The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 27, 1897, Page 1

VOLUME PRICE FIVE CENTS. 10 MPOSE B HIEk ROVALIIES Dominion Government] Is After a Slice of the Gold. WANTS SOME GAIN FROM THE KLONDYKE. Talk of Reserving the Rich Deposits Exclusively for Canadians. BUT SUCH A SCHEME IS NOT PRACTICABLE. So the Plan Will Ba to Make Miners Pay e R All the Yal- ow Msztal Taken Out. yalty on OTTAWA, ONT., July 26.—The t take a new step 12 country. be a very high royalty 1¢ wil W precious metal ourse, although detail, from skim- rich depos- in is the it it the country reaping fit. A high authority in L aid the must reap some gain out cles to-day )on n ifiel is where miners have thousands of . The prop- Canadian pub- d that no good the sted at once. ha n mach talk of the gold deposits in the for Canadians. The mat- 1:as been pretty fully can- vassed, with the result that it does not appear practicable. The law scarcely be enforced, and it in the face of be a chall rld to retain the gold ex- for the Canadians. The is for the Do- other course make miners pay per day when they are ral times that sum. ial Cat meeting to- | ht the arrangement with the United for the establish- ms port and police station at Lake Tagish, the conflu- in British te ory of the two principal trails leading from Dyea Inlet, was approved. The addi- ional polic Il consist of a de- tachment of eighty men. The scheme to demand a daily royalty from every American miner was adopted. —— NEWS FROM ALASKA. NMiners in the Southeastern Secc- tion Are Flocking to the Klondvke Fie ds. SEATTLE, WasH., July 26.—The steam- ship City oif Topeka arrived irom Juneau and other Alaskan ports early this morn- ing. She brought no returning adventur- rom the Kiondyke and little news. At this season while the river is open, all out- going travei from the Yukon is down the river to St. Michaels, and thence out by Southeastern Alaska has the Klon- e fever, and the mines in that section are seriously handicapped by the loss of men who have leit their jobs to go into the Yukon. Junean newspapers report there is work for a large number of experience¢ miners on the various develoved properties in that section at wages of §5 per day. The w trail ccross to Lake Linderman from agua Buy, via Whites Pass, is now completed and is reported to be in very falr condition for pack-animals. Thirty- five horses have been put in by George Rice, one of the parties who cut the trail, who entered upon the packing busi- ness by this routs. Skagua Bay is but a few miles from Chilcoot, over which the bulk of the travel has heretofore. zone. The Chileoot Pass is 4100 feet above sea level, wiile Whites Pass is nearly 1100 feet lower. Provisions have been going into the Yukon country ail summer by way of Dyea ana Skagua to an estimated amount of 5000 tcns, This was beiore the real rush to the Klondyke commenced. A very large numver of cattie have also been driven in during the summer. The Juneau papers contain an account of an attemptatdynamiting an Episco- pal clergyman, Rev. A. J. Campbell, at Kitchican some weeks since. Charles Lind, otherwise known as Russian Charley, was caugit under the house with alot of dynamite, and ‘in the act of light- ing the fuse, The miners were about to lynch Lind, and only refrained at the earnest solicitaiion of Mr, Campbeil. deposits | deposit $50|° = LAY | jil AN AN Y St | “THE CALLS” EXPEDITION TO THE- KIONDYKE. | HE CALL’S corps of correspondents delegated to visit the Klondyke and re. | Tptr( upon the actual facts as they are to be found there, is already under way. William L. Jones is, with his assistants, by now *‘trying the pass,” Haj Hoffman is en route to Juneau, and by the Excelsior, which sails to-morrow after- noon, Sam W. Wall and Miss Bertha Crai® will leave for the'north. The expedition is under the leadership of Mr. Wall, who will arrive at Dawson, it is expected, considerably in advance of the overland party. Mr. Jones will, from point to point along his perilous journey, send back by courier the record of his | progress and that of the army of men who are marching that way, and very many of whom are illy equipped for the trials of the journey or the rigors of the winter which is at hand, awaiting them along the fringe of the Arctic circle. To tell the story of that journey, and by it to advise and warn those who follow of what they must encounter and how they should prepare for it, is his peculiar duty at this time. | Hal Hoffman goes to Juneau to stand guard through the winter and deliver, steamer by steamer, all the news that comes out of the more inaccessible and deso- late regions further north and to look after and forward with what speed he may | the letters of THE CALL’S correspondents at Dawson. | Wall goes to the Dawson district by way of St. Michaels and the Yukon, and by the returning steamer will send so much of the story of the situation there as the | stay of the vessel will admit. He expects to arrive there early in September, and | his report may be expected to reach here toward the latter part of October. He | will remain there during the winter and for as long a time as circumstances seem to require. He will be joined in dus time by the overland party. The vessel that carries Mr. Wall is the last conveying passengers that is ex- oected to get into the river before it is closed by the ice. Reports will be sent out by, him during the winter by way of the Chilkoot Pass and Juneau just as often as facilities admit or exigencies demand. As to these facili:ies—the frequency of co.a- | munication