The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-31
PIRATES AFTER KLoND1kE GOLD.
Alaska transportation Company Ask
For "A Convoy for IA steamer Laden
With 1000 900.

From tho New York sun.
Observation-Disclosures that an at
tempt viii be mace by gans Of pirates.
said. to be Chinese. to seize an American
steamer laden with $2,ole00 in gold dust
from the Klondike has been received at
The Treasury department. and the officials
there are considering she adyisablity Of
sending "a revenue cutter to convoy the
vessel to "a place of safety. The request
for u cutter came 10 the department from
=. 3. Ware OF Chicago, president of the
Alaska Transportation company. which
conNols a line Of steamers running from
Seattle TO ports ia the territory Ell Gage,
the son Of the Secretary Of the Treasury,
is an officer of the company. Mr.. Ware
telegraphcd the department yesterday that
hc desired TO have a revenue cutter detail
ed 20 see the steamer Portland safely out
of Behr.ng sea. as she would bring
large amount Of gold dust The telegram
also said that the company feared trou-
bic, but did not state their reasons for the
belief nor the character of what was eX-
pected. 1t also said that the cutter would
not be needed from Alaska to Seattle as
we think we will be all right between
those places.
From other sources the department
heard that pirates might attempt to seize
the Portland, and that 1t was expected
that the vessel would carry about S2,000000
in Klondike gold dust. Another telegram
was received from Mr.. Ware to-day saying
that steamers of the company would leave
ST Michael on the Yukon on Aug. 3, Aug.
T.. ana Sept Is. Naturally the treasury Of
ficials are concerned over the rumors of
the revival of buccaneering. They are ret
icent about their authority for the report
that Chinese pirates have organized an
expedition to capture the Portland, but
show that they believe it has foundation.
The uneasiness of Mr.. Ware over the in
formation Is indicated in other kilograms
which he sent urging that his request be
granted. He did not say definitely when
the Portland would leave for Seattle, but
the wording of one of the dispatches
points TO Sept Is as the date. The dis
patch said that a large amount of treas
ure would be carried by the last steamer.
AIR. Ware suggested that the revenue cut
ter Bear be assigned to the duty. The de-
partment Will De unable to comply with
this request however, as the Bear is re-
qulred for other service. In order to Sc
cure definite information, an inquiry mas
been sent MIR. Ware to ascertain the date
OF the departure of the vessel on which
the gold dust will be taken to Seattle. No
cutter will be detailed until all necessary
facts have been communicated to the de-
partment
St Michael is at the mouth of the Yu-
kon river the water route to the gold
fields. In making the voyage to Seattle
the Portland will be obliged to pass
through Norton sound and out into Ber-
ing sea, rounding the Aleutan Islands TO
gain the Pacific. Mr. Wares statement
that the revenue cutter would not be need
ed from Alaska TO Seattle is construed to
mean chat the Portland can proceed with
cut fear of trouble from the Aleutians, as
ne explicitly says that safe convoy our
of Boring sea was desirable. Several rev.
enue cutters attached to the Boring sea
patrol fleet are available for service. Capt.
Hooper, the commanding officer Of the
fleet, was at UnalaslIa when last heard
from, July ;. one of the Alaska Trans
portatiOn Companys steamers will leave
for 81. Michael in a snort time and will
carry dispatches from the treasury depart
ment TO Capt. Hooper. 1t will also prob
ably be laden with a supply of arms and
ammunition for use in repelling a pratt
cal attempt on the Portland.