The San Francisco call., 1899-09-25
STARV ALTON
IN MACKENZIE
RIVER REGION
Conmandant Steele Sends
Out a Relief Expe-
dition.
MANY VOLUNTEERS
Captains Anderson and Robertson
Say There Is No Gold Between
Porcupine and the Rockies.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


VICTORIA, B. c., Sept. 24.-Accord-
ing to news received from Dawson by
the steamer Cottage City, which ar
rived to-day, a relief expedition has
been dispatched by Commandant
Steele Of the Northwest Mounted Po-
lice to relieve the sufferings and pr1-
walton being experienced on the Mac
kenZie River.
For some time past reports, the hor-
rors of which equalled the awful
stories which came from the Edmonton
trail, had reached Dawson, and early
in September an Austrian, c. Edward
son, staggered into Dawson, and his
sufferings, together with the punches
of appeals received by the police from
the outside asking for news of relatives
lost in that district, touched the sym
pathies of Colonel Steele, and he called
for volunteers to take the hazardous
journey and relieve those in need ana
make inquiries for the missing ones.
A number offered to go, and COM
manded by Corporal Skirving, they left
Dawson on September 3 They Will go
by canoe to the mouth of the Porcu-
pine River, 100 miles below Dawson,
and up that stream to the portage, 10
Bell and West Rat River, thence across
the mountains to The Peel, and from
there portage to the Mackenzie, and up
that stream to Fort Mcpherson.
The Dawson Nugget says the men
are provisioned for six weeks. after
which they will have TO pick up their
provender. and it is likely they will be
out several months if not until next
summer, as the journey is long and
dangerous one.
Edwardson. the last of the unfor-
tunates to reach Dawson from the
Mckenzie. lost his outfit by the
swapping of his boat, and for week
was without food. He subsisted on
roots and bark of trees until found ly-
ing helplessly sick with fever ana IN
delirium by some miners After nurs-
ing him back TO health they gave him
food and he continued his journey out
The food gave out, though, before he
reached Dawson, and when at length
he reached there he was suffering from
the pangs of hunger.
Captains Anderson and Robertson
returned to Dawson on September
after a ten weeks prospecting tour in
the Upper Klondike, Porcupine and
Stewart River countries. Their route
lay up the South Fork twenty miles;
across to the North Fork, and up that
stream to it's head; then over the di-
vide to Porcupine. After prospecting,
they turned south, passing around the
headwaters of the Klondike and touch
ing at McQuesten River, in the Stew
art country; thence back to the south
fork of the Klondike and home. They
prospected on many creeks, but only
colors were found. Owing to the fact
that rimrock was exposed on the
creeks. prospecting was easy. They are
satisfied there is no gold between
Hunker and the Porcupine and the
Rockies Some rich quartz specimens
were brought from the Stewart River
section.
George Lions brewing plant and
beer have been seized at Dawson by
the police.
Leonard, the aeronaut, who is max
ing ascensions at Dawson, had mar
row escape from death on September
1. He fell into the Klondike River,
about a hundred yards from shore. He
was rescued none the worse for his ad-'
venture.
Miners are leaving Seventy Mile, it
not having turned out according to ex-
pectations.