The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-19

Judge Bailey. II want you 10 understand
that this nezh court l. not responsible for
the er-ors OF tire superior court, ard your
motion 10 denied"
A most remarkable combination Of un-
Fortunate circumstance cheated Seattle
ont OF the valuable trade of Alaska for ten
years. and those who are familiar with the
Facts Ia this narrative. as well as those
who are not. vii! read them with interest:
for the connected story has never before
been published
In the spring Of 1853 Rev. J. p. Ludlow.
Clerk Of the district court for the Third
judicial district OF Washington territory.
commenced al Seattle. on the site OF the
rear OF the A d. T. Office foot of Cherry
street. the construction CT a gospel steam
boat. TO De called the Eyanxei. AS the
boat assumed proportions and began TO
near completion. Mr.. Ludlow commenced
looking about to see how he could make
this carrier Of glad tidings to the poor. be-
nsghtsd heather earn some money. to aid
him In spreading the gospel After looking
over the feid vey carefully Mr.. Ludlow
discovered that the Pacific Coast Steam
ship Company had for years been enjoy
Ing most lucrative mall contract between
Port Townsend and Sitka, Alaska. making
one round trip each month. A steamer
would leave Portland, call at Port Towns
end for the mail. carry IL TO Sitka. bring
the mail back to Townsend. proceed 70
Portland. take on freight. and repeat the
operation. FOR this service the Pacific
Coast company was receiving about SO 40
per annum. or more than enough 10 nay
the entire expense Of running the steamer
on me route, with large surplus besides.
He also discovered that four years
contract for that service was being adver-
tt4s@d to be let. and ne sent on a bid 20 do
the work for about s22ey9 per annum
When the bids were opened In Washington
City there were but two tenders, and Mr..
Lldiow's Was found to be the lower. An
effort was made by the California deleSa-
ton TO have Ladiow's bid thrown out, and
to award the contract to the California
company. but Judge Greene. who had APP
pointed Ludlow clerk OF the court took
little hand In the matter. He had
powerful friends at court, being re-
iateS to John Sherman, Edward Everett
and many other gentlemen of national re-
nown. and by touching the wires he sue
ceeded In preventing the contract from
being lost to Ludlow.
Now that he had the mail contract Mr.
Ludlow realized that his little gospel ship
was too small TO perform the service and
fearing that the inspectors would refuse
to license SO small craft to go on 50 Ioag
a voyage. he let a contract to j. f. T.
Mitchell. the beat builder, to cut the hull
in two and put about twenty feet addi-
ffonai length In the middle of II. thus max
ing large boat out OF a small one
Finding that this mail contract was
going to take more time than he could
spare from his ONCE work. Mr. Ludlow
entered into an agreement with Messrs.
John Leary and III. l. fesIer to go In
partnership with him on the contract. As
soon as Mr.. Leary became interested in
the contract. he realised that the Evangal
would not be a suitable boat for the bus
mess even after she had been heightened
He saw that = large trade would soon
spring up between Seattle and Alaska AMI
he wanted a boat that could satisfactorily
carry on the business The time was grow
ing very short. as the first Of July was
approaching. at which dete the mail must
leave for the North. In the meantime
the Pacific Coast Company had not been
Idle, as II did not like the idea of losing
a valuable contract and at the same time
having its territory invaded. The attor-
ney OF the company made an offer to Mr.
Ludlow OF $4,000 TO throw up the con-
tract. but he declined IL. and predictions
were openly made that the new contrac-
tors would never carry out their con-
tract How well founded these statements
were. let subsequent facts demonstrate
Mr.. Leary went to Portland and pur-
chased from Mr.. Ladd and Capt. Hatch
the steamer Iaauina. agreeing to pay ses.-
GO for her. A portion of the purchase
price was paid ard the boat was TO be
turned over to her new owners the follow
ing Saturday. on her arrival at Portland
with load Of lime from the San Juan
islands. The day before the delivery WAS
TO have been made. the Yaqulna was burn
ed 10 the waters edge Al Astoria, pre-
sumably from the lime taking IRE In her
hold.
The contractors nothing daunted. en-
ployed Hon. H q. Struve and Cant James
A. Hatfield TO go 20 San Francisco and
either charter or purchase a steamer SUIT
able for the Alaska route. but TO their sur
prise. on arriving At the Golden Gate. they
found every steamer In the bay under
charter 20 the Pacific Coas; or some other
company. Failing in this effort. Mr.. iearg
began TO see that he would be compelled
20 fall back on he ETangel after all, and
a double crew OF workmen waS placed on
her 10 crowd the work and get her ready
on time. The feat was accomplished. and
Col Haines weat to Port Townsend Rl;h
the contractors to demand the mail. and
take legal steps to get u. N necessary
The mail was placed aboard the gospel
ship. and she started OF under favorable
circumstances. Mr.. n. 2. Wheeler went
on her as representative OF the contrac-
tors and all went well TIL Nanalne was
reaeaed. on leaving tina, port. through
some earelessness whether criminal or
not has never been determined the crown
sheet VA. burned out OF her boiler, and
she was 50 badly disabled ttsaf II was I'm
possible for her TO proceed on her Jour-
ney-
on hearing Of this last disaster. Mr.
iseary. who Is ever rosourceful and full
OF hope when other nen would despair.
declared tna, he would get that mail 10
Alaska one trip II he had to swim an she
way and carry Il On his back. In casting
about for steamer TO relieve the Evan
gel. Mr.. LeaTy though; OF the tug :. l.
NaStick. owned by Hansen. Ackersoa a
Co. OF Tacoma. and he determined to
charter her. IL possible. knowing that
Judge Thomas Burke was a warm per-
scnai friends OF Mr.. Ackerson's Mr.
Learr asked the tadge TO ACCOMPANY aim
20 the city OF Destiny. which he did
They hired A small steamer. and reached
Tacoma nj o'clcck AT night. only 20 nnsi
that Mr. Ackerscn had gone out to his
home VI the Payailup valley The tusxe
aad Mr.. IeAry climbed up the ALL 10 a
livery stable. and asked Tor a conyey aacs
- take them up the valley TO the Acksrsoa
place TIE ssah.e man informed them ira,
the only ceuveyance re could furnish vas
= couple az r7sisrs horses I can'; ride a
hcrse'' SAID Mr.. Ieary. We'll l esa~
rcrf;ed Judge Burke. last tras cut TIE
best animal yeu have. rods races when
I was a boy. ard guess have not fer
gotten BOW {; IS sors vet"
II speaking az this incident. Mr.. Leary
SAYS; The Judge mogsiet ,hAt csyuse
3uss Ike = 13ekey. and the SAY Re Sew Up
Fsc-rc avenue s&s a cautian- He vas or
before r~aiix~d waat had happened. ard
] sal arcuad that stable wonaxriug IL he
would ard the pAsce in the dark. - he ;oii
me Re hAl naNnr hNaa th.-. hz.s .f.nrslN