The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-19
Edward Thorp Returning Home with
100000 WreSted from Gold Fields
in Less than Two Months.
RUSH N0RTHWARD NOT OVER
DEPARTURE OF THE STEAMERS
HUMBOLDT AND NORTH FORK.
Almost n Riot at seattIc-TroubIe
Brewing Between Canadians and
Americans Over Customs Laws.


SEATTLE Wash. Aug 1S.-The steamer
Al-Ki arrived this morning from Dyea,
Alaska. This afternoon Willis Thorp was
handed letter by man who came down
on the Al-Ki from Dyea. 1t was written
by Edward Thorp, and came overland, say
Ing that he had cleaned up 900 in the
Klondike in eight weeks and was coming
home on the steamer Portland which is
due at Seattle on Aug. Z6. Thorp left Sc
attic ono year ago, having gone north with
a drove of cattle.
The Alki brought the following letter to
the Associated Press dated Skaguay. Alas
ka, near Dyea, Aug. 4: Twelve Canadian
customs officers have arrived here and will
establish a custom house at the portage
between Lake Bennett and Tagish lake. a
point by which all Yukon ,or Klondike
travellers must rass if they start from
Dyea and Skaguay. The rates of duty will
average about $50 on the average outfit of
a Yukoner. The officers are well armed
and will have the assistance of the mounted
police to enforce the duties Further down
the river will be stationed guards to inter-
cept any one who might attempt to elude
the vigilance of the officers. American
miners who have investigated this assert
that the treaty between Russia and Great
Britain provides that the Yukon, Porcupine
and Skeena rivers should be free from com
mercial and exempted from imposition of
customs duty The Canadians evade the
point at issue by claiming that prospectors
crossing the mountain ranges to the lakes
or headwaters of the Yukon do not go into
the territory by way of any of the rivers
mentioned but that they cross American
territory and before they can reach Yukon
the duty is exacted Miners and prospec-
tors very much exercised over the stu
alton and this may lead to complications.
Canadian officers declare they will enforce
the law impartially and will not discrim-
mate against Americans. 1T is idle to
argue that there is no serious feeling be-
tween the Americans and Canadians. The
newly appointed collector of Alaska Mr.
Ivy, of Oregon, has been here. He said he
had been in Geographic communication
with Secretary Gage prior to sailing from
Seattle on June % and that he was ordered
to install a SUPPORT of entry at Dyea as
soon as possible. Unless both governments
are very careful system of retaliation will
be in vogue before either are aware of the
fact and much i'll feeling will follow and
the miners will be the greatest sufferers"
The Al-Ki brings news that few miners
have crossed the divide. Several hundred
men will winter at Dyea and go down the
Yukon in the spring The Al-Ki leaves to-
morrow for the north, The body of Dwight
Fowler, a well-known young man from Sc
attic, who was drowned at Skaguay, was
brought down on the Al-Ki.
The steamer Humboldt which was Ii
beled last night has been released and will
probably leave tonight. Mayor Wood of
this city. is the chief stakeholder in the
Seattle and Yukon COO1nanv
which chartered the Humboldt to go to St.
Michaels, and thence by river steamer,
which the passengers are to assist in build
ing up the Yukon to Dawson City. Over
two hundred passengers had bought tickets
at 5000 EACH and each passenger was al
lowed LOCO pounds of freight at 10 cents "a
pound About ninety passengers had en-
barked at San Francisco, and nearly $50
had purchased tickets all over the Eas.
from the company's agent. The steamer
was to have sailed Aug. 3D. but has been
delayed until To-Day, storing away freight.
IN ADDITION to building the steamer Oh the
of merchandise TO sell in Alaska.
Yesterday it was discovered that the
steamer was loaded, but between fifty and
including clothing for arctic winters,
miners stoves and sleds, flour and provi-
slons, We're to be left behind. The passen-
gers demonstrated with Mayor Wood and
the more they talked the angrier they be-
came. 1t was death by starVati ton or cold
10 go without their clothing and provisions.
Many of the passengers could not get more
than the clothing they had on on board so
solid was the boat packed with goods.
An angry crowd of determined passengers
rushed to Mayor Woods office at the sail
ing hour and demanded that their luggage
be loaded aboard. Gentlemen" the mayor
said, i cannot put any more aboard, the
vessel is fun of freight and there is no more
room for H. X, l. L. IA Metzger of Milwaukee
his voice: gentlemen, we are strong
enough in numbers TO assert our rights
propose that we unload this vessel and put
the clothing and provisions aboard that we
must have to sustain life in the arctic re-
gions. How many will follow me?'
Two hundred voices yelled Il. l." and
they made move toward the steamer.
The heavy door of the warehouse how
ever, barred the way, and the crowd stood
undecided a moment waiting for some bold
spirit to break II down At that moment a
friend of Mayor Wood mounted a pile of
miners goods and made a speech counsel
ing moderation and urging the crowd to
avoid violence and haste. He was jeered
ard asked how much he was paid for his
speech.
A. S. Holmes. of Hannibal. Mo- got the
attention of the crowd and demanded that
the company carry out its promises. They
were not going to let the steamer depart
without their supplies and allow themselves
to starve in Alaska. He thought that
rather than 70 do any violence, ii would be
better to get legal advice and tie up the
Here Il voice interrupted with the news
that she was already in the hands of fed
the anxious crowd. John Sullivan, of Spo-
kane, had run up town and had the steamer
libeled. DR. Boetske, of Brooklyn n. y
who had spent 5000 TO get tickets and sup
plies for this trip. had also libeled her. but
this the crowd did not know.
Mayor Wood was dragged upon a pile of
OF provisions loaded in the hold of the
= ~-'>~ -~'''-N Re ~-o'ld Give the naeson-