The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-30
FEAR CHINESE PIRATES
OWNERS OF THE STEAMER PORT
LAND ASK FOR AN ARMED CONVOY.
Think an Effort May BE Made to Seize
Treasure from the KIOndil<e-An
Indianian's Experience.

WASHINGTON, July 29.-One of the rich
est cargoes of gold that ever has f1oated on
the high seas will be brought to Seattle
from the Klondike gold fields on the steam
er Portland, which is expected to leave st.
Michaels about Sept. 10 z. B. Weare, of
Chicago president of the North American
Transportation and Trading Company,
owners of the Portland, has advised the
Treasury Department that he fears an at
tempt will be made by pirates to capture
this cargo and has asked that the govern
ment detail a revenue cutter TO convoy the
Portland out Of Boring sea- This request
has been granted, though the officers of the
revenue-cutter service do not share the
fears entertained.
Mr.. Weare first telegraphed the secretary
of the treasury yesterday asking for this
protection, and, upon being asked for more
details about the sailing date of the Port
land, replied to-day. He said that the Port
land would sail for Seattle about Sept. Is,
and, as she would be the last steamer to
leave st. Michaels this fall. she probably
would carry an enormous quantity of gold.
He did not state in his message the value
of this cargo, but minated that it would
probably be in excess of 100000 He re-
quested that the revenue cutter Bear, which
is now in Boring sea, be detailed to accom-
pany the Portland far Sitka, and
suggested that if it were desired to send
any instructions to the officers of the Bear
they might be carried on the companys
steamer which will leave Seattle for st.
Michaels Aug. 5.
Captain c. f. Shoemaker, chief of the
reVenue-cutter service, advised Mr.. Weare
by letter that the revenue cutters Grant,
Corwin, Perry and Rush, which form the
Bering sea patrol fleet, will leave those wa
ters for the south about Sept. 10, and
that any one or all of them will convoy
the Portland. provided she sails at that
time. In case the Portland is delayed in
sitting until Oct. l the Bear will be held UNI
til that date for the same purpose. Mr..
Weare in his telegram to the department
did not say that his company had been
warned of any intended attack, but stated
value of the Portlands cargo the company
feared some sort of attack might be at
tempted.
tonight Just what Mr.. Weare is afraid of,
but it is the business of the revenue cutters
to protect commerce, and protection will be
afforded when there is any possible excuse
for it. We never have heard of any
from some quarters that the ofncers OF the
transportation company are AFRAID OF
Chinese pirates, but Mr.. Weare in his mes
sage to the department made no such state
ment He said in a general way that the
company feared an attack and wanted pro-
lection. The Boring sea Is as SAFE as any
other water on the globe, and there should
be no more danger of attack there than IN
any other place 1t is true, of course, that
the enormous excitement which has FOL
lowed the Klondike gold discoveries and
the report of cargoes OF fabulous Value pc
ing carried from st. Michael's to Seattle
may induce some one to attempt piracy
bat the department believes that there is
no danger whatever of such an attack.