Evening star., 1898-02-12
no supplies at all, or just sufficient to take
them to Dawson.
How Many Are in Dawson.


calamity and escape the horrors of starva-
ton. About September IA they issued this
proclamation:
The undersigned, officials Of the Canadian gov
distressing situation In regard to the supply Of
food for winter. find that the supply on hand is
in the district. and can see only one way out Of
the ditfculty, and that is an immediate move
visions
the move must be made at once. 1t is absolutely
Hazardous to build hopes upon the arrival of other
food will come into this district. For those who
have not laid In a winters supply to remain here
at least certainty of sickness from scurvy or
other troubles Starvation now stares every man
side ree little w tSem nor ali in
comfort safely at Fort Yukon or other points be-
THOMAS on 1000
CHARLES CONSTANTINE, Inspector N.W.M.P.
D. W. DAVIS, Oficer Of Customs.
Fortunately hundreds of small boats by
over the water stretches lay stranded all
along the shores at Dawson, and large
crowds seized the chance TO drop down the
river to Circle City and Fort Yukon.
Welcoming the Steamer.
The outlook was bad, indeed, but to the
surprise Of every one. it turned out that
the officials bad been wrong in believing
that the time had gone hy vixen any boat
could come in from the outside. On the
2Sth of September the steamer Weare hove
in view. The sight was a glorious one. Her
whistle was answered by the only saw mill
in the district. The general impression
vas that two steamers had arriy yed. The
dropping spirits of the people at once re-
vived. Help and provisions had come at
last. Excitement reached the highest limit
and enthusiasm knew 10 bounds. Pistols
were fired in. the air; guns and rifles walk
rpaI tha lO,, H,-,-
will organize a gold Cne next year-ex-
hausted the hveliest portion of its roper
tcire The whole population swarmed to
the shore to feast their eyes upon the
masses of flor. bacon and other stores
about to be unloaded. Unfortunately, the
We2re contained but a small supply of pro-
visions, and most of it was required to fill
orders given months before. There was
furniture and there were looking glasses in
plenty. bat little grub
On September 20 the Alaska Commercial
Company's steamer Bella came up the
river, with even less supplies, but a good
deal of whisky. Whisky and looking glass
es afford but little consolation TO a fam
ine-stricken community. 1t was explain
ed that the boats had been held up at Cir
Gle City by desperate gang of miners
armed with rifles and the supplies stolen.
The last restaurant then closed The min
ers came back from the hills. but no food
about in search of a meal. Soon dismay
and despair settled down upon Dawson
City.
Free Passage to Circle City.
But the arrival of the steamers was not
altogether without good results. On Sep
tember 80 the following notice was posted:
Notice is hereby given that all persons who
are not sufficiently provided with food for the
coming winter will be taken free of charge
on the steamer Bella. which will leave tomorrow
St at noon: They should report at the "A, c.
and sign agreement to their transporta-
tien They are advised to take sufficient food
with them to last them to Circle City. no
meals can be served the steamer Sufficient
SUPPLIES can be obtained at Circle City to last
The Canadian authorities have arranged with
the osmRaHy to furnish free
Dawson, September so. 1897.
The mounted police were stationed in the
Alaska Commercial Company's store and
furnished free transportation to all who
desired it. They are said to have furnish
ed supplies to some who were short of pro-
visions. few hundred people went down
on the last boat and large number on the
Weare. The reports as to the total num-
Der of those who Travelled in this way to
Circle City and Fort Yukon are so con-
fiicting that it is impossible to form an ex-
act estimate. According to one informant
500 is the estimate made by Mr.. Fawcett,
the gold commissioner. Others on the way
out give higher figures, while some think
there were not more than 400. Since the
Yukon became frozen the exodus has con-
oNCi Tic iCc " SlIC lily anu r OrI
Yukon.
The two boats that left st. Michael this
autumn loaded with provisions for Daw-
son, and now frozen in at Fort Yukon. are
relied upon to furnish supplies not only
for those who are wintering there from
Dawson, but for all who were caught in
the ice there while vainly trying to reach
the gold fields from St. Michael AL
though Fort Yukon is only $50 miles from
Dawson City, while the distance by way of
the upper Yukon and the coast passes to
Dyea is 5I5 miles at least, 1t is certain
that any further exodus will be in this lat
ter direction. The supplies at Fort Yukon
are probably by no means excessive for
the population already there. Besides, the
longer trip by way of Dyea leads back to
civilization. where business can be trans
acted and plans formulated for another
seasons work at the mines, instead of into
tha-arctic circle.
Walsh's encampment on the Yukon at the
mouth of the Big Salmon river, and al
most an equal distance between Dawson
City and Dyea. Many more are on the
way out, probably several hundred The
burning last month of the Klondike Church,
in which quantities Of provisions were
stored and of large portion Of the busi-
ness section of Dawson shortly afterward
must have reduced the food supply and
may swell the exodus.
Still in the District.
But there must still be large popula-
ton In the klondike district. Some of the
most intelligent have met on the way out
believe that there are still 1900 men on
E.dorado end Bonanza, 1000 in Dawson
City and Lost Town and 1000 on the out
side creeks-a total population Of 600
sc uls. II there are only 500, the army is
a large one to feed The prices already be-
ing paid for provisions-and this is only the
beginning Of the famine-reflect the general
anxiety. IL November last flour was sell
ing at 800 a half sack or s. a pound.
Meals, when they could be procured, cost
$3.50 to 81 EACH and even then soup, boiled
beef and bread often exhausted the menu
Candles sold at 81 each in the city, and
81. 30 in the Eldorado mines. Hay brought
$50 a ton. and dog feed required for the
teams of dogs coming out commanded from
15 cents to 81 a pound.
The effect of the exodus is already ap-
parent in a reduction of prices. Flour, on
December 3, had fallen to 81 pound. Near
ly every man who goes out has som, sup
plies to sell, so that his departure means
not only one man less to be rationed, but
part raticns for some one left behind. This
is the prime fact to be remembered in
solving the problem of how best to relieve
Dawson. Should the exodus cease, the
highest prices must again prevail. The
fact that most individual surplus supplies
are in the hands of the gambling and