The record-union., 1897-09-26
The AVALANCHE
At sheep CAMP.
Was Not Nearly So Bad as at First
Reported.
Only One Man, Named ChOynSki, Known to
Have Met With Death.
The Loss of Supplies, However, is
Estimated at Twenty-Five Thou
sand Dollars, Many of Those
Who Were Camped on the Trail
Having Lost Their All.

VICTORIA B. c., Sept. 25.-The
steamer City of Seattle arrived from
Skaguay at noon bringing the follow
ing specials to the Associated Press:
"FINNEGAN'S POINT Con Chilcoot
TratD, Sept. 20.-Sheep Camp, nine
miles above here, was nearly wiped
off the face of the earth yesterday
morning by a section of glacier
breaking loose from the main body,
which came crashing down the canyon
for two and q half miles, carrying
death and destruction in its wake. The
first reports that were brought down
last night by men who had braved per-
lis of flood and precipice to get out,
was not less than seven killed and
dozens manned and hurt, as well as
thousands of dollars worth of prop
erty and provisions destroyed But
later reports, confirmed by a hundred
witnesses, has brought the certain
death loss down to one, a man named
Choyinsk of San Francisco, said to
be a cousin Of the pugilist of the same
name. Several were hurt somewhat,
but zone fatally. There may be other
deaths, but SO far no other bodies can
be found though the loss of supplies
will reach $50, 900. Many have lost
their all, after toiling for weary days
to get them that far on the way, and
many professional packers that have
been working for weeks and months,
working as men never worked before,
lost their earnings in the twinkling of
an eye.
The glacier from which this started
lis just a little above and west of the
stone house. two and one-half miles
above Sheep Camp. The warm weather
and heavy rains of the past few days
had formed a lake on the glacier, and
the wind blowing for twenty four hours
from the north, had finally broken off a
section. probably half an acre in ex-
tent, which, with the water behind it,
started on its fatal journey, a few
minutes before yesterday morning. The
persons who We're camped at Stone
House say it looked like a volcano
turned loose over 100 feet in hight and
% in width. When it started it made
"a noise as of g. thousand cannon, and
the startled INN. - of sxse 3erts sprang
to their feet in all stages of undress
Gt was raining a torrent at the time
and for that reason many were yet in
bedl, and rushed outside to see what
was the matter. One glance up the
ranyon was enough, some rushed into
their tents to gather the most valuable
things they could lay hands on, while
Others took to the foothills without any
thing, over powders and large rocks
that at any other time they could not
have gotten over at all.
"Choynsi was camped with some
companions at this place. and did not
get out of his tent until the flood of
waters had struck it. He grabbed a
tent rope and was carried by the flood
to the length of his rope, and the water
thrashed him up and down until fin
ally exhausted he was torn loose and
dashed along by the raging torrent,
and beat against rocks and powders
until life was almost extinct Some one
finally caught his body and brought it
to shore, where rough but tender hands
held him until life was extinct. He
was only able to humble his name be-
fore he died.
From Stone House to Sheep Camp
is about two miles, and former slides
ahave left several channels which have
piled rocks indiscriminately on all sides.
Hence the name. But the general
course is quite direct to Sheep Camp.
where the most of those who are pack
ing make one stage of their journey,
and there is at all times from 500 to
1000 people camped there, and there
was fully 1000 there yesterday.
The first person there to see the
avalanche was about to overwhelm
them was Captain c. F. C. Baatz. a
saloonkeeper. who had saloon and
gambling house in d large tent directly
in the course of the torrent. He had
inst cot UP. and hearing a noise as
though thunder, looked up the canyon,
and taking in the situation at a glance,
he rushed into the saloon, grabbed up
all his money, and kicked dozen or
more men who were sleeping under the
gambling tables. He called to them
that an avalanche was on them, and
: started on a run down the trail, yelling
at the top of his voice for all to get
up. so it was they escaped with their
lives But few were able to save any
of their effects, though many tried and
nearly lost their lives in doing so.
George c. Marks of San Francisco
who came to Sheep Camp a few days
ago to buy outfits of those who were
discouraged or broke. had his money
$1,000 in a belt under his bed, and
at the first alarm ran out with moth
ing but his underclothes on to see what
the matter was. and then tried to get
his money. but the wafer was on him
before he could get inside again. He
had hold of a rope. and was thrashed
around by the angry waters until his
hold was broken when he was carried
into an eddy and rescued by those on
the bank. He came down to-day with
the crowd, and does not show any signs
of the struggle for life he has gone
through.
Tents, goods and provisions Of all
kinds are buried in an indescribable
manner for nearly a mile from the head
of Sheep Camp down the canyon. Forty
tents, occupied by probably over a hun
dred persons, are buried in the ruins.
Twenty-Five outfits belonging to those
who were going through, are also
mixed indiscriminately in the mass. All
is confusion.
Over hundred discouraged. dis
heartened pilgrims have come down to-
day, intending to take the first steamer
for home. Some Of them have not a