with the outer world—there is no reliable information. Reports conflict, but whatsoever they may be will, of course, be employed. The only means offered for carrying mails is by Indians with dogs and snowshoes over the 800 miles of ice and snow, mountain and river from the Klondyke to Juneau. A word may here be said of the men composing THE CALL expedition. Sam W. Wall, who leads it, is a newspzper man of years of expeiience, whose training fits him eminently for this trying post. His career has been a trying one. He left the city editor’s desk of the Pittsburg Times to ride in the saddle across Virginia to write up the horrors of the famine that visited the interior counties in 1883. Two years later he took a flying trip to the coast and decided to remain in Tacoma, where he was offered the managing editorship of the Ledger. This he held until March, 1890, when George Francis Train was sent by the people of Tacoma round the world, principally to attract the attention of its inhabitants to that booming city. Mr. Wall was delegated to accompany him and print the story of that remarkable journey, which broke all speed records in that regard. Since then Mr. Wall has been special writer and news editor of the Boston Post ; he worked two months for SAMUEL W. WALL VT that paper at Fall River on the famous Borden murder mystery. It was after this that he did what he considers his best piece of newspaper work. It consisted of the capture of the leader of the green-goods gang in the den in Elizabeth street, New York, together with such proofs as compelled the prisoner to plead guilty—a thing that, according to the New York World, had never before been accomplished. Mr. Wall came to San Francisco in 1894, after six months at the World’s Fair. Since coming here his best piece of work was done for THE CALL, when he went to Round Valley to write up the era of crime and lawlessness that held sway over that country. He was sent just after the murder of Jack Littlefield, before which the county Sheriffs were almost helpless. He worked on in his own man- ner—his story was the sensation of the day, and Jack Littlefield’s murderers rest in San Quentin as a result of his work. . Jones, who is going over the pass, is a young and courageous newspaper man of 'wide experience and training. He has been located on Puget Sound for some years and has traveled all over the Northwestern country as correspondent of metro- politan journals, and is thoroughly familiar with the character of country and adven- ture that he has entered upon. He wields a rapid and graphic pen and is aitogether peculiarly fitted for the work for which he has been chosen. Hal Hoffman, who is on his way to his station at Juneau, is a thoroughly sea- soned newspaper man. He has been about the world, here and there ; has served in almost every capacity on the daily newspapers—big newspapers—besides now and again owning and operating one of his own; these latter not so- big, of course. Hoffman wears upon his scarf a gold pin given to him by the proprietors of the Detroit Free Press as a testimonial of his having in the service of that paper “scooped the entire country.” It was a big prize-fight, some years ago, when these affairs were ‘“‘pulled off” in remote and secret places, to evade a vigilant police. Hoffman followed the party and got the story for his paper alone. He writes very entertalningly. Miss Bertha Craib is the daughter of a well-known mining expert. She is but 16 years of age, and will probably be the youngest of either sex who will dare the Arctic winter. She will tell her impressions and experiences for THE CALL. Lind was warned out of the country and left promptly, The rush shows no signs of abating. Berths on the steamers which leave with- in the next week have practically been all taken, and a large number of tickets have already been sold on the Queen, which does not leave nntil August 6. On the Willamette, which leaves August 3, 400 tickets have alrcady been soid. The next steamer to leave Seattle for Alaskan ports is the City of Topeku, schaduled to depart July 28. She will not, bowever go to Dyea, or any further north than Junean. Notwitbetanding this fact, she will have a full passenger list of gold- seekers who will trust to getting passage to Dyea from Juneau on the Rustler, the Scoplin or the Skagua, all of which steam- ers are now plying between Juneau and Dyea and Skagua. The steamer Islander, which leaves Victoria July 28, will carry fully 100 passengers from Seattle. Theéy have taken this route because the Islander has accom- modations for the horse® which these parties are taking north with them, and few of the other steamers will carry horses. The increase in the number of boats now going on the Alaska route has made a shortage in qualified Alaska pilots. New vessels going on the run wili have some difficulty in getting pilots licensed for Alaska waters. There are at present none of this class now out of employment on Puget Sound. Articles of incorporation of the Seattle- Klondyke Development Company were filed here to-day. This concern is to be entirely in the hands of the colored men of the country. Officers of colored men’s banks ana newspapers in various parts of the country are interested in it. They propose to seil stock through these agencies, and send into the Klondyke in the spring five colored men to prospect for gold and develop claims for the stock- holders. The capital is fixed at $500,000. J. Hawkins, a colored lawyer of this city, is president; J. N. Conner of Tacoma, who