The San Francisco call., 1898-02-16
SAILS WITH
 UNCLE SAM'S
 PACK TRAIN The Lucille Departs From Seattle for
 Skaguay. Carries Animals Which Will Convey Supplies
 to Dawson. Fortune-Hunters Who Had Obtained Passage Are
 Left Behind. THEY LIBEL THE SHIP. Finally Effect a Compromise and Will Be Taken North ward
 on the FarallOn.
THEY LIBEL THE SHIP
Finally Effect a Compromise and Will Be Taken North ward
 on the FarallOn.
Special Dispatch to Tn. Call.

SEATTLE, Feb. 15.-After delays that seemed interminable, the pack train detachment of the Government relief expedition sailed from Seattle on the three master ship Lucille late to- night. The work of loading the ship began last Friday and 1t was expected that she would get away by Monday. One complication after another arose
 The Lucille brought quite large ex- petition of freight and passengers and live stock from San Francisco, destined for Dyea. When the Government pack train and equipment were loaded on room for both parties. The San Fran cisco people, holding contract that was prior in date to that of the Gov ernment. stood off Lieutenant Ryan and endeavored to prevent the loading of the Government mules until their outfits were aboard. For a time the at- mosphere was blue with rumors of war, but truce was patched up and the San Francisco expedition gave way to the Government after the company had arranged to place it's freight with the steamer Farallon.
 The Alaska Forwarding Company of San Francisco, owners of forty mules and horses and fifty tons of freight that the Lucille brought from San Francisco hbeled the ship this after noon for S6000 damages for refusing to carry out contract alleged to have been made in San Francisco for the transportation of the expedition to Skaguay. Papers were served in the suit, but the vessel was not taken in charge by the Federal court. a com promise being effected before evening. Havner & Co.,, charterers of the LucilIe,' agreed to take north on the Farallon that which 1t was found impossible to load on the Lucille
 The Lucille was billed to sail bright and early this morning. That she did not get away was good thing for the crowds of men and women that throng- ed the dock from morning until dark. watching the gang of longShoremen place tons and tons of hay and feed aboard, ending finally with the inter esting sight of loading the pack mules in heavy wooden stall and hoisting them into the ships hold.
 The spectators obtained more fun at the expense of the mules that were hoisted on board the Lucille than In any other one thing. Being conserva- tive to a degree of stubbornness, the average Government pack mule is not accustomed to ships and hoisting gear and things of that kind. Naturally the bruteS would object to being hustled into a boxlike structure made of stiff fir blanks attached to rope from the derrick on deck. Ordinarily the dock hands would seize mule from behind and with the aid of a rope and a few energetic twist of his tail they would yank and haul at him until they had landed him in the stall, when the doors at either end would be bolted tight Then would follow the amusing part of the scene. AS the rope stiffened and the carriage began to raise the mule would stamp and tug at the halter and at the ropes that bound him down. One brute actually screamed as he arose in the air and gazed terror stricken at the rapidly receding crowd on the wharf. Finally, however, the last mule was safely slowed below the upper deck, the last dog was led up the gang plank, and the last bale of hay and pound of feed was slowed away in the hold.