The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-08
NTH BOTH FEET FROZEN.
A Mere Lad Stumbles Along
the Pitiless klOndike Trail.
BIG TOE WORN AWAY BY ROCKS.
T. p. Corey Tells story of Suffering
and nhamauity-Nfserly tneie'~
Brutality ExtoIS the Govern
ment's Wisdom in Sending a Re-
lief Expedition-C ompa mics Have
to Go Back on Food Orders.

to 60 Back on Food Orders.
T. =. Corey. ex-supariuiendent of mines
Of the Oregon Improvement Company and
one OF the hest-known mining engineers on
the Coast. reached here yesterday on the
City OF Seattle. He has been expected for
SOME time. since he left Dawson October
Is. Delay In arriving was NOT due 10 acci-
dent. but to the fact that the tran was
taken easily. side explorations being made
or the way to gain familiarity with the
country
With Corey came out James E. Mcclure.
uncle OF William Z. Byrne. the boy now
lying in camp near Five Fingers with both
his legs amputated at the knee.
II want to correct statement published
AZ the time Mckay came our that tbs boy
Byrne. whose feet were frozen. ard his
uncle. Mcclure, were members Of our par
~" said 7. b. Corey yesterday. II GER
tainly do not want IL thought that aEy one
connected with our party could be SO NAL
treated as the hoy Byrne has been, or could
be compelled 10 make the winter Journey
from Dawson so poorly provided with
clothing and other necessities as he was.
The only connection We had with Mcclure
and Ryrne was such as any humane men
would have had with fellow being in
distress.
In q Pitiable Condition.
Il came upon Byrne first twelve miles
below Five Fingers, on a day when was
in advance Of the remainder of the party.
The boy was In pitiable condition. Both
feet had been frozen above the ankles for
five days He was sitting miserahly on his
sled. From his left boot his big toe was
protruding. Ii had been worn to stump
by stubbing against rocks and ice. When
John ". Roberts. leader of our party and
formerly connected with the Seattle police
force. came UP, We decided to care for the
hoy Tor two days, until we could get him
10 place OF shelter Four miles this side
OF Five Fingers We found the camp of l..
X croissant, Frank T.. Knowles and NJ. A.
Gfeel, ali OF Seattle CroIssant and
knowles agreed to keep the boy
Mcclure, the uncle wanted 10 mako
Byrne go on to McCormack's station. but
Roberts insisted that he should be forced
no Iurtner, and, despite McGuire's asser-
ton that he had no money Roberts made
him disgorge 500 in gold dust and give a
draft on Chicago bank for 500 10 pay
ior byrne's care / really believe Nc
"ac SiSHNiy OUT OF MS mind. he
| Is from Chicago and is, understand. well
| 10 do. He abused Byrne in many wavs
| and the lad told me that IL ii were not for
h.s religion he would have committed sui
| eide. To withstand Il chill aimosphere
which strong men found penetrating even
| when clad In furs. Byrne had only a pair
| OF drawers and ragged oVeralls TO protect
| ms legs. He was compelled TO drag a
| sled loaded with 10 or 200 pounds and
n "A h0 rrtf 49,,
| Mcclure drew but 100 pounds and did no
| laborious work.
Froxe While He slept.
"Byrne's feet were frozen as he silent hv
| the fire. He had taken off his boots and
stockings to dry them and was lying
| barefooted before the blaze. Tired out.
he fell asleep and when he awoke the fire
| was out and his feet were frozen He
moved on with Mcclure in the greatest
| agony. For seven days he walked with
| no feeling in his legs below the knees. and
| many times would have given up but for
| his uncle, who forced him to proceed at
| the point of a pistol. Passing parties of
! fered no assistance and even tainted the
| boy with his misfortune. l tell you the
| trail brings out mans true nature.
! 'Byrne's legs have been amputated by
| DR.. Beckett. Of Seattle. who was en-
/ camped near Croissant and Knowles
| Purely out OF pity for his destitute con-
| dition we permitted Mcclure to come out
| with US He made the fifth one with u.s.
| the others being John Roberts, Alexander
| Barclay. who was picked up below Five
| Fingers; Edward Dixon, of San Francis
| co and myself"
"send Food" Says Corey.
| What do You think Of the government
| relief expedition" was asked.
/ Il consider il a very advisable move.
! hut think /. Will he found very difficult 10
get In enough supplies 10 materially rp-
! lieve the situation. Reindeer would be alb
| soluteiy useless. They could not make as
/ much progress as man. The ice In the
! rivers IS thrown up In gorges sometimes
twenty-five feet high. over these a horse
/ or reindeer cannot climb. Ever for a dog
! team the track over the ice between the
/ gorEeS is so narrow and crooked that It
Is difficult ~ get action with more than
! one dog 70 a sled The only way an ex-
I petition could get In. according TO my be-
lief. would he 10 proceed 20 the foot of
Lake T.eharre with horses. XIII them there
! ard proceed - Dawson with dogs, feed
ing them on the horse meat.
THE Canadian government is using
every effort 20 get expeditions through.
/ We passed one party gong in with four
pounds Of provisions. The sieds were
drown by horses. heard afterwards that
IN going over Cariheo crossing ten % the
. sioHs broke through the lee and horses
/ ard supplies were lost. Thirty-MiIe river.
below Lake Leh4rse IS wide open save
FOR border OF Ice along the shores. The
! See s. rotten IN many places ard Is liz BILE
/ 10 let a man through Al any time. This
Is particularly true OF Carihoo crossing.
A. Lake Leila rye Roberts, Of our party.
! broke through the ice but fortunately
came up through the same hole.
Food Orders Worthless.
"Tnques tionabIy. further supplies would
be most welcome In Dawson When we left
guaranteed orders we're worthless. This
/ miners In the spring deposit their gold
Gus; with the companies and secure gTsar-
sntees FOR certain quantity Of supplies.
I Both companies have been obliged to re-
! fuse these orders Where a rsh's EEzran-
/ tee calls fer ten sacks of -four. ~ can get
/ htt one. sr at rnost two Since the last 81
: August fulIy 1zsl or go people have left
+ Dawson for Circle city and Fort Yukon.
/ ara go mere viii come oztf ny ire inland
] route. A majority OF the latter are after
! supple
'-TenT ard IONS o. gold w!H BE- shipped
/ from the Klorldik@ after the cleanup next
June Clarence Terry and his partners
/ will alone Eersd down fosEr tons / do not
know tfza armounts brought down by has
/ sergers on the steamer City OF s=sttie.
They were rot INCLINED 70 speak on that
{ subject Possibly thsy remember the rob
! f,srv ct Holm XIII who, boaSfed that he had