The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-09-24
HE SOUGHT REFUGE HERE FROM george ONNN THE WRONG STEAMSHIP THE FIRST STEP TAKEN JOHN CLAIMS THE OPIUM
WRITES THE STAR ABOUT THE
KLONDIKE.
Has Left Seattle for Dease Lake
Where He will Winter-Speaks of
the Famine and Distress.


George W. Otterson. formerly super
intendent of the Government wash
houses at Iwilei, and popular in the
military circles, who has gone to the
Klondike, has written The Star from
Seattle. Mr.. Otterson will send his
correspondence until he reaches the
Klondike gold fields, if successful.
! In his letter which came by the
Warrimoo today, he says:
We leave here on the steamer To-
peka bound for Fort Wrangle, Alas
| ka. tomorrow at a. m. Fort Wrangle
is 200 miles south of Dyea and IA much
easier route, but a little longer, and
there is not such a rush for that place
now, but thousands will be going in
there in the spring. This route is by
way of Stikine river. from Fort Wran-
gle to Glenora. at the head of steam
navigation, a distance of about 120
miles.
The British Government constructed
good trail from this point to Dease
lake. distance of about rs miles, in
the year 1884. This trail is open all
winter and we have no fear of not get
ting through all right. | intend to
stop at Dease lake for the winter. 1t
has been very rich gold producing
place and there is no doubt that it is
very rich territory. 1t is 500 miles
from the great Klondille find. l do
not intend to go to Klondike this win
ter. as there are so many already there
that they are sure to have trouble and
famine before the winter is half over.
Large numbers of people are return
| ing on account of the scarcity of pro-
visions and report that there is not
enough food there now to feed one
sixth of the people who have gone in.
At Dawson City the hard times have
already begun. Gold is in plenty but
no food. There are lot of miners
returning by every steamer with small
fortunes that the newspapers and the
public do not hear of as they keep it
SHADY" on account of so many rob-
berries and hold ups that have been
reported.
In conversation with the first mate
of the steamer George f. Star he said
that year or more ago he had big,
good natured Swede working for him,
who in spite of his immense strength
was absolutely worthless. The fellow
had the Alaska fever and for some
time deprived himself of everything
possible that he might go to Yukon.
One day the fellow approached him
and said: "Vell, Charley, I tink |
quit" "Why. Ole?" said the mate,
whats the matter?" "Vell, tink |
! 60 to Alaska"
"Well, go, you crazy fool" said the
mate, "and don't come back. That's
| just the place for you"
The incident passed from his mind
not to be recalled until the other day
when red headed man approached
him and said:
Hello, Charley; tink you don't
know me now, do you?'
Charley looked at him, but failed to
recognize him until the fellow said:
IL vas de Swede man vot worked for
you year and half ago, and quit to
go to Alaska"
"Oh, yes." said the mate. 81 know
you now. What did you do up there,
Ole?"
"Vell, make few dollars" said
Ole.
"Yes; how much did you make?"
"Vell," said the innocent looking
Swede, 81 took out about sixty or sew
enty tousand dollar"
GEORGE w. OTTERSON.
There is also enclosed in Mr. Otter
son, a letter from Mrs. Otterson S
brother, who is going over the Ska
quay trail. He writes from Sllaguay
on August 2S and states that good
deal of their stuff is now over the
trail. 1t is getting impossible for hor-
ses to go over the trail with safety,
and a good many dead ones are lying
on the road. Some have gone over the
sides of the mountain while others
have been caught between the rocks,
broken their legs and had to he shot
There are several thousand people
at Skaguay and hundreds of them are
selling out to go back to the States
There is very little order there and
stealing is going on by the wholesale
Mr.. Davidson of Seattle lost $1,400 in
gold. The greatest theft is in provi-
sions. Flour is worth $35 sack, and
it is predicted that someone will be
killed for it yet.
The New York World is furnishing
powder and tools to fix the trail. II
costs 81 for each letter mailed the 9th
er side of the summit.
| CDNJITC' MINCTpET =