The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-10-15
SCENES At ST. M|CHAELS
Three Hundred Goldseekers
Camped on the Beach.
THEIR SITUATION PeRILous
Many Are Short of Provisions and
Money, With No Hope OF Ascending
the Yukon This Winter.

Many Are Short of Provisions and
Money, With No Hope OF Ascending
the Yukon This Winter.
Washington, Oct. 14.-Information
received at the treasury department
from Captain Tuttle. of the cutter
Bear, now cruising in Alaskan waters,
does not give a. rosy description of
scenes at st. Michaels and prospects of
the goldseekers. Writing from st.
Michaels September 16, Captain Tut
tie says:
''There are in port four seagoing
vessles and six river steamers, with
one steamer and one barge in process
of construction on the beach. About
800 people are encamped on the beach
awaiting the completion of these ves-
sells. At least seven vessels are ex-
pected to arrive, many of them with
passengers. There is no possible
chance of these people reaching the
Upper Yukon this season, and they
must winter here or at some point in
side the mouth of the Yukon.
"While there will be an abundance
of provisions, as the Trading companies
have their main depots here, trouble
is likely to arise from those who have
no provisions and no money. This,
however, is small matter when it is
taken into consideration that matters
are much worse above Fort Yukon. On
September 13 the river steamer Hamil-
ton returned from it's up-river trip,
having been unable to reach Circle
City. Captain Hill reported the river
SO low as to prevent his reaching his
destination. His cargo was landed
on the river bank. The steamers Healy,
Weare, Alice, Bella and Marguerite
are now up the river, but the prospects
are that they will not be able to reach
Circle City or Dawson.
Claws in regard to the transporta-
ton of steam vessels are entirely disre.
garded, as no inspector of hulls and
boilers has visited this place. At least
l6 such vessels are now running in this
part of Alaska. If I should seize them
starvation would ensue to those who
are depending upon these vessels to
bring them provisions. At the same
time hundreds of people are travelling
on these vessels, which are without the
safeguards to life that the law provides
they shall have.
"a deputy collector of customs is
stationed at St. Michaels who is re-
uuired to attend to all customs busi-
ness. frequently there are several ves-
sells in port discharging bonded goods
at the same time. 1t is impossible for
one man to attend to all this business.
After leaving St. Michaels there is no
customs officer in charge Of these goods
Vessels frequently get aground, and it
is necessary to discharge cargo before
they can be foated. Great opportuni-
ties are, afforded to defarud the Gus
toms. There should be customs off
Ger on every vessel carrying bonded
goods, and provisions should be made
to have the vessels Inspected as the law
requires.
Everything Is Taxed.
Port Townsend, Oct. IA letter
from Dawson City says:
'tThe greatest drawback is the gov.
ernment. People are taxed outland-
ishly. The first recording fee on q
claim is $15, the next is $500, and. fol
seven years following is 800 for each
claim.S They even charge stumpage fol
cutting wood at 25 cents cord, which
amounts to considerable where SO much
| is used in thawing the ground. Even
the dead wood on the ground is charged
for at 10 cents a cord. House logs are
taxed at cents log. ALI goods are
subjected to a heavy revenue tax
which is said to be a retaliation on the
United States. 1t is estimated that the
Canadian government will collect
So. 900, 600 here between last spring and
next.
'"There is much complaint because
the United States government is SO slow
in determining the course of the boun.
Diary line. It is reported here that
President Mckinley has notified the
Canadian government that strict ae
| count of revenues collected must be
kept until the location of the boundary
line is settled
Late Vessel From st. NIichaels.
Seattle, Oct. 14.-The schooner Beh
| ring Sea arrived today from ST.
Michaels, which place she left .Septem.
Der 90. The Behring Sea brings ne
news of importance beyond what has
already been received. When she left
the Eliza Anderson expedition was pre-
pairing to start up the Yukon. The
sensational stories about the threatened
| lynching of Mayor Wood, of Seattle
and D. K. Howard, manager of the
Eliza Anderson party, are said to bt
without foundation.
New Yukon Mission Vessel.
San Francisco, Oct. 14.-The Jesuit
fathers are preparing to build a new
vessel for the Yukon river to replace
the one they formerly had, but which
at the time of the rush, few months
ago, was purchased by miners as las
means of reaching the gold fields. Th'
new vessel is to run up the Yukon be