The San Francisco call., 1897-09-11

river. They also attempted TO steal lreignt
for up the river, and this by the whole
sale. Only the constant watchfulness of
Captain John c. Barr. master of transpor-
tation, prevented heavy loss to the com.
pany and the Healy's being able 10 carry
up its quota of other freight.
All this is new TO Alaska, and 1t is
strange if the Healy, badly overcrowded
as she is, escapes serious trouble from
these turbulents- They are armed, and
on two occasions aboard the Cleveland,
despite Captain Halls tact and watchful-
ness, they grew euarrelsome under liquor
and whipped out revolvers. On both oc-
casions Captain Hall had to step right in
and settle matters ummarily at once to
the damage of his trusty right hand.
Captain Hall carried his first woman
stowaway on this trip, and the men SO
admired her pluck they made up purse
to send her up the river.
Some of the passengers aboard the
Healy were rather fearful as to the out
come of the long trip up the Yukon, but
there is no doubt they will be kept within
bounds Captain ]. G. Barr of the Healy
is suave and jolly and tactful.
He was an officer in the United States
navy during the ebellion, and is alert and
utterly without fear. Captain Ray and
Lieutenant Richardson of the regular
army are aboard, specially commissioned
by the Government to investigate the
state of affairs in Alaska and its necessi-
ties. Their record is well known, and
Captain Rays presence is assurance itself.
Then Frank Canton. the newly appointed
hos
with Bill Painter and Frank Kress, all
noted 'outlawists," as some one ex-
pressed 1t, have invaluable experience in
handling such cattle. Besides these there
are aboard the Healy a large number of
men OF importance and s;anding-men
going to re present large syndicates. These
will stand by to see the ruffians cease
their troubling.
One old miner going out looked over
some of this crowd as they were holding a
meeting TO decide when and how they
would have meals served, and, generally,
how the boat should be run, and re-
marked:
They're something new up here; be-
fore they get very far up the Yukon, or
are long in the mines, about all the outfit
-
good stout rope. That's the last moose
you'll hear of them.
You see," he went on, "they're new to
these parts. Anything goes on the Yukon
You're lucky to be allowed to live and
move. These companies own us. It's
frst-class coun ry for kickers to get over
it. You'll get over it, sonny" he said,
nodding his head toward callow youth,
with a som brero and revolver, who was
informing the crowd he wanted to eat.
This revolver business is very amusing
to the old miners. The absence of real
lawlessness, especially the infrequency of
shooting scrapes, is really wonderful
and probably unprecedented in any other
mining camp in the world.
OF course the presence of the mounted
police at Dawson ana thereabouts is
highly salutary, but it was largely so al
rcle City. The country is SO remote and
the winter so terrible that there is bso-
lutely no chance for fugitive 1t is death
by exposure and starvation even if sum-
mary justice were rot meted out to him.
But the riffraff is pouring in and some
thing ought to be done at once.
The Canadians have been wiser than
we. Troops should be forwarded at once
10 protect our people and their interests
Congressional action is too slow. Think
of a Governor in Sitka, many hundred
miles away, with no means of commune
cation even.
1t seems as if some temporary pro-
visional government. semi military, per-
hap,, should be established ut once This
ha vr-h CT 10 a
be most effectual If it could be brought
about at once, but everything is probably
even now too late. Captain Ray seems to
have been a very wise choice. He has
seen Western service, has lived in Alaska,
was stationed two years in the extreme
north and knows the country and climate.
He has none of the airs so common to the
army men among civilians, but is used to
sizing up all sorts of men and grasping a
situation, and his report will be thorough
and conclusive.
The situation at st. Michael is grave. /
anu told the Excelsior was delayed to talk
over the advisa bility of requesting troops
by return steamer to guard the pany's
warehouses this winter. By the way. the
Excelsior started two days ahead of the
Cleveland (Which sailed from 81. Michael
August 29). but attem pied too close land
route and ran aground in Bering Sea,
breaking two blades OF her propeller so
reached Dutch Harbor couple of hours
after the Cleveland and is laid up there
for repairs. Several of the passengers
were among those on the sandbar on the
Weare for eighteen days, and had gone
down on the other company's boat. hop
ing to save little time.
If they had been anything but returned
Yukoners they would have been furious,
but as more than one has remarked to me
on the Yukon: This country trains
patience and acquiescence."
Pat was watching an Indian pack over
the summit. "Dade," said he, ''but he's
doing that fine"