The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-04-23
At SHEEP CAMP.
A Missouri Man Presents q Gloomy
Picture of Life and Death
on the Chilkoot Trail.
THE RECENT AVALANCHE DESCRIBED.

and Ice-Pneumonis and Meningitis
Carrying on the Gold-Hunters - Rot
Kills sheep-PoIuted Water Doing Ih
Work.
PARIS, No., April 16.-Five of the
E25 members of the Missouri Alaska
Gold Co., of Paris, were sent out
on March l to make the overland trip
TO Dawson City, and to prospect until
the rest of the company arrived on their
own BOAT in June. 1t was known that
they were on the Chilkoot trail about
April 3, when the great snowslide
caused so many deaths, and grave fears
were 1elt for their safety by their fam
lies here. The following letter re-
feived by H. j. Bla1ton from d. NJ.
Fields brought news that the party es-
Faped the snowslide, and gives a good
Recount of the catastrophe and the
condition of things at Sheep Camp:
SHEEP CAMP, April Ri wrote you from here
everal DAYS ago, but so much has happened
nee 1 must write again, yet much Of it will be
I'd news back in the states. An awful snos l
orm has been raging for five days and nights
hd now has fallen to the depth Of five feet.
powslides began ard have continued all day.
ews reached camp that many had been caught
a snowslide. From Sheep Camp to the SUM-
it there are hundreds of tents. Nearly a i Ihe
en- got their goods to the summit, and were
aiting for a clear day to pass over. Tonight
ANY OF them are sleeping beneath thousands
tons of snow and ice. All day 2,0UO or
00I men have been hard at work with
bowels taking out the bodies OF dead
bmrades. It is estimated that there
re 200 or 800 men and women beneath this
lightly weight of snow and ice. So far about
tTenty have been taken out. A few were alive
hen taken out, but most of them have died
nee. At2 p. m 80 men and women were COM
g down from the summit when a slide &C.
bred. One woman and ten men were taken
lt alive, and nearly all Of them afterward
ed.
There are 40 more beneath the snow. Oh
e first bench below the scales there were 70 On
tents, with two to five in each tent. It Is
ought all these have persisted. Jim Jones and
vent near the summit to-day. There we saw
me Of the dead. Some OF the boys were dressed
their night clothing, showing that they were
leep when fate overlook them The storm
IS so severe on the summit it was impossible
work long at a time. The search will con-
Tue tomorrow, II the weather will permit
lie thought that som poor fellow is still alive
d looking for help hurts US, yet what can we
No one could live out on the mountain in
lis dark, stormy night The dead are in .
hg row near our tent.
MEN DYING Liz SHEEP.
Men are dying like sheep at Sheep Camp. II
useless to withhold the facts any longer. The
spital is full Of dying and dead men. caused
m overwork and drinking too much water
whisky when too warm.
The only diseases I have heard Of are pneu-
mia and spinal meningitis. which are fatal
all instances. You see q man in goo health
FRI dau ond Ia % .~l n-o 49, H.
e and keep his health just as well as in Mis-
fri, if he will be careful and use a little judg-
mt, n t drink too much water when warm,
let the saloons alone. But men will PULL 30I
iO0 pounds all day, come into camp at night,
Town and die.
lr goods are all at the scales AID on the sum-
under 20 feet of snow. When we will get
goods and strike the trail again is more
we can tell All reports are encour-
from those who are coming out.
say gold is plentiful and all are
back soon l met q man On his
rom Dawson City to the states yesterday
aw sl,O,O00 worth of gold nuggets he had
> out 1 tell you it made my eyes stick out.
yere eight days pulling our 400 pounds Of
sions, clothing and bedding on our sleds
Dyea to Canyon City. Canyon City, like
ity in which we are camped is q city OF
1t is here to-day, and tomorrow it gives
o Others. The population to-day OF Sheep
is l0.0O) to l5,OO people. The city is
two miles long. 1t presents a beautiful
at night. We are camped on an elevation
the city, and as 1 look back over the city
twilight of evening. 1 can see 1000 to D.
nts. each with a little tallow candle burn
rightly within.
bm Canyon City to Sheep Camp is four
a way in which NO MiSsourian would en-
Mess he saw 10000 Dutchmen just ahead
N.
HOW FREIGHT is CARRIED.
Is said by those who profess to know, and
Bume it is true, that there are 1900 dead
S beneath the snow and ice OF this canyon,
lie people continue to drink the water OF
poisonous stream when they should go to
hse OF the mountain and drink sparkling
as pure IS it was when il came forth
the hand Of God. While passing thro ugh
canyon even in midday one is made
Il because Of the rum0ling sound of rum
water beneath his feet. Sheep Camp is
miles from the scales, and such a road.
~evation is Z. 500 feet. Here at the scales
only place on this trail where the tram
in operation. At the power house you
lee two baskets pass out into space on
way to the summit; when the baskets are
and started from the power house two
leave the summit on their return trip.
amway people charge IL cents per pound
he scales to the summit. The packers
the same. It is one miles from
Gales to the summit When you are
for your walk above the clouds
SO or 100 pounds strapped to your
you take hold OF q hree-quarter-inch
nd put your foot into the first step. cut
ice and climb until you reach the sum-
Then you pile your little load alongside
OF thousands OF tons Of freight that has
as yours has, ard then sit down and
how you are going to get down.
Fly you make up your mind to do as 9th.
You keep your seat in the basket.
Four hands up. call your wife's name,
S all over in half q minute. You gel
the boys to put your eyes back in their
brush your pants and try it again.
1t Should Not be Done.
Trivvet-A woman should never
herself at a mans feet.
Dicer-That is true. Jumping