The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-27
MINERS WILL STARVE
Lindsay Says There's Not Food
Enough at Dawson.
NOT MUCH AT FORT YUKON
The Mounted Police Stopped a Plan to
Divide the Provisions at Dawson
City-The Output of the Mines
Curtailed This Winter.

Skaguay, via Seattle, Wash, Dec. 20.
John Lindsay of Olympia, Wash, who
has Just arrived here from Dawson
CiIy, says that there will surely be
starvation there this winter. He ex-
amined into the food situation in a
thorough manner. he says, and after
satisfying himself that there would be
starvation, he sold HIS outfit and in
company with Frank Ballaine of Olym-
pia. Tom Story of Victoria. b. c., and
Bob GlYnn of Seattle, started out on
foot, eacn man drawing sled carrying
about lao pounds of provisions. Lind
say says the Dawson people believe
that there Is no great amount OF food at
Fort Yukon, as has been alleged. The
river arose sufficiently AMI remained
open long enough 70 enable food sup
plies to have been brought from Fort
Yukon, had there been any there. The
people of Dawson, believing mat there
were not ample food supplies at Fort
Yukon, refused to go there, prrferring
to remain in Dawson. Not more than
800 or 400 people took advantage or the
transportation company's offcr to take
the people to Fort Yukon free of
charge.
When the miners at Dawson found
that no more provisions would reach
the town by the river route. they an
nounced that meeting would be held
| to take steps for apportioning the pro-
visions in the town. Those that had
| plenty, they said. must snare with
! those who had none. Captain Constan-
| tine, of the Northwest mounted police.
interfered. and told the miners that no
such thing would be permitted. The
| meeting was not held.
Lindsay says the output of the mines
will be greatly curtaiied this winter be-
cause OF the scarcity of food and light.
| Coal oil sold for $45 gallon aud can
dies as high as $3.50 per box OF ]OO.
| Even IL men were able to work their
claims they cannot get light TO do so.
These statements are borne out by all
returning klondykers, quite number
| of whom have reached mere tne past
week. Few of them. however, take as
| gloomy view of the situation as does
Mr.. Lindsay. DIR. Il. l.. Bradley Of
| Roseburg, oregon. says that food Is
| scarce, but he uoes not think that there
will be actual starvation. Neither 10
w. b. King of Merced. cal. +. J. Hoi-
land of Butte. Thomas Story OF Nicto-
ria, or Robert Glynn Of seattle, all ~
whom reached here this week drec.
from Dawson. the most Of them having
left there on Nov. 2. As an Instance ~
the scarcity Of food AT Dawson, Lind
say relates the case of DIR. Van SAINTS,
formerly of Spokane, Wash. Van SAINTS
is an elderly man, ana being without
provisions or money ne onered A gold
watch for q sack of flour He could not
get it, and he remarked to Lindsay:
God only knows how | am to Keep
body and soul together"
Lindsay says 200 or more miners are
prospecting at the mouth OF Stewart
river but as yet nothing Is known as
to what success they have achieved.
Henderson creek. five miles below Stew
art river, and 40 miles from Dawson, is
a promising stream. and it is being de-
veloped this winter.
The weather about the Stewart and
Big Salmon rivers has been bitterly
cold. 20 degrees below zero being re-
corded at Major Walsh's camp. II miles
below the Big Salmon on Nov. II.
The Yukon river between Dawson
and Fort Pelly froze completely over
Nov - The river Is piled full OF ice
in great ridges as high as an ordinary
house and a roadway Will have to bt
cut through IL before dog or horse
teams can operate upon II. The out
look, therefore, for taking supplies
down to Dawson in the immediate tu
ture is not good. Inspector of Mines
McGregor left here week ago win {
. number of dog teams and horses T.
> | make the attempt to reitcn Dawson
| with .about 20 tons of provisions, bu
, | nothing has since been neafi u him.