The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-30

SAYS it was winked at to some degree as
it was known to be provoked by necessity.
1t may he we'll understood that the ex
element that holds possession of the
States south Is not absent from the ports
along the outer fringe of the great gold
country. 1t mas It's evidence everywhere
IN desertions from ship. and designations
of officers, who join in the general stam-
pede to Alaska. Just the day previous to
the arrival of the Portland three men de-
serted from the revenue cutter Perry, one
being the bugler named Frazier, another
the quar- termaster aud the third mess
boy. They broke into the pilots room
and stole sextant, compass and chart.
They stole a large open whaleboat and.
broke into the storeroom of the company
and stole the new set of sails. They stole
barrel of fish from the wharf and a
quantity of clothes and stores from the
ship and were gone several hours before
the liberties they had taken were dis
covered. The Perry i'm Immediately steamed
to sea after them and sent her steam
launch to circle the islands and pene trate
the small coves on the way. Both re-
turred to Dutch Harbor without having
discovered trace OF the runaways. Word
was sent here to keep lookout for them,
but it is not thought they will attempt to
enter here. They will probably make an
attempt 10 enter the river through Its
southern entrance and then to the s:a-
tons of the river boats, where they Will
take passage up.
Here at st. Michael peculiar case OF
desertion has taken place, including the
captain as we'll as the crew. The little
schooner Salmon of Victoria, Captain
Peter Nelson, Mate Christopher Lee and
three men put In here two weeks ago.
Deputy Collector Andrews boarded her
and found her papers defective. She had
cleared for the Mackenzie River with her
merchandise, but had not reached or gone
TO that port. She was seiZ'd pending an
investig Officers and crew, however,
took the fever while in port, and all took
passage on the last up-river boat for Daw-
son, leaving their vessel to the Govern
! ment officers The revenue cutter Bear is
expected IN from the south every day
now, as she is overdue, and the matter
will be reported to her. In the mean time
the rush to the gold fields has almost
given to the little trading and fishing sta
tions at this place and at Unalaska the
Importance that they seem TO have upon
the map.
The North American Transportation and
Trading Company has built small town
here of itself quarter Of mile further
along in the bay than the town of St.
Michael, which they call Fort Get There.
A few months ago it consisted OF a store
| and warehouse, now there is a big build
ing used for ho.ei, two additional ware
houses, with the foundation OF still another
with capacity of 800 tons just laid.
| To the two river steamers, the ]. J.
| Healy, launched last fall. and the P, B.
Weare, there has just been added the
| Charles Hamilton. a handsome 300-ion
heel, launched on the 10th inst.
| The Alaska Commercial Company is also
! building here new warehouse and a
small new steamer to be used in towing
| about the bav or the river Besides ihes.
building activities trade has been BOOM
ing the flood OF go d. hunters omins out
| and Ding in have almost cleared the
shelves OF the two stores. and the Indians
or Eskimos are working as steadily as
their indolent natures will admit to meet
| the demand for iurs. The wealthy out
| going miners have paid sach figures for
iurs and curiosities as to have ruined the
Indians for all time as easy traders or
men of normal purposes.
| The alert and diIigent gambler is not
missing any tricks during this haymak-
| ing time. Warned that miners loaded
with new gold were coming out OF the
| Yukon by every steamer, a party of sure
thing men came up on the Portland from
! Seattle with a roulette wheel and other
paraphernaia. They bought round-trip
tickets and are going back on the same
vessel with the party Of miners and their
gold dust The game running on the
way up was comparatively small ore
| While she has lain in the harbor many of
the miners have visited the boat and have
already put their new good luck to the
test OF the wheel, and every one of them
! declares that it is all right. and they have