The times., 1897-07-29
PIRATES AFTER THE COLO.
Chinese Buccaneers Preparing
to Seize American Ships.
REVENUE CUTTERS ASKED FOR
The Treasury Department Informed
the Portland in Bering Sea
Convoy To Escort Her Through
the Straits.

Among many other things that the Klon-
dixie gold fields have brought to the sur
face is a gang of pirates. They are the
real, genuine article, and are mostly CHI
nese, and are said to be as desperate as
any of those who, in the early days of the
present century, infested the coast OF
China, looted ships, compelled the sailors
to walk the gang plank, and then scuttled
the vessels without fear OF results.
The Alaska Transportation Company, of
which Eli Gage, son Of Secretary Gage, Is
u member, and p. B. Weare, of Chicago,
is president, owns and runs number OF
Alaska and since the discovery OF gold
along The Yukon have done an enormous
business and have carried much gold from
st. Michael's to Seattle.
The great value of the cargoes OF these
transportation vessels is well known to
the lawless people who have been attracted
to the gold fields aud their vicinity, and
| the company has more than once been
| badly frightened at demonstrations made
| by these people. From some source the
| company has learned that a number Of
| these lawiess men, nearly all of whorl
are Cinnamon, believed TO belong in British
| Columbia, are prepared TO attack the
| Portland after she leaves St Michaels
| ON September 3, and inasmuch as the ship
will have ON board So 900, 600 in gold
| dust and nuggets, the company is much
| alarmed, and p. B. Weare, the president,
| has telegraphed the Treasury Department
for protection to his vessels.
| The first telegram was received few
| days ago and it requested the Secretary
| OF tile Treasury to send a revenue cutter
| to ST. Michael's for the purpose Of convoy
| Ing the Portland and the S2,000,000 in
| gold safely around the Aleutian Islands
| and through the Bering Sea. The telegram
said that Pre esident Weare feared trouble
| from gang Of organized Chinese pirates
that infest the Bering Sea near the Aleutian
! Islands and asked for Government escort
| until safely out to sea. If this escort is
| furnished President Weare said, he thought
| there would be no trouble III getting the
gold TO Seattle.
Yesterday the Treasury officials re
ceived another telegram from President
Weare which reiterated his fears for the
safety of two vessels owned by the cou
pany. One vessel viii leave st. Michael's
August and the next, the Portland
will depart September 10.
The cargo OF gold on the first vessel
is not so nch as that which the Port
land viii carry, and, for that reason,
President Wesre is more apprehensiye FOL
the safety of the latter than the former
ST. Michaes is near the mouth of the
iS tho TOWN ,1f
the gold fields 1t is said to be infested
with a large number Of men who VIII
besitiie at nothing, and IL is Thought thai
some OF the worst of these have planned
With number of Chinese desperadoes
to attack the Portland.
The officials at the Treasury Depart
mcnt are much concerned over the tele-
grams sent by President Weare, and he
has been telegraplIed TO furnish the De
partment with all the details concerning
the pirates and the bomewardbound trl
OF the Portland.
1t il probable that if the officials receive
corrobcrative Information the department
will communicate with Capt. Hooper, conr
nanding the Beiing Sea fleet, directing
him 10 detail one Of the vessels in the fleet
TO convoy the Portland around the Aleu-
tian Islands to tie open sea, where she viii
be safe, for it is not believed that the
pirates have any but small boats TO at
tack her, and that these boats, IL an at
tack should he made, would put off from
shore while the Portland is forced to b,
near the land
Orders can be sent to Capt Hooper by 6
steamer which will leave for st. Michael,
about August Is.