The record-union., 1897-09-18
A Military Post to be Established at
St. MichaelS.
In Order to Maintain Peace and Order the
Coming Winter.
Secretary A1ger Gives Necessary
Orders for a Troop of Twenty
Five Men From Fort Russell,
Wyoming, to Start Immediately
for the Alaskan Port.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17.-At to-
days Cabinet meeting, which lasted
over two hours, the situation in Alaska
was discussed. Secretary of War AL
ger had a report from Captain Ray,
who has just arrived at St. Michaels,
which furnished the basis for the dis
cussion and the course which was de-
cided upon.
Captain Rays report was in the ma
ture of an urgent appeal for troops TO
preserve peace and order during the
coming winter. There is vast
amount of stores and supplies at st.
Michaels, and there is not a United
States soldier in the whole territory of
Alaska.
1t was decided to send company of
infantry to ST. Michaels as soon as
possible. Secretary Alger viii arrange
the details Immediately and he pur-
poses to have the company sail within
week, probably from Seattle.
He has not yet selected the officer
who will be placed in command, nor
does he yet know from what post the
company will be taken. This action
will be in effect the establishment of a
military post at the mouth of the Yu-
kon.
The commanding officer probably will
he allowed great discretion and latitude,
as the purpose in sending the troops
there is to preserve order.
Secretary Alger declines at present to
make public Captain Rays report.
1t is understood that the Administra-
ton will take some action looking to
the apprehension and punishment of
the assassins of Mr.. Loftin, the colored
Postmaster at Hogansville, Ga, who
was murdered on Tuesday.
Secretary Alger late this afternoon
gave the necessary orders for the send
ing of troops. There will be only TWEEN
ty-five infantrymen, and they will be
sent from Fort D. A. Russell where cap
tain Ray had made a selection of hardy
men to ACCOMPANY him when he was
about to 90 north before. These men
viii be under the lead Of Lieutenant-Col-
onel Rand of the Fifth Infantry, now at
CHEYENNE. and there will be a surgeon
and three members of the army hospital
corps, because of the reports of pre-
vailing sickness in Alaska.
Secretary Alger has managed to over
come the i;culty in the matter of trans
portation by means of Geographic cor
respondence with President Weare OF
the Alaska Transportation Company
That gentleman has informed the Secre-
tary that the company will start another
boat from Seattle for st. Michaels with
in the next seven days This boat Will
take up mainly food and clothing sup
plies. but the troops will be taken also,
if the War Department desires it.
AN EXPEDITION FROM CHICAGO.
CHICAGO, Sept. 17.-An expedition is
being made up in Chicago to travel to
the Alaska gold fields, which will use
the path traversed by the Hudson Bay
Company for nearly a century, although
comparatively unknown. The expedi-
ton is made up of twelve men, Chica-
goans and Canadians, who will meet
at Edmonton, N. w. T. They will go
by stage coach to Athabasca landing,
thence via dog and cayuse along Mac
kenzie River to Fort Mcpherson, on the
Peel River, which place they expect to
reach about New Years. The Klondike
is the ultimate destination of the party,
but the ground in the vicinity of the
Peel River will be thoroughly pros
pected. Nine tons of provisions will be
taken.
QUICK TRIP.
PORT TOWNSEND, Sept. 17.-David
f. Brown of this place has broken the
record in crossing Chilcoot Pass. He
left here on August Doth, and nine days
later he wrote from Lake Bennett that
he had crossed tie pass and had en-
gagged passage by boat to Dawson City,
paying $3.50 for passage down the river.
The time on the trail from Dyea TO Lake
Bennett was forty-five hours. Two In
dams agreed to carry his outfit of $50
pounds across the pass for So cents per
pound. At Sheep Camp they struck for
10 cents per pound, but Brown forced
them at pistol point to fulfill the con-
tract at the original price. Brown drove
the Indians ahead across the pass, car
rying one hundred pounds on his own
back, with the ever ready revolver in
his hand.
THE CLEVELAND SAILS.
SEATTLE, Sept. 1.-THE steamer
Cleveland sailed at noon for St. Mich
aels, carrying 300 tons of freight, con-
sisting of heavy machinery for the Yu
kon River steamers and a quantity of
supplies for the colony which will win
ter at ST. Michaels. The Cleveland car
ried but two passengers.
WILLIAMS AND SLAGEL.