The San Francisco call., 1897-11-30

arrival, ana the Wneel ana lower decks
were covered with ice. A NUM- Der of her
passengers had no provisions. 1t was
anything but cheerful party. They had
been compelled to do all the work neces-
sary to bring the vessel here, including
the chopring of wood for her furnaces.
The Bella's business is not to carry
/ freight or passengers, but to tow barges
! upon which the freight is transported.
She was unable to bring the barges over
the bar, and the passengers transferred
from the barges 10 her decks the ninety
tons of freight she carried. They were
given this as an alternative for remaining
at ukon all winter, as her entire crew OF
Indians deserted her there.
When they had compile led the work, an
attempt was made to get over the bar, but
/ itfaiied. Captain Dixon announced that
he would unload, placing the provisions
in the cache and return to St. Michael.
! When ne had relieved the boat of some OF
its weight, however, he concluded to
make another trv, did so, succeeded, and
came through with such OF his working
passengers as were on board.
At Circle City the Bella was held up in
exactly the fashion that the Weare had
been, and about thirty tons of provisions
taken. Captain Ray OF the United States
Army was on board, and when the miners
stated their intention to Captain Dixon
that officer turned the matter over to him,
having first explained that the Bella was
carrying provisions to district much far
ther removed from the supply center,
where the needs were greater because the
population was greater.
Captain Ray asked the miners what
they desired or intended to do. They re-
pliel that they intended TO treat the
Bella as they had treated the Weare. They
said they depended for provisions wholly
upon the trans sportation com panies; there
were $50 men at work in the gulches trib-
utary to Circle CITY who knew nothing of
thescarcity of provisions and who would
shortly come 10 town for their winters
supp ly.
Not finding it. they would be compelled
to give up their claims. They said further
that it did not seem right to them that
an American vessel should pass through
an American city where food was wanted
and carry it into foreign country,
especially as Circle City people stood
ready to pay for what they got. Captain
Ray told them he was unable at
any rate to prevent them carrying out
their purpose, and so long as they were
moderate and took only what they actu-
ally needed he would not attempt 10 in
terfere. The men thereupon went TO work
and continued at work until they had
taken thirty tons of provisions. They
afterward returned a quantity OF -four,
which was discovered to he not the -four
| they had taken away but some damaged
sacks that had been stored there previ-
ously.
The Bella and her barges had been the
star of hope 10 = great many III Dawson,
so certain were they that, despite every
report they would get here. The Bella
had come without her barges, bringing Il
trife of -four and bacon, and almost pas
sengers enough to consume that trifie.
This was the last straw. That same alter
noon the following notice was posted con-
spicuously about the town:
Notice is hereby given that all persons who
are not sufficiently provided with goods for
the coming winter viii be taken out free of
charge on the steamer Bella, which will leave
to- morrow at noon. hev should report at the
Alaska Commercial Company's store to-mor-
row mOIpluS ~ o y GiOCh dHu SISu Ill hgTee-
ment as to their transportation. They are ad
vised TO take sufficient with them to last them
to Circle City, no meals can be served on
the steamer. Sufficient supplies can be OBJ
tanned at Circle City to last to Fort Yukon.
The Canadian auth critics have arranged with
the Alaska Commercial Com pany to furnish
free transportation. c. CONSTANTINE,
Inspector N. W. NJ. Police.
Several of those who had como up on
the Bella who had paid their fare as first
class passengers, who had in their eager
ness 10 come on offered 20 and did work
as deckhands to secure the transporta-
ton, returned on her when she left that
next day, doomed 10 remain at desolate
Fort Yukon all this winter.
The departure of the Bella was perhaps
a more pathetic incident than was that of
the barges full OF wretched people that
have left since. Sne is miserable boat,
not designed for passengers. She was
crowded, however, from hurricane deck to
| boiler-room. Forlorn people with. de-
spite the warning in the notice, no pro-
visions whatever, and with only couple
| of blankets as against the weather, filed
down her gangplank. The ice almost
blocked the river and sheathed her lower
deck The crowd on shore speculated
as to whether she would be
able TO get away from her moor
ings. They knew that she had been
frozen to the shore and to the bottom of
the river during the brief stop at Forty
mile On the way up, and that sh had only
gotten away after several hours of contriy-
| ing. Her paddle wheel was broken by the
ice, and altogether boat and passengers
divided the sympa.hies of the crowd.
When she cast off the crowd on shore tried
to give them cheer. but failed. The nose
of the boat turned into the icy current
and the wheel stopped. Something had
gone wrong. Perhaps the wheel W
frozen or the lice inrerfered, but the
steamer foated down the river apparently
helpless for two miles and almost got out
of view around the turn before the whsel
got into action and the boat was under
control. Nothing since has been heard of
the party.
The weather has been cold and clear.
the thermometer ranging to IA deg. below
since September ~ until within the last
few days. Ice began flowing on TIE 9th
| and continued to increase. coming out OF