The record-union., 1897-09-16
THE STEAMSHIP
EXCELSIOR ARRIVES.
Brings Back a Million Dollars in
Treasure From KIOndike.
Many Passengers Who Return With Modest
Fortunes.
Stories of an Impending Famine at
Dawson City Confirmed At
Least Seven Thousand People
Already There and More Conn
ing in Every Day.

ing III Livery lay
SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 15.-The
Alaska Commercial Company's steamer
Excelsior, which sailed from St. Mi
chaels, Alaska, on August 18th last, but
was compelled to put into Unalaska for
repairs on account of an accident to her
propeller While at sea, arrived in port
to-day with sixtythree passengers and
aobut 81 100000 worth of treasure. 1t
was at first reported that she brought
down S2500,000 worth of gold dust, but
this proved upon investigation to have
been greatly exaggerated.
The Alaska Commercial Company
alone had on board about 100000
worth of gold dust and nuggets. While
the passengers, as a rule, were very ret
icent as to their wealth. the following
is list of those who brought down S10,-
900 or more: Ben Void, S60,00O; A. Har-
per, $50, 600; Mike Knatzen, 1000; A.
Andrews. $4,000; Fl. Summers, 500
000; Hank Petersen, $35 900; Will Hays,
$50, 600; F. Densmore, $4,000; ]. Nc
Questin, $50 000 Charles Raimson, $780,
900; John Horn, SO, 600; O. Rapp, $40,
coo; w. a. Sherman, $4,000; E. P. Leg
gett, 81, 200; II. Schafer, $4,000.
At least twenty-five more brought
from $4,000 to $4,000 each.
The miners assigned as their reason
for their reticence that in their opin-
ion too much had already been said
about the country, and that too many
We're going into it unprepared on that
account Frank Dinsmore and A. An
drews are reported to have made at
least $4,000 each during their resi-
dence in the Klondike region, but both
decline to deny or affirm this report.
DinsmOre, who has spent sixteen years
in the Yukon country, says this is his
first return to civilization in eleven
years. He and his comapions are unan-
imously of the opinion that the rush is
unprecedented. and none of the trading
companies being prepared to meet it,
they predict great hardships for all who
stay there during the coming winter.
They confirm the stories already pub
lished of the scarcity of provisions, and
add their notes of warning to intending
prospectors to stay away until spring.
All unite in confirming the stories al
ready told of the impending danger of
famine at Dawson City during the
coming winter; they say that there are
at least 1000 people now at Dawson
City, and that more are swarming in
every day, but that the provisions are
already running short and the pros
poets of getting more in are very re-
mote.
The Excelsior's passengers are unan-
imous in the poinion that the Klondike
region is richer than was at first sup
posed, but are also of the opinion that
unless the exodus to that country is
stopped. temporarily, there will be ter
rible suffering.
Louis Sloss., Jr., of the Alaska Com
mercial Company, was one of the pas
sengers on the Excelsior. He went to
Dawson City for the company and re-
ports that all the good claims are taken
UP.
There is TO show for the newcomers
unless a rich strike is made on some
other section. Mr.. Sloss saws that his
company's store at Dawson was closed
for but one day to receive freight from
a, river steamer. He thinks that pro-
visions will be scarce, but hesitates
to say that there will be actual star
walton.
There are about 300 impatient miners
at st. Michaels, most of whom will have
to stay until spring unless they have
already secured passage on the river
boats. There are plenty of provisions
at st. Michaels and every effort is be-
ing made to get supplies up the river
to Dawson. 1t is difficult to say how
much gold was brought down by the Ex-
celsior. The miners are secretive. and
will give no accurate information. Some
of them, it is known, did not bring
much, and will be glad to work down
here.
The Alaska Commercial Company
received a large consignment of treas
ure. but will not say exactly how
much. When asked as to the amount
Mr.. Sloss said: I'VE brought more
than came down on the Portland. and
we did not need Maxim guna or a rev.
enue cutter to protect it,
When the vessel left st. NIichaels the
steamship Humboldts crowd was
camped on the flats. They were a very
disappointed lot, for none of them Will
get through The story that the pas
sengers held an Indignation meeting
and were going to lynch ex-Mayor
Woods of Seattle is denied. The Hum
boldt's passengers We're very much put
ont at the ptOI SiiON lOf StllttS " t1AG
Kloneike, but they had made up their
minds to make the best of the situation
and hold down" the flats until next
spring, when the water is high in the
Yukon.
River pilots reported water very low
in the river some time before the Weare
sailed from Dawson, but some weeks
after thai the water rose a little and
the early rains swelled the torrents con-
siderably However. the water was
still at what is called the 'low stage
which means that the Hamilton, Bella
and other steamers viii be delayed on
their trips up stream. because of the
necessity of going ahead slowly. pick
ing their way over the bars and through
new channels.
Passengers brought word that there
are from 5000 to 1000 people in DAVIS n
and near there, but the Alaska Com
mercial Company's agents estimated
that there are only about 5000 people
at the mines. abuot 1000 Of whom have
arrived at the town since last April
from all parts of Alaska. and about 800
from Juneau, Puget Sound and other
places.
GLAD TO GET BACK.
PORT TOWNSEND CWash.), Sept
15-Tba schooner VoIante Cantain II