The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-01
MAY BRING DOWN GOLD
Steam ship CleVe and Likely to Land
the Portus 3. Weare's Pas
SGNgerS.

L
big excitement in this city, said c. b.
Hamilton, secretary and office manager
Of the North American TRANSFORMATION
and Trading Company, to The CALL cor
respondent this evening, Twill be on the
arrival of the steamer Cleveland from st.
Michael about Septem Der D, or within two
or three days after that date.
This steamer left Seattle on August 3,
and il is expected will make the round
trip in thirty-two days The first trip OF
The Portland consumed thirty-fve days
and the last run thIrty-seven days, but the
Cleveland IS more speedy, and it is not
likely that she was delayed in unloading.
If she brings down the miners who started
from Dawson City on July IA with their
sacks of gold on the river steamer 2.
Weare it is believed mat several hundred
thousand dollars more of the precious
metal Will be allotted 10 the glory OF the
hlondike.
The Weare left st. Michael on July for
Dawson City vita passengers and pro-
visions. The last heard OF her was on
Jnly 20, when the Alaska Commercial
Companys steamer Bella passed her at
Circle City. She should have reached st.
Michael Oh August 1 and contributed her
quota of passengers 10 the Portland's list,
but had not appeared when that vessel
left on August is. Hamilton has no def
niie Information as 20 the cause of the
delay, but states that before the Weare
left ST. Michael her engines were reported
in need ofimportant repairs. He believes
that shortly after leaving Circle City on
the return trip her flues began to leak and
she was stopped to put new ones in.
Hamilton further said.
II think she reached ST. Michael in
ample time 10 connect with the Cleveland.
l am arranging 10 send north Il complete
new set OF boilers to be put into the
Weare. She will be able to make one
more trip up the river this winter"
The company operating the Portland
hopes to send her north again by Septem-
Der 10. but it is first necessary hat she go
on the ways for repairs. A telegram has
been sent to the Navy Department asking
that the steamer be allowed to dock at the
Puget Sound Government drydock, few
miles from Seattle, so as TO avoid delay.
Hamilton is hourly expecting a favorable
reply. He will not go into particulars as
10 the neces ity for overhaulIug the ves-
sci, but several of the passengers on her
recent trip Gown give the explanation.
When sill at st. Michael island, they
say, the Portland ran into a mud bank.
The timbers quivered and the machinery
thumped, causing CONSERVATION among
lew " ho realized the cause of The trouble
The vessel was got off safely, how
ever, but not without being severely
strained.
Speaking of the food question Mr.. Ham
ilton said:
"Our people have fully realized the seri-
business of this sudden influx into the
Yukon country, and for more than a
month past have advised that men do pot
go north until spring. We believe that
every facility will be taxed to its utmost
ih the effort to supply the miners with
sufficient provisions throughout the WIN
ter. Many Will undoubtedly run short
and suffering will ensue. Those who are
more fortunate in the quantity of theil
supplies will feel almost compelled to
either sell or divide a mong the needy.
I'm order to still further aid in supply
ing The demand we have just decided to
make another trip this fall to st. Michael
with the Cleveland. She will go north
four or five days alter she reaches Seattle
and will be loaded almost entirely with
provisions. The Portland will also sail
about the same time. We will have a
number of passengers as we'll as con sid
cradle quantity of freight On board her.
but 90 not expect to be able to get
through until spring. At st. Michae,-
or rather Fort Get There-connections
I'll
expect that the Portland will return
about the middle OF October, with a large
number of miners and pretty big pile of
gold dust She will also bring down con-
siderable of the com pany's money.
''ln order to protect the passengers and
the money that will be on board the Port
land, the North American Transportation
and Trading Company has procured an
i'm PIGMENT of humiliation that will no
doubt ward off Chinese or Malay pirates.
1t Is rapid-tire, rife caIiber Maxim gun
capable Of dschargnG 900 cartridges per
minute. IL arrived from the East to-day
over the Northern Pacific Railroad, and
will be mounted on a tripod at the ves-
sells bow as soon as she comes from the
drydock. This gun is said to be the very
succession The cartridges used are 80.
caliber, OF the ordinary rife kind. The
gun is equipped with III aeazine in which
are placed the require ed number of rounds.
1t is loaded and fired autom atically. The
gun can be set at any angle required, and
can be made to osciilate continually and
rapidly over an area, sweeping over q
large country IN front of it, much IN the
way a moving machine mows through a
field OF clover"
In referring to the last trip 10 St.
Michael this year Hamilton said:
1--WE have made arrangements TO board
and shelter the passengers who now go
north on the Portland during the winter
and take them up TO tue Klondike as soon
as navigation opens in the spring. This
will get them there about June Is. 1898
The fare, including board during the win
ter, is 500. Employment Will be given at
remUneratIve wages during the winter
along the river chopping and banking
steamboat wood. These men will be in
charge OF an efficient commissary depart.
ment and will be sent out in parties of
ten TO different points along the river TO
get out wood. We will iced and shelter