The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-23

and families still make II their home, their
interests are TO be found IN that state
and, like native sons of any state. thsy
are anxious TO see Il advance along COM
mercial lines But they are compelled 10
confess that San Francisco Is unable TO
outfit Miners for Alaska, that they were
virtually driven to Seattle 10 outfit. and
that the treatment they have received Ia
this city has pleased them that hun
drcds Of oti er Califo, mans to whom they
have promised TO write will be advised
Tot TO invest one penny In Quitting until
they can get to Seattle.
The names or these five men are: ii.
NJ. Marble. c. r. Duryea. Harry Spencer.
Ernest White and Paul Tyson. MARBLE
and Duryea live In Los Angeles and Spen-
Ger, White and Tyson are residents OF
Santa Anna. The party cali themselves
the California Bears" Everything they
possess which will go to Alaska with them
bears the stamp California Bears" and
the characteristic coat-of-arms Of Califor-
MIA is stamped on big flag which they
carry. While as a matter OF fact Seattle
is getting about all Of the Alaska trade, tt
borders on the ludicrous to announce to
the world that t.e California Bears. all
sons of California, and flying the Califor-
MA flag should come TO Seattle TO outfit.
But. listen to the statement which il. NJ.
Marple. the spokesna of the party, made
To a Post-Intelligencer reporter In his
room at the fremont hotel last night. in
the presence of his partners:
"We decided some time ago that va
would go on two years prospecting trip
TO the Copper river country. We are all
residents of California and naturally
enough We wanted to outfit there.
San Francisco has been talking
about being prepared TO outfit miners
at ths lowest possible cost and
pointing out the absurdity of making tho
trip to Seattle for that purpose. We
thought that California had the proper
spirit and we believed the press of San
Francisco when they said stay at home
aud outfit
"Well. we went TO San Francisco pre-
pared TO place big o,ders, for we desired
supplies and outfits for a two years trip.
We had the money TO pay for all we
wanted and were willing 10 pay fair
prices. We did not wish anything for
nothing. On the contrary. we were willing
to do the right thing. We made ont a list
of things we wished TO buy and went tc
ore big house and asked that they let us
know what the stun would cost us. We
were given The information that nothing
of that kind could be done. they told us
that &c we wished 10 buy the house would
try and fli our order. but that they would
not tell us what the goods would cost until
we had bought them. We concluded that
centriCities and went 10 another house,
submitted cur list and were told the same
thing.
eve visited q third house. Jeff our list
and said we would call the next day and
nnd cat what IL would charge 20 hli tho
order We went back the next day sni
the man told us that we should get prices
elsewhere and then come back TO him and
h, .souiI give as the goods, and as low
as the othsr fellow Well we went TO a
fourth house. ard this time we Eaid wa
wanted 20 buy big outfits and supplies and
desired 20 know wba, they would cost.
The answer came back: We will rot
give you the price unless yon wish 20 buy
We do uish 10 buy II you will but tell -
what the things cost was our reply. And
then Nc were told: Give us your order
and when wa have filed II we will tell
you what II Will cost We gave IL mp. We
concluded that San Francisco was not In
the Alaska Quitting business. and as soon
az we could make cur arrangements. we
boarded the steamer TrnatilIa ana came
TO Seattle.
The Difference
Here we have received treatment such
"a we did not expect. We knew that Sc
atttle was the great outfittiug center bur
we dId not believe shat such courteous
treatment would he given 70 ail who came
here. Why. when we visited the stores
and asked for prices they were giyen 70 rs
rs chssrfuTiy as thoash we were going 20
buy. When VIE vert away without buy
ing we were shown every courtesy. Seat
tie merchants seem TO have constituted
themselves & bureau of Information where
any ard all things relative 90 ,he Alaska
country can be learned without tire ex-
penditure Of penny. There could he but