The record-union., 1897-08-12
A Large Number Who Started for
the Klondike Region
Will Return Without Going Further Than
Dyea or Skaguay.
Old Prospectors Apprehensive Of
Famine on Account of So Many
People Rushing to the Gold
Fields Without Provisions to
Last Them Two Months.

SEAI1LE (WaSh.)s Aug. 11.-Ile
steamer Rosalie arrived this morning
from Dyea, and from the statements
of passengers it seems probable that
large number of people who started for
the Yukon will return without having
gone further than Dyea or Skaguay. 1t
is reported on good authority that out
fits are being sold for almost nothing
and the disgusted KIondikers are ar
ranging to some home as fast as pos
sible.
Several were passengers on the Ill
fated Mexico, and some twenty or thir-
ty men have returned to Juneau. Be-
tween $500 and 5000 miners are now
encamped at Dyea- They have organ
lied to keep down the packing rates
and are doing everything possible to
get over the pass.
The rate of 20 cents per pound from
Dyea to the head of Lake Bennett has
been decided on by the miners organi-
zation, and no one is allowed to pay
more.
This step was made necessary owing
to the fact that men with money Were
on the ground and offering as hlgn as
30 cents per pound in some cases 10
get their goods across. A poor man
was left behind and something had to
be done.
MANY NOT LIKELY TO REACH
KLONDIKE.
DYFA (Alaska), Aug. f. via Seattle,
Wash) Aug. 1.-THE British steamers
Islander and Gees have arrived with
about 500 prospectors, which increases
the number to fully 1900. Late re-
ports have come in to the effect that
the Skaguay route is open to the lakes
and that it is about forty-five mics
longer. 1t is of a zigzag course over the
mountains and the road is very so1t-
There are some 200 or 300 head OF
horses on the trail, and they Will soon
tramp the, road into a deplorable con-
dition.
The probability of one man in ten
reaching the Klondike, is remote Old
Alaska prospectors, some of whom have
wintered in the Yukon and know what
to expect, are becoming frightened and
are turning back. Not that they fear
the hardships, but that they are appre-
hensive of famine on account of so
many men rushing headlong to the
mines, without enough provisions to
last them two months.
The best evidence that those upon
the ground regard the situation with
more or less alarm, is the fact that
many are paying 20 cents per pound to
have freight packed across Dyea Pass.
This is an increase of 3 cents per pound
since the sailing of the Al-Ki at which
time 16 and II cents were charged.
Twenty cents is the regular rate over
the Dyea or Chilkoot Pass route.
This increase and exorbitant charge
IS due to the scarcity of horses. With
out pack animals of some description
it appears to be next to impossible at
this season to get freight and outfits
across the divide.
CLAIMS BRING GOOD PRICES.
TACOMA. Aug. I'D. H. Laughlin
writes from Dawson, Alaska, under
date of June 18th, that six hundred
claims is the creeks are selling at prices
ranging from $4,000 to S150,0O0 each
There are about 1:50 claims that are
good on these two creeks. A miner
bought a claim in February for S4a000
on the instaIlment plan, and was 10
make the last payment July 1st, hut
did not need so Inucn time, for he PAID
the last the day we arrived. He has
4SO feet of ground left, and surplus
of $4,000. The pay streak is from
forty to eighty feet wide, and the pay
is in and on the bed rcck.
These are no drift diggings, and nave
to be worked in the winter. The ground
is frozen from fifteen to thirty feet
deep.
Times will be quiet here until about
October 1st, when there will be work
for 4 900 or 5000 men. There is 4
small sawmflI here, and lumber is worth
$130 per thousand.
The camp was not started until last
August. and ii is estimated that the
output is about -, 300,G GOO to date, and