was a candidate for Presidential elector on the McKinley ticket, is vice- president, and Con Rideout, a well-known colored politician, secretary. The directors 1nciude J. P. Lynch, presi- dent of the Washington Savings Bank of ‘Washington, D. C.; Rev. J. C. Brown ot Richmond, Va.; Douglas Corey, cashier of th Washington Savings Bank; E. E. Couper, editor of the Colored American, Wasbington, D. C.; E. A. Mannering, ed- itor of the World, Indianapolis; BE. B, Burnett, editor of the Conservative Chica- goan, Chicago; and Major J. C. Buckner of Chicago. Aside from this co-operative enterprise quite a number of the colored men of this city have secured grubstakes and will go north o:l‘:he Willamettee. “Henry Dore, a young French-Canadian, claiming Seattle as his home, who went into the Yukon last year and came out ¢n the Portland with a handsome sack, at- tended a meeting of Friar Tuck Court of Foresters in this city, to which he be- longed, and at the conclusion of the exer- cises he presented every member present with a Klondyke nugget from his ample store, FROM SAN JOSE. Many Are Going to the New ‘Gold Fle:ds While Others Awalt Additional Reports. SAN JOSE, Car., July 26.—This city and county will be well represented on the Klondyke when work commences next spring. A few are determined to rush in thus fall, but many San Joseans prefer to wait until another working sea- sor in the Klondyke mines is over before making up their minds for a trip to the gold region. If the rich strikes of 1897 are duplicated in 1898 they will feel that there is a chance for them. % 1f the excitement continues those who stay at home will perhaps reap a rich ben- efit. A packing company near the city has under consideration the advisability of putiing up evaporated vegetables. Other articles of food may be prepared in the same way to find a ready sale. J, B. Wyatt, the cigar-dealer, will go to the Klondyke in the spring. He hai lately been in correspondence With friends in Louisville, Ky., in relation to the trip. A large party will be formed and a steamer chartered in San Francisco for the entire trip. W. L. Frost, better known as “Jack’ Frost, who has resided in this city for several years, reached the Kiondyke re- gion six weeks ago. He has not made a rich strike yet, but expects to. A number of well-to-do San Joseans are awaiting the arrival of B. F. Branham from the Palo Alto mine for. the purpose of inducing him to go to the Alaskan gold fields as their represeniative. Mr. Bran- ham is an experienced mining man with sufficient conservatism to make his repre- sentation safe o speculate on. Dr. Habluiz:l, City Physician, is se- riously thinking of joining the army of gold-hunters in the spring. 8o is Frank G, Hardy, the upholsterer, and Freeman, the contracter. J. H. Heinberg of the Palace crockery store.is in San Francisco making arrangements, it is said, for going nto business at Dawson City. Several parties are preparing to leave for the mines trom Los Gatos. Magnus Taft, the banker, will head one, and the start will be made next Thursday. John Mason of the Gem City left to-day. He is a wuan of means and has had four years' experience in mining in Colorado. Constable J. D. Martin of slountain View has been settling his business and property in this county during the past week with a view of trying his luck in the land of nuggets ana placers. - ALL ARE NOT RICH. William Ireland of Healdsburg Draws a True Picture of Miners in A aska. HEALDSBURG, CAr., July 26.—A letter received from William Ireiand, who isnow in Alaska, by a friend in this city, would not indicate that gold was as plentiful as many think. Mr. Ireland leit Healdsburg two vears ago last spring with two other young men o this place, C. Merchant and James Ewing. Both the latter gentlemen returned thoroughbly di-gusted with the land of the midnight sun. Mr. Ireland remained, and of bis stay in Alaska he says: *I hope Sonoma County will not be depopulated by a rush to Alaska, for I feel sure from the excite- ment here now and the many who are re- | turning 10 California to cash in, there will be a renewed revival of interest in this country. Undoubtedly it is true that some very rich discoveries have been made on the Kiondyke in the last year or so. Ihave been in the midst of the ex- citement and know that a iarge amount of gold has been taken out. As in Califor- nia, a few lucky ones have made the kill- ing. * * % Of the 200 miners working near where I am located thirty-one are mine-owners and the others laborers. I receive $10 a day and I can work about 165 days during the year. The cost of living, Ishould say, would average $2 per day per year, and at this price I enjoy none of the luxuries. Iam on an equality with the rest of the workers, only three of whom receive higher wages, “The mine-owners are making fortunes. Just how much money has been taken out can only be roughly guessed at, but it is certain that the placers here are exceed- ingly rich. Those who come from Cali- fornia, if they possess money enough, may succeed In raaking a strike, but I would not advise any one to come up here without a sufficient supply of money to carry him over a yvear. There is plenty of country to prospect in and the summers are delightful, so that for about five and a half months in the year a miner can work out of doors as well here as in California. Be sure and send a big supply of papers. If I were starting out again I would carry at least oae-third of my load in reading matter. Lilein the long months of win- ter is unbearably dull without something to read.” TAKES NINE BURROS. Excitement of an Oakdale Man Who Almost Miss=d the Stockton Steamar. STOCKTON, CAL,, July 26.