Paris Appeal
April 28, 1898
Five of the twenty five members
of the Missouri Alaska Gold company of Paris were sent out March 1to
make the overland trip to Dawson City and to prepare until the rest of
the company arrived on their own boat in June. It was known that they
were on the Chilkoot trail about April 3 when the great snowslide
caused so many deaths, and grave fears were felt for their safety by
their families here. The following letter which was received last
night by H. J. Blanton from D. M. Fields brought news that the party
had escaped the snowslide, and gives a good account of the catastrophe
and the conditions of things in Sheep camp.
"Sheep
Camp, April 3. -- I wrote you from here several days ago, but so much
has happened since I must write again, yet much of it will be sad news
back in the states. An awful snowstorm has been raging for five days
and nights and is now five feet deep. Snowslides began and have
continued all day. News reached camp that many had been caught in the
snowslide. From Sheep camp to the summit there are thousands of tents.
Nearly all the men got their goods to the summit and were waiting for
a clear day to pass over. Tonight many of them are sleeping beneath
thousands of tons of snow and ice. All day 2000 or 3000 men have been
hard at work with shovels taking out the bodies of dead comrades. It
is estimated that 200 or 300 men and women are beneath this might
weight of snow. So far only 25 have been taken out. A few of them were
alive when taken out, but most of them have died since. At 2 pm 56 men
and 2 women were doming down from the summit when a slide occurred.
One woman and 10 men were taken out alive, and nearly all of them died
afterward. "
"There
are forty more beneath the snow. On the first bench beneath the scales
there were 75 or 80 tents, with 2 to 6 in each tent. It is thought all
these have perished. Jim Jones and I went near the summit today. The
storm was so severe on the summit that it was impossible to work long
at a time. The search will continue to morrow, if the weather will
permit. The dead are in a long row near our tent."
"Men
are dying like sheep at Sheep camp. It is useless to withhold the
facts any longer. The hospital is full of dying and dead men, caused
from overwork and drinking too much water and whiskey when too
warm."
"
The only diseased I have heard of here are Pneumonia and spiral
Meningitis, which are fatal in all instances. One can live here and
keep his health just as well as in Missouri, if he will be careful,
not drink too much water when warm and let the saloons alone. But men
will pull 800 or 400 pounds all day, comes into camp at night, lie
down and die."
"
Our goods are under 90 feet of snow. When we will get them out and
start the trail again is more than we can tell. All reports are
encouraging from those who are coming out. They say gold is plentiful
and all are going back soon. I met a man on his way from Dawson City
to the states yesterday and saw $100,000 worth of gold nuggets he had
taken out."
"We
ere eight days getting our 4000 pounds of provisions on our sleds from
Dyes to Canyon City. Canyon City, like the city in which we are
camped, is a city of tents. It is here today and tomorrow it give way
to others. The population to day of Sheep camp is 10,000 to 18,000
people. It presents a beautiful scene at night. We are camped on an
elevation above the city, and as I looked over the city in the
twilight of evening, I can see 6000 to 8000 tents, each with a little
tallow candle burning brightly within."
"
It is said by those who profess to know, and I presume it is true,
that there are 1500 dead horses beneath the snow and ice of the
canyon, yet the people continue to drink the water of this poisonous
stream when they could go the base of the mountain and drink sparkling
water as pure as it was when it came forth from the hand of God. While
passing through this canyon even in midday one is made fearful because
of the rumbling sound of running water beneath his feet. Here at the
scales is the only place on this trail where the tramway is in
operation. At the powerhouse you will see two baskets pass out into
space on their way to the summit: when the baskets are loaded and
started from the power house two others leave the summit on their
return trip. The tramway people charge 1 1/2 cents per pound from the
scales to the summit. The packers charge the same. It is one mile from
the scales to the summit. When your are loaded for your walk above the
clouds with 50 to 100 pounds strapped to your back you take hold of a
three quarter inch rope and climb until you get to the summit. Then
you pile your little load alongside of tens of thousands of tons of
freight that has gone up as yours has, and then sit down and wonder
how you are going to get down. Finally you make up your mind to go as
others do. You keep your set in the basket, call your wife's name and
it is all over in a minute: you get some of the boys to put your eyes
back in their sockets and try it again."
(courtesy
of Kathleen Wilham)
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