The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-11
HEART RENDING STORIES TOLD
BY UNFoRTUNATEs WHO HAVE RE-
TURNED FROM ALASKA.
They Strongly Denounce the Trans
portntion Companies and Some OF
the Canadian Newspapers.

Wrangle, Alaska, August 6, via Seattle
Wash, August 1O.-The Stickeen river
steamer Strathcona arrived here today
with a party from the Edmonton tfail.
They are from northwestern cities. one
party came in with pack train sent OUT
from Telegraph Creek and Laketon by the
various trading companies last spring.
The unfortunates tell heart rending
stories of hardships endured, comrades
lost and abandoned. and strongly denounce
the trading and transportation companies
as well as the Canadian officials and
newspapers that so profusely advertised
this route as a feasible one to the klon-
dixie gold fields. The outward appearances
of these men certainly give evidence of
the awful suffering undergone since leav-
ing Edmonton, eighteen months ago. Most
of them are sickly looking with unkempt
boards and greasy clothes-pictures OF
physical and financial wrecks. Several are
gray and bear marks OF scurvy.
A few have Just enough money to reach
Seattle or Victoria. but the majority are
without funds. The citizens of Wrangle
have applied to the United States govern
ment at Washington, but up TO this date
no reply has been received. There are
about twenty five destitute miners mere.
Many have had narrow escapes from
starvation along the trail from Fort Simp-
son TO Mud river and Fort Laird. 1t is
admitted that there are still more than
hundred men scattered along the tran
between Laird Post and Pelly banks ana
relief parties have been sent out by the
Hudson Bay company. The last report
brought to Laird Post was that many were
dying of scurvy and hunger 1t Is esti-
~ birtu nr T.
ferers at Telegraph Creek awaiting the
next trip of the boat The sick that had
Ia be carried ON stretchers had not yet
reached Glenmore when the Strathcona
sailed. Several starvation cases are re-
ported. About twenty miles above Devil
Portage two unknown men were frozen 10
death last winter. A man bearing the
name of johnson. from New York, was
found dead in a tent near the source. oil
tho Mud river last fall. This poor Eel
low had as covering only half blanket
and in diary still open in his hands were
these words opposite the date February 10
| 1897: II died of hunger
All along the river on the route mel
with frozen limbs were assisted. while
some unable to help themselves were nee
essarily left behind by those more for
tunate and able to struggle along. Scurys
RACED in all the camps more or less, pu
there are few deaths from this disease
reported. NUMBER OF CanHu,ans WY ~.
! tempted to cross the Cutland trail IRON
| Fort slmpson to Fort Frances last fal
have never been heard from. and II II
/ likely that they perlshed from cold. Pro
Visions we're scarce and high at all tn
military posts last winter. and at several
including Laird Post and Fort Frances
/ even the post men were put on mar "a
lions during the months OF April and say
Flour 'L sold at ss5 per sack, bacon at y
. nar nound and beans 90 cents pc
ouart This made up the daily menu 10
several weeks. Many owe their i've
10 the relief party under Scott slmp
son sent out by the Cosca Trading com
oo,,, He reached Laird Post March ~
! TThis daring party left Laketon in Marc
and made a most perilous trip acros
naase lake with dogs. AS the ice brok
IN mon one OF the rescuing party was browne
ard an nearly all the dogs and sleds wer
lost.