—There was a greatly excited man on the California Navigation Company’s wharf to-night just as the Mary Garratt was steaming away. He had come down from Oakaale with nine burros, bound for Alaska, and he wanted to get aboard the boat. Just as bedrove his herd of mules on the dock the captain of the Mary Garratt signated the enzineer to start, and it looked as though the man with the Klondyke fever would be left. The burros did not scem to mind the waiting a particle, but their Continued on Second Page. RUSHING, JAMNING, WAILING That's the Trend of the Growing Tale of the Klondyke Fever. STORIES OF THE YUKON CRAZE. The Rush Grows, the Jam Al- ready Appears and the Wailing Is Sure. THE YUKON MAY PROYE A TRAP, More Vossels Are Being Purchased and Steamer Accommodations Are Sold Days Ahead. The most striking feature among all the Yukon developments of yesterday was the report from Port Townsend that already there is & hopeless jam of freight, etc., this side of Chilcoot Pass, and that with the limited facilities for packing it over the range to the lakes but comparatively little of it would get into the Yukon Val- ley ihis year. This report was to be expectea. Within two weeks some thousands of tons of sup- plies, baggage, etc., have been massed against the mountain barrier, The In- dian packers, the mules, horses, dogs, etc., available for getting the freight over the pass to where boating begins are just about gauged to the old demand before the rush began. Now an avalanche of impedi- menta has landed on the seaward side of asteep and snowy mountain. One man can pack a fiaction of his own outfit over the steeps. A mule can pack but about 250 pounds upthe toilsome ascent. And there you are. It is possible for people to get their stuff to Juneau and on to Dyea on overloaded and multiplying steamers; but men will be in a nice fix when their baggage is landed in a mess of several thousand tons at the fcot of the wall, with navigation about to close on the other side and boats to build. This is thesituation here that the people leaving by hundreds will face at once. Ana still the steamer accommodations are sold two weeks ahead and the freight moving toward the jam inecreases daily. Possibly the men who are shipping mules and burros to Juneau will make alucky play. This new condition on the coast has a mighty bearing on that threat of winter famine in the interior. Each ton of pro- visions blocked on the way is that much less to eat by the Yukon between now and next summer, and each man who in his eagerness abandons part of his sup- plies and pushes to get tirough himself, at least, is one more consumer of a limited supply. But if anybody thinks that this news has any particular effect on the rush here they are badly mistaken. The crowding of steamers and the search for new ones to crowd goes on. This will develop much ingenuity, and will entertain the world with the Chilcoot International Transportation Exposition of 1897. The sawmill on Lake Bennett will be able to supply but a frac- tion of the demand for lumber for boats. Of course a large proportion of those who are going with the rush are not going to dig goid, but to win it from those who do. Legitimate and illezitimate, wise and foolish business schemes are crowding in. The stories of $50 blind studpoker games with thousands on a tabls have started such an exodus of gamblers that the SBausalito Monte Carlo is likely to ba deserted, They are even planning horse- races for the Klondyke. * The chance for people getting stuck on the way to Dawsoun by the Yukon River route isalso coming to the front as a possi- bility to be talked about. This fate is a probability for any who try the trip by private conveyance as some are planning. The Excelsior and Portiand will connect at St. Michaels with the river steamers of the respective companies, which will leave just in t me to get to Dawson befora navigation closes according to the habit of the river. The crowding of freight and passengers may cause delays. There are barsand snags in the river and these or an carly freeze may stop astern wheeler's progress a thousand miles from next lo anywhere. That would be interesting. The nearest Indian settlement or mis<ion atong the river would become the goal of a loiisome tramp in tie snow. The steamer Puebla arrived yesierday, bringing no miners and a remnant of the golddust brought out on the Portland a few days ago, amounting to $16,614. Two more of tbe miners who came down on the Portland arrived by rail from Seattie to-day. They were J. E. Boucher and H. Dore, who have a few thousands cach. Con Stamatiu, who was one of the Port- land’s lucky crowd, started for his home in Greece yesterday with his little fortune, expecting to stay there for the rest of his life. = The accident insurance companies bar Klondyke trips from their risks. A good many of those who have started for the Yukon or planned todo so have bethought themselves that an insurance policy would be a proper feature of their outfit, and they have found that they can cet life insurance after rigid examination, but that no company will write accident insurance risks on the trip. The show-windows are adjusting them- selves to tue Klondyke craze. Klondyke shirts, boots and furs are ranged up and down the business streets. One heathen manufacturer displays belts for gold and socks for dust. Hardware-stores adver- tise picks, pans, compasses and soon. A