The times., 1897-08-01
GUTTER TO WATCH PIRATES
Secretary Gage Orders an Armed
Vessel TO Alaskan Waters.
GOLD CARG0ES u In DANGER
Threats of Chinese Buccaneers to
Seize and Rob the Portland-Rush
or Bear to Convoy tho Steamer
From st. Michaels Orders Sent
to Captain Hooper.

Secretary Gage ha 3 concluded thatdan ger
Is to he apprehended from pirates along the
COT st OF Alaska, and in the neightorhood
of the Aleutian Islands, and he has prompt
ly taken action He has ordered Capt
Hooper, of the Bering Sea fleet. to detail
the revenue cutter Bear, If the same can
be got ready ia time, and IL not, the Rush,
to go to st. Michaels, Alaska and act as
q convoy to the Portland, whicn will sail
from that port September %.
The Portland will nave cargo of about
So ,OOO,0 600 in gold, obtained by the miners
in the KIondl ke gold regions, and this fact
Is known to the lawless men along theeoaat
Many of these men areChin ese desperadoes
short tinie ago the Officers of the North
American Transportation Company, at
Alaska, obtained reliable information to
the effect that an organized pratical ex-
petition against the Portland would be
made while the vessel was near the Coast,
The cupidity of the lawIess gang that has
been attracted TO Alaska by the gold dis
cuveries is aroused by the knowl edge OF
the va ST amount of gold the Klondike mi ners
intend To ship OH the Portland, and. so
the ships company says. they have de-
termined TO possess II If possible.
The information obtained by the Port
lands Officers indicate that the gang of
pirates propose to meet the boat some where
near the AieutIan Islands. They will ie
main secreted on shore, and when the
ship puts In an appearance win ap-
rroach her IN a number OF small boats.
Ii this can be done in the night the gang
will be batter pleased.
Wien this plot come to the knowledge OF
tnecaptaino Of the p ortIand he communicated
at once with the officers OF the North
American Transportation Company at
Alaska, and they made quiet inyestga
ton, which satisfied them that the wild,
bIood-thirsty plot was d reality. They
Immediately Informed Mr.. P. B. Weare, of
Chicago, president OF the company, OF the
expected attack OF pirates, and he. as
published In The Times Thursday last,
made demand on Secretary Gage for
protection. he urged the Secretary to
send to the assistance Of the Portland
revenue cutter, fully armed and equipped
for laid on pirates. Mr.. Weare sub
mitted to the Secretary the correspondence
and reports ON the matter that had been
forwarded from Alaska to him by his
agents there, and the Secretary said he
would exam ne into the affair.
It was Yesterday announced at the
Treasury Department that Mr.. weare's
fears were believed 10 be well founded,
and thai he has sufficient reason for
believing that an attack may be made
on the Portland by Iawless men on the
Alaskan coast, and that such an attack
would endanger the lives of the passen-
gers and crew as well as the S2,0o0,O 900
in gold and other cargo on the vessel.
The Treasury officials, having arrived at
this conclusion, at once sent dispatch TO
Capt. Hooker informing him of the depart
nent's conclusions and giving him the
orders mentioned. A revenue cutter WIN
leave for ST. Michael's in time TO act as
convoy for the Portland.