The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-18
UNITED STATES WILL ESTABLISH
A MILITARY Pest AT ST.
MICHAELS.
A REPORT FROM CAPT. RAY.
IT'S CONTENTS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO
RESULT IN IMMEDIATE
ACTION.
TROUBLE is ALMOST A CERTAINTY
The Commanding officer of the
Frontier Station VIII Re Allowed
81 Large Discretion.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17-At today's
cabinet meeting, which lasted over two
hours, the situation in Alaska was
discussed Secretary of War Alger
had q report from Capt. Ray, who has
Just reached Alaska, which furnished
the basis for the discussion, and the
cours which was decided upon. Capt.
Rays report was in the nature of al
urgent appeal for troops to preserve
peace and order during the coming
winter. There is a vast amount Of
stores and supplies at st. MichaeFs.
and there is not a United States
soldier in the whole territory of Alas
xa. After considering the subject it
was decided to send a company of in
fantry to st. Michael's as soon as pos
sible. Secretary Alger will arrange
the detail Immediately, and he hopes
to have the company sail within a
week, probably from Seattle.
The commanding officer probably
will be allowed great discretion, and
latitude as the purpose in sending the
troops there is to preserve order.
Capt Rays advices were Of date
Aug. II. He was then at ST. Michaels,
kon for Circle City. His report showed
that, without doubt, suffering must be
expected in the KlOndike region this
winter owing to the lack of food sup
PLIES. Further details on that point
were promised at later date. He
regarded it as essential that some kind
of force acting under lawful authority
be placed at st. Michaels to restrain
the laWess element.
Secretary Alger, late this afternoon,
gave the necessary orders for the send
ing Of troops. There will be only
twenty-five infantrymen and they will
be sent from Fort D. A Russell, where
Capt. Ray had made a selection of
hardy men to accompany him, when
he was about to go north before. These
men will be under the lead of Lieut..
Col. Randall, Of the Eighth infantry,
now at Cheyenne, and there will be Z
surgeon and three members Of the
army hospital corps, because of the
reports of prevailing sickness in Alas
ka. Secretary Alger has managed to
overcome the difficulty in the matter
of transportation by means of tele
graphic correspondence with President
Weare, of the Alaska Transportation
company. That gentleman has in
formed the secretary that the COM
pany will start another boat from Sc
attic for st. Michaels within the next
seven Gays. his BOAT Will take UP
mainly food and clothing supplies, bur
the troops will be taken also, if the
war department desires it.
1t is understood that the admins
tratiOn will take some action looking
to the apprehension and punishment
of the assassins of Mr.. Foftin, the col
Ored postmaster at Hogansville, Ga,
who was murdered on Tuesday, In
connection with the Omaha exposition,
+ tld ~
Der of the executive board be appoint
ed to represent the cabinet, also that
President Mckinley should name the
president of the board. Secretary Viii
son presented the name of Col. ]. TT.
Brigham, assistant secretary of agri-
cultural, as the cabinets representa-
tive, and President Mckinley accept
ing this nomination, appointed Col.
Brigham as president of the exposition
board