The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-03

Special Dispatch to the PostIntelligencer.
DEPARTURE BAY. b. c.. Aug. q
The details OF another horror on the VAL
des glacier, in which Frank c. Fleming,
young Chicagoan. lost his life in an icy
crevasse, are told by return Copper river
miners who boarded the steamer Oregon
az S;tka, now at Departure Bay. b. c.
II was while working his way back to
Valdes after an unsuccessful gold hunt
in the interior that he slipped into the ere
vase and dropped 10 the bottom. dis
tance OF two hundred feet. He went into
a dangerous place against the caution of
his father. The body was recovered and
buried near the scene Of the accident.
Young Fleming and his father had
worked their way across the glacier early
In the year In the hope Of finding gold in
the Copper river country. Their troubles
did not end with the terrible ice mountain.
There was rough country 10 pass through
and when they reached the river they
found It too swift for their boat. They had
turned back and We're going 10 Chicago.
to one of the numerous crevasses and were
looking for a place TO cross. Fleming in
sisted on going to the edge OF the big
crack, although his father advised him to
Keep back. The word OF warning had only
been spoken when Jennings foot slipped
and he started like a shot down the short
Incline toward the edge OF the crevasse.
He dug his nails franticiy into the ice
but could get no hold. Nearly every bone
IN his body WAS broken. He was twenty
two years old.
The Oregon's passengers state that there
are about 5000 people on the glacier rush
ing out as fast as possible They are afraid
II the government does not send relief to
them soon. there viii he quite a lot Of
them die from starvation and exposure
The ice is melting fast and streams are
swollen 50 high and running so swift that
1t is very dangerous to undertake to cross
them, but rather than stay there and starye
10 death the prospectors Will risk any
thing.
Men who were worth hundreds Of dollars
a few months ago are now pennlless and
regret the day they heard of the Copper
river country. The passengers who came
in on the Oregon are IN hopes that som.-
'hius VII De done to help the poor fellows
out.
\ man going into that country would
only have 10 take provisions with him 10
reach there as one can almost outdt him
scif along the road. The people are leav
ing everything behind them that is not
actually needed. Twenty-three cents 10
The pan was The highest thar was ever
wa.aed out
There were also on board from Orca
several fishermen. who report that the
Pacific Steam Whaling Company has had
an extraordinarily good catch this season.
They have already >oro cases ard
are nsalng night and day They
are arN!ousy awaiting the arrival OF
the snip America. from Departure Ry. Il
{. Tho America leit this week w.th 4
cArso Of coal for Orca. Sc vii discharge
a orca. then get = load ot fish Tor San
Francisco.
one q the lucky arrivals from Dawson
brought oat $5o,eo. lie would no; tell his
name. ~ he wanted to surprise his people.
BuI ~ speaks we'll o. tAe Dawson conn
Try ana says The people have no idea
how rica country Il IS" The people
have 20 tina for ANYTHING except working
th5tv claims. in order "a ct out as nau-a
a possible before !; freezes ~.
Eyer2 ,h.aE in ani around Skasway is