The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-24
THE SITUATION AT ST. MICHAEL.
capt. Tuttle OF tho Cutter Brnr Thinks There
VIII lo Much suferIpE.

WARRINGTON. Sept. 23.-Capt. Tuttlo Of tho
revenue cutter Bear, under date OF Aug. 81,
reports to tho Treasury Department on.the con.
ditions existing at 81. Michael, Alaska, at that
time. There were then. he says, about 800 pco.
pio camped on the beach, and many vessels
were expected TO arrive soon, bringing others.
AS all these could not reach the Yukon country
before winter sets in, he thinks there will DO
much suffering there. He continues.
Tho day aftcr arriving 1 received requests
from tho representatives Of the Alaska Com.
mercial Company and North American Trading
and transportation Company TO remain until
some means could be devised to maintain law
and order. The United States Commissioner,
Mr.. l.. H.. Shepard, informed me that among
tho sudden influx of people were many bad
characters and previous TO tho arrival Of the
lear open threats had been made about what
they would do 4 the transportation companies
ialieu 10 get them W the Yukon. Getting
them up tho river is simply impossible with the
Facilities at hand. The season of navigation
td9ses IN a few days. and with 1t ends trSnspor-
The last steamer for up-riyer left Aug. 81.
vessels that we know Of, most of them carry
Ing passengers, II they do not leave on the
vessels upon which they arrive, there will be
accommodations for the numbers VINO will be
here. After looking over the situation l came
States Commissioner and the representative
OF the transportation companies were reason-
able, and the presence OF the Bear would have
the desired effect.
However, ! represented to these gentlemen
that the work OF tho Bear for the season of
1897 was not yet finished. and I desired to re-
sumo as early as possible, Upon my sugges-
tion they have applied to Capt. Hooper to dc.
tail one Of the Bchring Sea fleet for duty here
until the end Of September, At that time q
military force will arrive and. tho presence OF
tho cutters can DO dispensed with. Should
Capt. Hooper detail a cutter here 1t will roach
81. Michael about Sept. IL. l shall then pro-
ceeu to Port Clarence, st. Lawrence Bay, 81
IBERIA, St Lawrence Island. the Pribylov ISL
ands and unalaskn, arriving ut the latter place
about Sept. 25. From that point l shall inform
the Bear.
I'm my opinion the situation on the Yukon
river this winter ia to be q very serious mat
Ter. The number of people rushing into the
country and the limited means of transporting
fo9d means starvation to a great many. l have
talked with a, great many OF these people, and
1t Is impossible to make most of them under.
stand why they cannot purchase provisions
when they have money to pay for them. The
fact that the provisions are not in tho country
Will be misery and starvation"
Capt. Hooper, In OF the Behring
Sea fleet, writing to the Treasury Department
from Unalaska, Sept Is, reports the arrival
there on Sept. ! OF the sidewheel steamer Eliza
Anderson in Q bad condition after encountering
tinue the voyage to St Michael in the steamer
rnd chartered,a schooner to.carry them the.rest
of the way. The tug Richard Holyoke, towing
the barge. Polttkofski, the schooner w. J.
Bryant and tho stern wheel steamer w. K. Mer.
for St. Michael. Orders had been sent to the
cutter Bear to convoy the steamer Portland
from st. Michael to Cnalaska about Oct. L.