The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-11

Affairs at st. Michael are approaching
a crisis and one OF such seriousness that
II would surprise no one II the govern
ment had to take hand in Strengthening
things out. As has already been told in
the Post-Intelligencer orders have been is
sued by Gen. Merriam prohibiting the
landing Of any passengers on the island
who have not years supplies, or can
furnish satisfactory proof that they are
going across the boundary line into the
Northwest territory. The government is
doing this in order that relief expeditions
will not be necessary during the coming
winter and that the necessity of sending a
government boat to st. Michael to bring
back the stranded may be avoided
"One hundred and sixty miners who have
arrived at st. Michael from Dawson in
mos" was the positive statement made by
Capt. P. c. Rickmers, OF the steamer
Conenhaugh. to Post-Intelligencer re-
porter yesterday on the steamers arrival
from st. Michael. 1.-The men were penni-
less and squatted on the beach of the
Island alongside the tents of the Eskimos,
Inc latter Who by the way are the kind
est hearted people l ever ran across seem
TO have taken pity on the poor, disguised
klondikers and are to my positive knowl-
cage sharing with them their humble fare
The Eskimos do not always have plenty for
themselves. but of late have been doing
Well They seem to have plenty of SAT-
mon. walrus meat and whale blubber How
long they Will continue TO feed the unfor-
Inmates 10 hard to say. What the whites
VIII do when the Indians withdraw their
support is another question that I could
not answer The report from up river is
that many more are floating down.
II this be true. st. Michael will become
a hotbed OF despair. a number of parties
took up their station on the beach before
the government authorities refused them
the right to land and are stalled t.ere
with little hope of getting up river. There
seems TO be no way 10 keep out the men
VINO 1oat down river. There is trouble
ahead unless something occurs soon to
change the situation"
According to miners who have Just ar
rived here from Dawson, over 800 penni-
less tenderfees started for the island at
the mouth of the river in small boats.
They knew that it cost money to get to
the states from the mouth of the river.
but they did not hesitate to start out
without cent and with little more grub
than enough TO last them to ST. Michael
They place entire dependence in the kind,
protecting care of the government and
will look to the officials al ST. Michael for
transportation.
Col. Anderson, military governor of st.
Michael, can find no way 10 keep these
men on the island They will squat on
the beach with several hundred others
who arrived earlier in the year. They vii,
eat up all their supplies. and then begin
clamor to the officials for food
ar srE no NArfp iAtx
given them the crowd will prob
ably grow desperate, as only hungry
men can. and then there will be trouble
II will undoubtedly result in the govern
ment finally sending some vessel TO ST.
Michael to bring back the crowd.
There il absolutely no doubt that the
number of klondikers who left down rfv-
er during the latter part OF July was much
greater than usual. and II is equally Well
known that they had no money They
were the class who had pushed into Daw
son with light outfits, expecting TO pick
up enough nuggets 10 get supplies with on
arrival. They found that nuggets had 10
be worked for. and this discouraged them.
They then built rough boats, or purchas-
ed them cheaply. and started on a lazy
drift back into the territory over which
the Stars and Stripes float.
This Is the story rs told by miners who
returned on the Farallon yesterday. All
of the men seen by Post-Inteslgen
reporter seemed to agree that the num-
Der of men going down river was very
large. and that there would likely be .rou-
bic at st. Michael.
Gen. Merriam's order to the command
Ing officer at Fort Get There 10 allow no
one to land unless abundant proof of abi-
ity 10 support themselves for one year or
intention 10 leave the country Immediately
could be given. is just beginning TO be
trI 49, ..ttr. .f,,,
who are unable TO get up the river. Were
1t not for this order, they would be thrown
on their own resources on the island AS
il Is now, the steamers are compelled 10
keep them on board and may have to
bring them back TO this city.