolutely prohibitory In the
case OF a man OF ordinary means"