Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-26
N PERIL At CAPE NONE
Chicago Trading Agent Tells of
Terrible Situation of the Gold
Hunters.
Fears That Many Will Freeze or
Starve During the Long
Winter.
Food and Fuel Are Scarce and
Chances For Escape Not
Numerous.

Chicago, Oct. 26-"Hundreds of peo-
pie are in extreme peril at Cape Nome
and st. Michael's, Alaska. Death in the
form of freezing and starvation faces
those who are shut in by the ice and
winter storms, which have already be-
gun to encircle them. 1t will be almost
impossible for aid to reach them before
the opening of these ice-bound regions
in the spring. There are many more
gold seekers at these points than food
to sustain them throughout the winter
and shelter and fuel are so Inadequate
for that long period that large numbers
are certain to die of exposure"
This was the reluctant statement of
Uric King. secretary of the North
American Transportation and Trading
Company, yesterday, after reading of
the wretched plight of the passengers
on the schooner Hera, which arrived at
Seattle Tuesday from Cape Nome. He
said that, although those on the Hera
We're reduced to skeletons by hunger.
thirst and exposure the conditions at
Cape Nome and st. Michaels might
be even worse before the winter was
over Mr.. King is familiar with the ex-
act status Of affairs at these points, and
a. he Went on to give details showed
that there was grave reason for his APP
prehension.
The terrible storms which set in in
that region about this time make me
Very anxious concerning our steamer
Roanoke, due to arrive at Seattle from
Cape Nome and st. Michaels." said Mr..
King. ,She is a large and stanch
steamer. but hardly any boat can
weather those wintry gales. This is her
last trip before going into winter quar-
ters, and she has 600 or 700 persons and
large consignments of gold on board.
She should have reached Seattle by this
time, and expect to hear of her ar
rival at any hour. No boat would at
tempt to breast those storm-swept seas
after Nov. l. The gales are severe and
the ice forms rapidly. A boat would
be caught in the ice and either crushed
Immediately or frozen fast for eight
months and all on board would die of
starvation or cold. There will be only
one more boat to come from Cape.
Nome. That is the Alpha. She is a
small craft. which left Seattle Oct. s
expecting to reach St Michaers Oct. 90
and return Immediately.
1T is frightful to think of what Will
probably happen at Cape Nome and St
Michael's. At Cape Nome there are 900
more men than there is food or shelter
for during the winter. Certain death by
freezing or starvation awaits large
numbers of them. They have plenty of
gold, but that is not food nor shelter
They have been warned of the condi-
tions time and again, but they are reek-
less and say they viii take their chan
ces.
They are crazy for gold and will not
listen to reason. Cape Nome is the lat
est bonanza. The yellow dust is found
there is fabulous quantities. Accord
ing to the law the sea beach is free to
every one. and can not be staked off ia
claims. For thirty miles along the
Cape Nome sea beach could be seen
hundreds Of people every day this fall
turning over the sands in the search for
gold. Each one found from $40 to 500
worth of gold a day The same rich
ness is found in the creeks in that VII
entity. 1t has turned the heads OF those
who are there, and they Will risk their
lives to remain so as to be on the spot
when spring opens.
Coal is $50 a ton at Cape Nome.
Lumber is $50 a thousand feet and food
of all kinds is held at proportionate
prices. There are 5000 people at this
place. They all have enough gold dust
10 pay almost any price asked, but the
coal supply will not go around and
there is not enough lumber to build
suitable shelter for the eytremities Of
cold which Will come upon them. We
have a large warehouse ut Anvil City
| we'll stocked with provisions, and hope
to keep all those who are in orr charge
supplied throughout the season, but
! fear for the many who are unattached
and have no source of supplies