The silver star., 1897-08-05
YUKONMII.I'rARYPOST
CAPTAIN RAY or CHEYENNE
L. Detailed to Establish Military Post In
AIAska -n.s Notabi. Record. Having
spent several Year, In Alaska.

Cheyenne. wyo.. July 27.-Captain
Patrick Hsnry Ray. Eighth United
States infantry, stationed here receiv-
ed reis-zrzphis. notice to-day from the
secretary Of war that he had been de-
tailed 10 command an expedition TO the
Yukon district, Alaska. for the estab-
Esnmens of government post. zap
tain Rays command will consist oil
company OF Sirfy-two men. t"o sur
ge-yns and two lIeurenanfs. He Is order
=! 10 T.. a; Seattle not later than Aug
E.l -fn and viii proceed by steamer
from that place To Micliaelof>ki about
l.p miles north Of the mouth OF the
Yukon. FROM here Captain Ray Will
take his command overland over the
ed Russian trail to the Yukon saving
go miles water transportation by this
route. He Will then proceed up the river
10 some point TO be selected by him
In the neight,crhood Of old Fort Yukon.
where hs will establish winter quarters
and build a fort Captain Ray has not
h---n notified what men he i to take,
and over a hundred men in the Eighth
infantry made application to him To-
day io b. allowed to form his command.
Captain Ray Joined the army in 1861
a. a member OF the Second Wisconsin
yolunfeers At the Close Of the war he
wa captain Of artillery and in 1867
to,re: the regular service as second
lieutenant Of the Thirty-fhird infantry.
which later was disbanded. when he
Became an officer Of the Eighth. his
present regiment Captain Ray served
In the Yellowstone expedition in 1872
13, in the Sioux Campaign of 1874. in
the Apache campaigns "A to i6: in the
Arctic seas. lssl-S,; attended the inter
national polar convention at Vienna.
Austria. in 1ssI; commanded an Indian
company at Fort Washakie in 1898,
when he was detailed Indian agent for
the ShoshOne agency. serving until
1885. when he rejoined his regiment
here
Captain Rays service. in foe Arctic
regions WAS in command Of what is
known as the Point Barrow expedition.
Explorations and siry cye were made Of
the north Alaskan coast line and for
800 miles inland. a country fully 90
miles north OF the Yukon river district.
In this expedition Captain Ray sue
ceeied in doing what few American ey-
plorers have done. He brought back
with him alive and well every man in
the party.
For the last ei3tteen months we
were out" said the captain. Il did not
have a man on sick report When he
returned from this expedition Captain
Ray. who had picked up several min
ers at Michaelofski. from the Yukon re-
gion. urged upon Congress the advis-
ability of establishing military post
on the Yukon river. and recommended
a point near the junction of the Ia
mana and Yukon rivers as a desirable
site. Had this advice been followed 1t
would have proven of incalculable
value TO American prospectors and
miners
Captain Ray expects to reach the
upper Yukon country in time to estab-
lish winter quarters before the winter
season closes in. II am certain" he
said. THAT there will be great suffer
ing among the prospectors who will
crowd into the region this fall and win
ter. and the post when established will
he haven Of refuge TO the destitute
who are worthy. and those who have
secured gold will be protected by the
United States If they require II. The
present rush across the Chilcott pass
route is extremely ill-advised and
thousands will perish of hunger and ex-
posure during the winter. 1t would he
an act of humanity II the government
would establish troops al the com.
mencement Of this route and turn back
the misguided people who are attempt.
ing to reach the mines. 4 much more
practicable route TO the Yukon country
can be found along the eastern slope
Of the Rocky Mountains through the
British possessions"
Captain Ray is about fifty years OF
, age. He il over six feet tall. of spare
build but with an iron constitution. HI
, Is an athlete and has had charge of tho
athletic sports Of the regiment for the
past two years. He has great determin
a'iG and Is an ideal officer TO take
charge of the detail to which he has
been appointed.