The age-herald., 1897-09-08
NOTE OF WARNING
 BY ONE WHO KNOWS Death Only Awaits Late Travellers on the
 Road. TOO MANY NOW EN ROUTE To the Land Of Tabled Wealth and Almost
To the Land Of Tabled Wealth and Almost
 UlC0aSils Winter.
HUNDREDS ARE ALREADY BLOCKED
And Will Have to Abandon Hope of Reaching KIondyke Where Riches Are Said to Be Awaiting Brave Adyenturefs-
 Pause and Consider.

Washington. Sept. 7.--The treasury de- partment today made public the fol- lowing letter received from govern ment official now at Dyea on the way ito the gold fields, staaing at the same tirne that the writer, whose name is withheld, has been twelve years in the service, and was thoroughly reliable:
 Dyea, Aug. 22.-d deem it my duty to write you on a subject that does not come directly within my line of duty, as it trenches somewhat upon the func- tions of Ihe treasury dspartmsnt I have had a lcmg talk with Mr. Ivey, collector of customs for Alaska, who is stationed at Skaguay, 300 miles below here. The Skaguay trail is mostly overland to the Klondyke MT. Ivey dnforms me that be- tween lidewater and Lake Bennett there are something like 4,000 people and 1000 horses. The commander of one of the vessels now at Skaguay states that six teen vessels are chartered to land car goes at that place between now and lhe I0ln Ol boepbShhDSiJ dH'0 paA@1 etN~ %@N----N- of passengers will average 200 to each vessel, making 3,2OO more people who will attempt to go in this fall. l 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 be- fore uhe winter sets in. The other 50 per cent. will be caught on the trail, and those who survive to get back on the Underwater will have to winter at Ska guay or return south. If the rush con- tinues two months longer hundreds will inevitably perish on the trail, which is extremely dangerous after the 1st of Oc- tober.
 The postmaster and Indian trader at this place, NIr. Heron, states that more than one thousand men have gone up the Chilkoot pass during the past thir- ty days and that 700 of them are still this side of the lake. Vessels are ar irving every day or two and at the pres ent rate of influx another thousand will ether the trail by September 19.
 MT. Heron Is of the opinion that not more than 10 out of 100 will get through, and he says this trail is far more dan gerous than the Skagua when the snow sets in. He says the suffering and loss of life will be appalling. I attach the greatest weight to what he says for the reason that 1t Is to his pecuniary in terest to have as many as possible come this way, yet he advises an immediate stoppage of the stampede. It is diff- cult to suggest way to stop this in- rush of people. MT. Ivey tntimates that if the inspection rules of the treasury department were properly inforced it would materially decrease the number of psrsons landing. Nearly every ves- sel arriving here brings as many pas sengers as the law allows 1t to carry and many of them are condemned craft which have been fitted up for this trade.
 Mir. Ivey will, no doubt, at once pre- sent tha facts outlined above to the proper authorities and I merely give them to you for your Information.
 The situation is alarming and it is impossible for adequate description of rtfse mad rush to the gold fields. I have tallxed with several men who have re- gently arrived from the Klondyke, two of whom left there thirty days ago. They unanimously agree that while there is rich gold field there, the facts do not justify the present excitement, and they say there is bound to be much suffering and actual starvation. Pro- visions are already scarce, and prices of many articles are absolutely prohibitory to a man of small means. My usual good luck has attended me qlere.
 MT. Hernon the postmaster, is an o'd Montana friend and he has made it pos sible for me to go forward by Indian carriers at th+ prevailing rate of 37 cents per pound, taking precedence over hundreds. many of whom have been here two or three weeks, awaiting thei, turn, as he assures me they can make il easy for me at tine lake to secure a boat. The mail facilities are very bad fere, but the postoff1ce department has
 Dapv0 Is the basis of good health,
 NsS steady nerves, mental.