The herald., 1897-08-17
FINANCIAL GENIUS
A PURELY PROBLEMATICAL EX-
PEDITIoN COMPANY
The Wonderful Results That Would
Have Come to the Followers of
G. H. Hastings, If g.

I The Alaska Expedition company,
which recently issued prospectus of its
proposed excursion to Alaska, has closed
its doors, as previously announced.
couple of days previously the Alaska
Transportation company, declared by
the other company to be an entirely sep
arate organiza ton, shut up its office and
posted a notice OH the door declaring its
inability to charter the necessary steam
er for the stipulated sum, and informing
ticket holders that they could secure
their money back by presenting their
tickets at an unnamed bank.
c. H. Hastings of the late Alaska Ex-
pedition company Indignantly denies
that his concern is in any way connected
with the Alaska Transportation COM
rpany; in proof of which he proudly
points to the fact that the other office
closed up first That he received any
money from any one for a prospective
trip to Klondyke he also denies, ex-
planning that nothing was to be paid un-
til 100 men had signified their willingness
to use him as a guardian angel and gen.
eral manager. Each man was then to
sign contract, paying down $1OO, which
was to be deposited in escrow in bank.
A hacker was then to be secured, who
would advance the money to charter
vessel at an estimated cost of $40, 600, and
also stand good for the supplies and
groceries which the company was to
supply to the embryo miners in consid-
Grafton of the payment of $40O more.
One hundred men at $500 each makes
$50, ,000 Cost of vessel, $4,000; estimated
cost of groceries and outfits, 100000,
leaving the comfortable sum of $4,000
which the hacker and the hopeful Hast
lings were to divide as their share of the
enterprise.
Hastings scheme, when denuded OF
the rounded periods and eulogistic ad-
jectives accompanying the description.
is as follows; If he could secure ves-
sci for $4,000 and get 100 men to guar
antee to pay $500 for their transportation
and complete outfit; and if some philan-
thropic capitalist would back the scheme
to the extent of some $4,000, and if the
party was safely landed in the Klondyke
field; then, if all this were to be carried
out, the $4,000 paid in by the embryo
miners would be used to reimburse the
confiding capitalists first, and what was
left over would be divided by him and
Hastings. The miners would be in the
land of gold, the genuine philanthropist
would receive his money back, he and
the genial Hastings would divide the
swag and everybody would be fully sat
| isfied-if.
Here comes an 'if' which Hastings
had not figured upon. If he had paid for
his printing Mr.. Hastings would prob
ably have got his scheme little nearer
perfection. But printing company un-
kindly placed an attachment on the Of
flee of the Hastings ALASKA Expedition
Company and Tom Quinn, deputy con-
stable, took up his temporary residence
in the office that had recently resounded
with the triumphant shouts of the about
to be mine owners and the chink of the
Klondyke gold (to be found.
Apparently Hastings did not mind
being closed out. but he is justly indig-
nant at being confounded with the rival
concern, the promoters of which have
since mysteriously dropped out of sight.
Henry ]. Woollacott, the wine mer-
chant was distinguished by'being picked
out by Hastings as the genuine philan-
thropist who would advance the neces-
sary money to land the party in the gold
fields. AS Mr.. Woollacott is absent from
the city on his vacation it is impossible
to find out if he was aware of the honor
conferred upon him.