The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-22

Under the efficient convoy OF four OF the
revenue cutter service vessels. the steamer
portland, laden ". i millions OF klondike
gold, on her last trip this year will be IN
little danger Of capture ny pirates.
The euccaneer days OF oiden times, says
the Washington correspondent Of the Bcs-
ton Herald. have been recalled by the re-
cent request made Of the treasury DEPART
ment by p. B. Wesre. president, OF the
North American transportation & Trad
Ing Company. That company asked that
the Portland. one OF It's feet, might be
conveyed 70 Seattle ~ some Of the cutters
now doing duty in ths Bering sea No lit
tie amusement mas been eaused by the
request. but that Mr.. Weare Is IN earnest
IS shown by its repetition. and by the ac-
ton OF the department m informing him
that orders have beeIs Issued 10 four rev.
enEe cutters to accompany the Portland
from 81. Michaels 70 Seattle.
Il Is the beEef g both Mr.. weare and
the treasury officials that the amount Of
treasure which the Portland viii bring 10
the United States is reasonably ample 70
attract the -upidity ot many who are only
too willing TO resort 10 foul rnezns 10 Sc
cure riches. The Chinese. their piratical
nerves tuned TO the highest pitch are
credited with turning their slTnond-shaped
eyes in tie direction of the northern Ell
dorado and the returning Portland. laden
las coaservattvely estima ted-with quite
s. coo GO worth of gold Their willingness
10 take the hazard 70 SECURE the treasure
Is amply justified by their actions in re-
cent times. not 10 mention the common
practices of their notorious ancestors.
But an attack whether from Celestials
or Caucasians. Is bound 20 be upsuccess-
1ul when the guaraships comprise four OF
the most efficient vessels of the revenue
cutter service. No craft except a warship
or one OF the transatlantic or transpacific
steamers, armed with high power guns
OF considerable calibre. could hope TO over
come the force on board the four vessels
detailed.
The cutters which will form the guard
feet are the Rush, first class steamer.
built in 1855 at Port Blakeley. Wash; the
Perry. second rate steamer. built at Buf-
falo. y. Y, in 1854: the Corwin. Of the
same rating. constructed at Portland. Or.
IN 1876 and the Grant. also a second rate
ship, bulg in 1871, at Wilmington, Del.
These ships are not equipped with guns
above 20-pounders. nor are their crews
large but their training has made them
more than a match for several times their
number of undisciplined men.
In conjunction with the Bear, these yes
sells have been doing patrol duty in Ber-
ing sea since last April. and. with the ex-
oeption Of the Bear. which viii remain till
the first of October they will leave Alas
kan waters next month with the Portland
In their midst.
Prior to the departure. should any evil
dence come 20 hand showing a pre-ar-
rangement to seize the Portland. IL is pur-
posed by the treasury department to order
the Bear TO join the other cutters. while in
addition a naval vessel viii be sent north
II meet the fleet.
The Bear is the largest OF the cutters IN
Bering sea. her displacement being JOS
tons This vessel was transferred 10 the
revenue cutter service from the navy
after her memorable service in the Greedy
relief expedition of 1854. She is 1875 feet
long By 80 feet beam and has draft of Is
feet Of water. She Is barkentine rugged
and under steam can make nine knots an
hour. sac carries two 3-inch breech-load-
ing rifles and two 20-pounder Dahlgren
rifles. Her complement consists OF eight
officers and 4s seamen.
Rut II Is not at all certain that the Bear
will accompany the Portland to Seattle:
and the force that will therefore be avail
able TO resist attack will consist OF the
four other vessels named. Their total
force will be composed of 3 officers and l56
seamen. Altogether. their ornaments
amount 20 L guns.
The Rush. which next to the Bear. is the
most effective cutter in the Boring sea. IS
only OF 900 tons displacement. and Is brig
antina rirged. She IS liz feet long has a
beam Of 2s feet. and a maximum speed Of
lis knots. Her armament consists OF two
three-inch breech- loading rifles and one
slx-nounder rapid fire Hotchkiss gun.
The Perry Is even smaller than the
Rush, but her battery Is nearly IS efSec-
tive. Her displacement IS 2s2 tons. her
length ls5 feet. and her beam IS p feet
She carries q fighting force OF 3.
The smallest ship OF the escort is the
Grant which has displacement OF 2sS
tons. She is 1ss feet long. has beam Of Is
feet. and draws nine feet Of water. She
has r complement similar TO that OF the
Perry. and a battery OF two 2o-pounders
and two one-pound rapid Ere rifles
Resides the arnsments given. each ship
IS supplied with riAes and reviewers suffi-
Gent for srming each man. Each or the
returning miners viii, In all probability.
carry firearms. and the consequence Of
attack IS not promising 70 pirates.
what the officials seem to fear even
more than a pira:ical attack II an attempt
1,no7 the part Of some very bold spirits
among the passengers or crew to murder
tho capfain and mates ana all that resist.
take charge 81 the ship and point her
nose for some port on the Asiatic coast.
where she would be promptly deserted.
r,l- for the miners on board. the officers
and crew of the Portland would be abso-
lutely helpless
II the event OF ar uprising on board the
shir, IL would be the duty OF the officers
Of the revenue cutters 20 lead a boarding
party 70 retake her.
sCHooSERs FOR THE NORTH.