The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-15
January. To acknowledgement reporter

January. To Post-Intellisencer reporter
Mr.. Keeler said yesterday:
at IS reasonably certain that Swift
water BIZ Gates is dead. A straight re-
port reached Lake Lindeman to that ef-
feet last Sunday. The mail carrier, who
also sells copies OF tile Post-Intelligencer
along the lakes came In from Lake Ben
nett that day. He said that while he had
no personal knowledge OF the accident, he
had heard it from reliable people OIL the
lake. The story as no heard II was to tile
effect that Gates was drowned while at
tempting to cross Lake Bennett on the
Ice. Gates Was in company with two
women and one man. They had q sled
load of stuff which they were taking from
ens stage to another of their journey as
part OF their outfit. The ice along the
edge OF the Lake ia very soft and thin,
and has been growing rapidly worse every
day. The whole party broke through the
Ice The two women and the other man
were rescued. but Gates was drowned.
II do not consider the story at all i'm
probable or unreasonable. In fact, / be-
Meve 1t is true. My tent for the last week
OK so has been on the edge OF Lake Lin
deman. There has not been a morning
that ! have not looked out on the lake
from that tent and seen one or more. peo-
pie fall through the ice The ice Is very
thin and Is rapidly breaking UP around
the edges Of the lake. i, will break en-
tireiy 10 about three weeks. The lakes
VIII then be open for navigation.
Only Serious Accident.
'The story Of the drowning OF Gates is
tha only serious accident recently report
ed or the lakes. Many outfits. however.
have been lost and numbers OF people
have had an icy duckiny IN the water.
May outfits that had been cached on the
ice have broken through and sunk Others
have gradually sunk down in the sitIshy
ice and have been saturated ard ruined.
AZ the time of the reported drowning
Gates was on his way 10 Marsh lake. He
icf- Lindeman about ten days or two
weeks ago. his ohject being 20 get "a far
on the ice towards the rapids as possible.
The other members OF his party. about
thirty in number. most OF them women.
are stih camped on Lake Bennett.
"Nearly all the packing and traffic from
the coast is TOW done over the Dyea trait
The skagway trail has become too soft
fer travel. and is now practically i'm
rassabie- Freight rates from Sksgway
range all the way from Is TO q cents.
while from pyea freigns Is now taken
over for CENTS
Mr- kee,er. whose home * az Per.
townsend, went north LAST winter. He
made his way over as far az the sakes.
where he ROW has a boat ready TO take
hF ais voyage as soon as oayfga ton il
open lie viii remain here about three
weeks. then go back north and make his
Ny 20 Dawson
y letter received yesterday on The
Slfsfnfr Faralion by George r. .CIfncr CON
"FAS ihe drowning OF Gates TIE letter
says 'Aa' tmo women were swallowed TN
- re 50 waters of the lake with Gates.
-. NecieT states Il9at tina women were
saved According 10 Timers letter, fNe
aceideoi occurred while Gates and his
party were crossing Lake Leharge. but this
i probably an tnaecuracy, as keeler knew
"aeTe Gates MAS headed for az the time
o. TIE accident. and is positive that II was
On lake Bennett The hews vas brought
int Dyea ny Northve /. mounted polite.
ans "a confirmed hy aepa.is Eeus4aed AZ
skagsay.
IA associated Press letter dated Skag-
Nsy, MAJ .. tells the story Of tbs rsport-