The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-08
POPULISTS MOVE OUT.
They Buy . Schooner and Sail
for the Golden North.
A. N. GILMAN HEADS THE PARTY.
The "Wise' Man Of the Crowd. Who
Has Been There Before, Tells .
story OF Adventure.

The schooner EllidS. which sailed for
Cook inlet yesterday afternoon. carries
an important accession to the PopuliSt
faction in Alaska A. NJ Gilman. who
made such an able struggle for mayoraity
honors during the recent city campaign.
coming in third among three candidates.
Is captain OF the vessel. Joseph Holman
and J. J. Hunter, who have been iden-
titled with the Populist party in Seattle,
and four others whose political Affiliations
are not known. but who are vouched for
by L W. Kidd, who stands head and
shoulders above the other Populists Of
this community. are passengers
The Ellida Is well equipped for q long
voyage. She was sold to the members Of
the present party at sherif's sale about
three weeks ago for S56. Besides those
named Frank r. Mccoy, F. c. Moore. E.
4. Craven and ]. F. Solomon win be pas
sengers. The schooner will go first to
Portland canal. British Columbia. and re-
main there as long as prospecting holds
out any inducements. From there to Ju-
neua and thence to Prince William sound
and Cook inlet is the course laid out
Several OF the party have been in Alaska
before. but probably the best posted Is ].
+. solomon, who ran a trading sloop be-
tween Cook inlet and Juneau twelve years
ago. He Is an old traveller and has roughed
II In South America. Central America and
Mexico. He is firm believer in Alaskas
greatness as q mining region and says
he has struck many places where for a
Few hours gold could be panned out that
would average from $50 to 500 a day if It
would hold out. There is plenty Of il
there. but it lies scattered and pretty thin.
Solomon owned a half interest in the
schooner Adventure, built In Seattle.
Speaking of his experiences in Alaska. he
tells of a remarkable escape from death
w ~
years ago.
Il spent some time at Nucheck once.
Was there on a trading venture In the
schooner. The crew with the boat were
about the only white men there at that
time. besides the post trader and the Rus
sian bishop. There were lots of natives
there and they were most all Catholics.
! had Russian Finn aboard, a QUARREL
some fellow who came pretty near getting
US al cleaned out. He was fond Of clans
ana during his spare time, which was
plenty. used to gather CLAIMS and out
them In bucket. He would leave the
bucket at the waters edge so the rising
tide would cover them and keep them
fresh One morning an Indian kicked the
bucket over and scattered the clans. This
made the Russian Finn mad and he went
at the native hammer and tongs. spread
ing MIN all over the place. The fellow
fought back and the Finn drew a small
revolver on him. A number Of Indians
had gathered about, attracted by the noise
OF the quarrel and when the pistol flashed
into view cries OF hatred and anger rose
on all sides. The Finn had to run for his
life. He got into the house of the post
trader and the Indians howled about on
the outside like lot OF wolves who have
a scent OF meat. The bishop was on hand
trying to pacify them. Finally he went
into the house and demanded the revolt
YER The Finn was scared and gave II
over without much of a struggle. The
bishop went outside and after holding II
up to the view OF the excited natives.
threw 1t on the ground. 1t struck on the
hammer and exploded. The bullet struck
one Of the natives in the front OF the
neck and came out at the back. The
strange thing was that the Indian was
unhurt the bullet slipping about the neck
without penetrating at vital point. Then
there was great powwow. The hishop
was smart He said a higher power had
certainly guided the bullet and spared
the mans life. to make peace between the
whites and their brothers The Indians
took 1t all in and the trouble was tided
over. They never went much on the Rus-
sian Finn. however. and until we had
gotten safely away he never went alone
at night"