The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-06

! Seattle Is 20 be made the starting point
Tor one Of the bsst-eouipped and NEST inn
pof'ant expeditions that have gone North
/ IN search OF treasure along the southeast
ern snore OF Alaska The expedition IS
packed by Col Steve 5. Bailey. OF the
Northern hotel but more widely known as
one q the most successful mining men in
the West. Col Bailey Is having steel
schooner constructed on the water front
| Tor the party OF treasure hunters. IL viii
De commanded by Capt. j. y. Rowe, and
VIII incinos six men. four OF whom viii 30
expert mining men and prospectors.
Ihe schooner is being built by Percy
Gopp, In his shops. not far from Moran
BROS snip building yards. II Is made
principally OF galvanized steel, and will be
hsnI, staunch, and very seaworthy. The
craft viii probably be launched Saturday
next.
In many respects the Bailey expedition
IS one OF the most noteworthy in the his
tory OF the Northwest. Capt. Rowe spent
several years sealing along the coast OF
Alaska. between Sitka and the Aleutian
Islands lie knows the coast line like a
book Capt. Rowe was at Cape Sucking
when the hrst discoveries OF oil and coal
Were made there ten years ago. He has
also located several immense Lodges of
soiu-oearlng quartz, and knows of the ex
istence OF rich placers In the Copper river.
While the Bailey expedition Will thor
olghly explore the coast of Africa for de-
pcsits of the precious metals, as we'll as
coal and petroleum its objective point will
be the headwaters of the Copper river,
region about which little is known.
For many years past the Indians have
brought down placer gold from the head
waters OF the stream and they have
knives made Of pure native copper. which
have come from great deposits OF that
metal giving the river its lame. The
tribe of India IS living in the region have
borne a reputation for savagery, and they
have opposed the exploration and develop
ment of the country by the whites. This
has also been the policy Of the Hudson
Bay Company.
Capt Rowe says he possesses knowl-
edge of rich placer ground on Copper
river and also OF the location Of large
quartz lodges carrying geld on the coast.
Capt. Rowe's knowledge Of the mineral
resources of the country and Col. Baileys
faith in the deposits Of precious metals
there led TO the organization of the ex-
petition.
While Capt. Rowe will be in command
of the party. four prospectors and min
ing men win be employed by Col. Bailey
TO do the active work OF hunting out the
deposits of mineral The party hope TO
find the source OF the oil fields at Cape
Sucking. Capt Rowe believes that the
extent of the petroleum deposits is large,
and that some day the country VIII pro-
duce immense quantities Of oil
Col. Bailey sold the Payne group OF sill
yer mines in the SLOGAN last fall. His OPP
erations in West Kootenay were very
successful, and he is known as an ex-
perienced and sagacious mining man all
over the Northwest. His present Ven
ture will be watched with great interest.
Old-timers In Seattle VIII remember the
fight put up by Col. Bailey against the
Northern Pacific for the possession OF a
strip of valuable tide land on the water
front. Col. Bailey took possession of the
land In 1882 employing two pile-drivers
and two men day and night for three days
to inciose the property. The Northern Pa
cific claimed title through a grant by the
city OF Seattle. Col. Bailey disputed it's
title and located on the land. The attor-
neys for the company. John II. Mitchell,
jr. Joseph Mcknight James Mcknight
and Gov. Ferry. employed a tug 10 pull out
the piles. hoping to dispossess Col. Bailey.
The latter secured a underground how'll
ger from Bailey GatZert, and. armed in
this manner, guarded his possessions I'M
til the matter was taken into court He
was arrested several times, but each time
put up bonds and continued TO stand guard
over the line of piles. Thousands OF peo-
the fight. Each side secured injunctions
restraining the other. and in the legal con-
test begun then and continuing for nearly
fifteen years, Col. Bailey came out a win
ner.
Capt. Rowe is a veteran navigator He
was lieutenant and navigating officer In
the United States navy during the war OF
the Rebellion, and Is a thorough sea-far-
ing man.
The schooner will be christened the AL
bert and is made Of galvanized steel one
quarter OF an inch In thickness Her
length over all is AZ feet. her beam 10 feet
and her hold 6 feet. She viii have a capa-
city OF twenty tons.
The schooner was designed especially
for this expedition. and no pains nor ex-
pense have been spared IN her construc-
ton, with the idea OF making her especial
~ strong and seaworthy. and AZ the same
time capable Of carrying a sufficient guam
tity OF provisions
She was designed by Capt Rowe and IA
different in some Of her features from ordi-
nary craft OF her size. She Is divided into
four alright compartments. so that IL Will
be practically impossible 70 sink her. The
bulkheads are Of galvanized steel
The Albert IS schooner rigged Her
masts and spars are OF Ar. The forward.
half OF the schooner is devoted TO passer-
gers and in the after compartments will
be stored the six months provisions To he
taken along. There are six berths IN her
cabin. In the after part are the water
tanks each holding 80 gallons. In her
bottom ton OF cement was placed 10 IN
crease her stability.
Her deck is flush and her stern, In ma
rIne parlance. Is .'pinkie."