The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-18
THE CIRCLE CITY H(lD-UP.
HOW DESPERATE MINERS TOOK
FOOD FROM THE wEARE.
Capt. Healy, Of the =. 4. T. Z T. Co.,
says Not Another steamer VIII De
Landed ut Circle-Miners Bound to
Have the Goods, bat Paid for Them

W. J. Jones, a Post-InteIligencer Alaska
syndicate correspondent, writing from
Dawson under date OF October IL, incor-
porates q brief interview with Capt. John
j. Heafy. manager of the North Ameri-
can Transportation and Trading Com
pany's river feet. anent the hold-up OF
the steamer Weare at Circle City. Capt.
Healy was indignant and said that 1t was
not the first time his company had been
imposed upon in similar manner. Last
year. he said, miners meeting cornered
and mulcted his company out OF A000.
The year before another of the stockhoid-
ers at Forty-Mile post received similar
treatment.
1--WE don't propose" said Capt. Healy.
s-to land another steamer at Circle City
until the government affords US ample
protection from such high-handed out
RACES. We have tried to treat the people
Of this country honorably and fairly. have
doubled the transportation facilities, and
to certain extent have assisted in devel-
oping the mining resources. The people of
Circle City say they are short OF grub.
Well. be II so, they will be much shorter
before another of our steamers calls there.
We can stand 1t IL they can. We offered
everything within reason. which was not
only refused, but our representatives were
insulted besides"
Several people who Joined the steamer
at Circle City entertained opposite views.
Jack Gregor, an old miner, who came up
on this boat, said that the men held
meeting over two weeks ago and at time
when they were reduced to hour and
moose meat. They decided to hold up the
first steamer that came along and compel
her to unload a portion of the provisions
at Circle City. for which they were will
ing to pay. The men were honest. deter
mined, and made desperate by hunger. he
said. and had the officers attempted to
take the boat away from the wharf some
one would have been killed. Mr.. Weare
told the men that the cargo consisted en-
tirely of bonded goods under customs seal.
destined for foreign port. The men said
II that were true and II manifest to that
effect was produced. they would allow the
boat to depart. The proposition was not
accepted and armed men forcibly took
twenty tons OF mixed provisions ashore.
In measure. 1t was fortunate proceed
Ing for the hungry men of Dawson. In
place Of the provisions $500 sacks Of -four
were taken aboard and -four was and Is
the most essential commodity required.
Two hours before the weare arrived I saw
a miner offer $500 in gold for six sacks of
-four. which was refused. Thomas O'Brien,
merchant. was at Circle City two or
three weeks before the Weare arrived and
said that II was impossible to get anything
to eat except bread and moose meat. The
men claimed that they as Americans were
the first TO develop the mines In the Yu-
kon valley and afford business opportuni-
ties Tor the commercial companies and
they were entitled to food in preference
TO those working In Canadian territory.
They proposed to eat moderately and to
take only what was absolutely required.
IN very plain and emphatic language Mr..
C'Rrien said they told the president OF the
North American Transportation and Trad
ing Company that ~ man ATTEMPTED to
move the boat he would be killed The
boat was detained twenty-four hours and
twelve men. armed with loaded w,uches-
ter rifles. kept guard over the engine room
and wheelhouse The officers OF the steam
er understood the caliber OF the men with
whom they were dealing too we'll 70 at
tempt any deception. The passengers sn,d
that the scene was dramatic and thrilling
Capt. Dickson. In speaking OF the hold
up. said:
I'VE were hurrying mp the river with
the supplies. We were intending to make
another trip to Dawson before the season
closed and stopped at Circle CITY to land
the mail delegation met us and said
that we must unload some provisions ex-
cepting hour. Of which they had a plenti-
full supply. I told them that there were
over ono men at Dawson In a similar con-
dition and advised them to 60 down the
river to Fort Yukon. which was seventy
miles distant and where they could pro-
cure any quantity OF provisions and could
either bring them up IN boats or In dog
sleighs when the river froze They re-
fused and sent armed guards aboard and
took charge of the boat. Among the
freight that was taken ashore was a lot
Of bonded goods under the seal OF Amer.-
can customs officers. which were broken.
They threatened 10 kill any man who re-
sisted their action and used insulting and
abusive language. After OBTAINING the
boat nearly day they allowed us to take
500 sacks % -four from our own warehouse
and continue up the river
THE whole proceeding was a highland
ed outrage and demonstrates the neces-
sity OF having enough officers there TO en-.
force the law and protect the property OF
citizens 81 the United States When ready
to leave they came aboard and paid for
the goods"