The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-04-21
LIVELY SEATTLE
August Toellner Writes
of Klondike AdVices.
Letter From a Friend in Skaguay.
Regular Mining Camp Life.
ThieVing is Rife
Especial Correspondence.

SEATTLE, April 10, 1S9S.-The
| Alaska rush has abated some now and
as a consequence many steamers which
have arrived here to take part in car
rying the crowds go to their destina-
lions with a very few passengers. The
freight for northern points however,
is still very large and all available
space on steamers and ships has been
spoken for in advance for the next few
weeks.
From Mr.. E. Hoppe who left here
for the eldorada and arrived at Dyea, 1
received a letter of which following
extracts will perhaps be Of interest:
Having arrived at my destination
(Skaguay) at daylight, I looked for a
place to sleep, which / found at The
Kentucky Liquor House which was
recommended to me as a good place
for a man of moderate means. l re-
tired above the dance hall and then
listened to the pounding on the piano
and the squeaking of the violin mixed
with the coarse singing.
During the whole night, 1 heard no
thing but pistol Shots music, etc. The
next morning l had the luck to find
former acquaintance of mine with
whom I obtained quarters.
During the indescribable north
wind, which will go through the small
est crevice, 1 saw that the people
throw water on the roof and against
the walls of houses. The water froze
Immediately and as the wind cannot
go through ice it became less unbear-
able for the inhabitants of the houses.
Three miles north of Skaguay is
'Liarsville,' a very fitting name which
also might be we'll fitted for Skaguay.
Then comes Porcupine, the first, sec
ond and third bridge until at last you
reach the summit. Here it is that the
Canadian Government has her customs
offices.
"Of all the evils in Skaguay, the
pOstoffice is the worst as [ and others
have waited three and half hours and
longer before receiving mail and at
times the Office is closed for two and
three days.
'"The saloon men, who are at the
same time the aristrocracy with the
gamblers, seem to be the master of the
situation. But everywhere, as also in
Skaguay there are people who still
have thOnOr and character.
1.-The cheating and outrages on the
wharf are something frightful and
hardly cribable-largeri Dyea than
in Skaguay. If you leave the vessel
and step on the wharf it says Two
bits please and for every package
two bits For every ton of freight
which I had on the ship Lucille, paid
$3.50 wharfage. | had gone ahead on
the aforesaid ship to sell my goods.
had sold wheat and oats to a coun-
tryman Of mine and was loading it
upon wagon when a friend called to
me, Come here; a man here is load
ing all your hay on his wagon In
a minute, l was there and sure enough
the unknown had already fourteen
bales of my HAY on his wagon and
was just getting ready to drive away
when / caught him. Immediately /
asked him who gave him a right to
take away my hay. l called a few
people to the spot and it was only
with difficulty that l again came into
possession of my property. With my
lumber / had the same trouble. What
shall one do however, without courts |
and without laws? One must always
be on the lookout and if you are not |
you are liable to lose the shirt from |
your back provided you still have one. |
Quite a few persons have returned |
lately from the interior of Alaska and |
report that about ten to twenty-five |
million of dust will be brought from |
Dawson and vicinity
Prince Luigi of Italy who it will be |
remembered climbed to the summit of |
Mount St. ELIAS last year has fitted |
out a large expedition for Alaska to |
go to Kotzebu Sound. Mr.. George |
Sheehan Washington Bullian who a |
year ago lost a sum of money in a |
robbery in Honolulu passed through |
the city here recently from the Islands, |
staying here long enough to get a !
thousand dollar outfit from some of
his friends.
There are several schooners and |
ships already gone to st. Micheal |
to be the first to go up the Yukon |
by the all river route.
The next rush for Alaska is expected !
when the all river route to the Yukon /
can be used.
AUGUST TOELLNER.