The San Francisco call., 1897-07-23

SEATTLE, WASH, July 22.-There were
fully 5000 people down at Arlington dock
to-day TO see the steamer Portland depart
for ST. Michaels carrying the first of the
passengers who have left Puget Sound for
the Klondyke by the steam er route since
the news of the great discoveries came
out The capacity of the Portland was
limited 10 l25 passengers, and every berth
was occupied. She was deeply Laden car
rying llO0 tons of a cargo, every pound of
which. outside of the limited personal
baggage allowed the passengers, was
shipped on account of the North Ameri-
can Transportation and Trading Company
for their own stores In the Yukon coun-
try. No passenger was allowed to carry
either provisions or hardware as a por-
tion OF his baggage.
The Portland was scheduled to sail at
noon, but it was 80 before she finally
lett her wharf, but the crowd waited to
see the departure of the goldseekers. The
delay was caused in the first instance by
the slowness in getting the freig ht aboard.
After the freight was fairly aboard the
local ins pectors interfered and required q
good portion of the deckload to be dis
charged, deeming it unsafe for the vessel
20 prooeEa 10 sea. Some Senty tons OF
potatoes in boxes we're discharged and
considerable other freight, largely con-
sisting of picks, shovels and other mining
tools, which was likewise left on the dock.
Among the passengers on the Portland
were a mum Der of women and young chill
dren. While the male passengers had ar
rayed themselv in rough clothing, caps
and stoga boots, befIting the country to
which they were going. the women pre-
sented a singular contrast. They were
clad IN dainty summer costume, shirt
waists and sailor hats and nearly every
one wore flowers profusely. As they stood
on the deck of the vessel, gavly waving
adieu 10 their friends, they looked more
like parry going to picnic or sum-
mer excursion, rather than emigrants 10
proceed to make home for an indefinite
period thousands of miles away, UP on the
very verge of the Arctic circle, there to
face the often painted terrors of Arctic
wiLter.
An the passengers. male and female,
were apparently in the ost buovant spir-
lis, and this was to great extent true OF
the spec ators save the few women in the
crowd who were there TO bid a long adieu
TO the husbands or sons who were going
from them 10 seek their fortunes. With
cheers from the crowd and amid a salute
of whistles from the steamers lying at ad-
joining docks, the Portland, at 4:30
o'clock, cast off her lines ana headed for
the Straits of Fuca to enter on her long
voyage to Bering Sea.
The excursion steamer Queen leaves for
Dyea Inlet tomorrow. She takes with
her $50 passengers bound for Dyea Inlet
and the overland route to the Kondvke.
In connection with the sailing of the
Queen it may be noted that she sails
again from Seattle for Dyea on Angus: 7.
The Associated Press dispatch, under a
New York GATE line, which appeared in
the morning pa pers having that news serv-
ice to-day, contains an error in this mat
ter, which may cause some inconvenience
unless corrected. The Associated Press
dispatch says the Queen sails from San
Francisco on August Z. The Queen is not
likely to return to San Francisco until
this rush is over-if it ever will be.
A desperate effort is being made by the
people of British Columbia to divert a
Quitting to British Columbia ports. They
have already sent agents to Seattle, who
are publis ing broadcast the news that
the Canadian authorities propose to put in
customs officers at the point where the
trail from Dyea Inlet crosses the inter
national boundary and will endeavor 10
collect duty on all goods brought in by
persons whose outfits are purchased in
the United States. This is matter which
will work both ways. The United States
already has Deputy Collector of Customs
located at Juneau, and if goods from
British Colum bia are brought to be landed
In Alaska, except in bond, they will most
certainly be com PEELED to pay duty fully
as high, and in some instances rather
higher, than the Canadian duties proposed
to be collected. Whether this customs
officer is really 10 be put on the ground or
whether the matter is bluff has not yet
been determined. If it is done it will
bring at once to sharp issue the question
as to where the present boundary between
British Colum bia and Southeastern Alaska
really is.
1t Will be remem bered that the British
Columbia authorities have within the
past two years put out several maps rep
resentlng this boundary as being nearly
htteen miles farther west than it is repre-
sented on maps which had heretofore
gone unquestioned. If the Canadian au-
thorities undertake TO esta abllsh any Gus
toms officers On the international