The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-10
CURSE FATE IN alaska.
ARMY OFFICERS on SURVEY Duty
PINE FOR WAR AND GLORY.
They Have Asked 10 BE Recalled. but
Expeditions Cannot BE Aban-
doned - Must Remain mt Prosaic

| OF the United states army are on n the
| wilderness OF Alaska o. a government sur
| yeying detail cursing the fate tia. sent
| them 10 the land OF glaciers aad gold, and
| hoping that the powers that be N Wash
| ington VIII allow them 20 shift their de-
| tails and join the army OF invasion OF
/ Cuba. Some Of them have had as many
| as twenty years OF active and honorable
| service and ali OF them ara filed with an
| ambition to earn glory and iaurels in NOR
| tai combat with the Spanish oppressors
| of the Pearl OF the Antilles.
Their formal application 10 Maj. Gen.
| Merriam, formerly commanding the de-
partment OF the Columbia, but who sue
ceeaed Gen. Shafter in command Of the
department OF California, for relief from
Alaska detail were recently Gent TO him
I through Capt. W. r. Abercrombie. in COM
mand Of the surveying expedition through
the Copper river district. All save two
OF the twelve officers were turned down."
as they wia probably express 1t. when they
learn as they VIII in the course OF ten
days or two weeks that the war depart
ment has decided Il to be .mpracticable TO
abandon the Alaska surveying expaii-
tons.
The exceptions TO the order. which was
recently issued by Gen. Merriam. direct
ing the continuance OF the survey. are
Lieut.. Guy II. Preston. OF the Ninth cav
airy and Lieut.. j. s. kulp, Of the medical
department. Lieut.. kulp returned few
days ago from Copper river with Capt
Abererombie and is now on his way 10
Washington to report for orders.
Before Capt. Abercrombis left Valdes
he was besought TO use every agency in
his power TO obtain an order from the
authorities for the recall Of his comrades
now in the north. To those brave men.
there Is nothing but hard work and plenty
of grief ahead OF them while chances of
earning glory and promotions In active
service N the field viii be gainea by Their
old comrades in their respective regiments
This IS why they are cursing their luck.
Four months ago when the war depart
ment first planned the survey Ct the triple
routes from tidewater TO the gold fields
or the Yukon basin the detail was eager
Iy sought by officers, who then believed
that there was little chance Of war with
Spain. The men selected for the expedi-
ness. experience and capacity for hard
work under trying circumstances and the
officers who were named looked upon the
fact as testimonial 10 their abilities
There was no little strife for the honor
or being a member OF the surveying ex-
peditioR and when Capt. w. K. Aber-
cromhe, Of the Second infantry: Capt.
Bogardus Eldridge. of the Fourteenth In
fantry. and Capt. +. +. Glenn of the
Twenty-fifth were selected the.r friends
showered congratulations upon them.
Then Alaska and It's treasures of gold.
from Dawson in the KIondike, through
the newly discovered fields OF the Copper
and Tanana rivers and Munook creek drew
the attention Of adventurous men all over
the country. klondlke news was readily
absorbed by Eastern newspapers and the
rush 10 the gold fields was at It's height.
Miners and prospectors were leaving Seat
tie at the rate OF 800 per week
Every one knows OF the sudden change
in the center OF gravity or news when the
Name was blown Up IN Havana harbor.
The officers ard men Of the surveying ex-
petitions az Dyea and Val3es arst learned
that war had broken out when the steam
er Valencia brought the news about May
81. Couriers carried the information from
the settlement at the foot OF the Taides
glacier 20 Capt. Glenn and Lieut. Pres
ton. who we're then some distance in the
interior. Back came their applications,
coachei in the most urgent terms for a
change IN detail from Alaska 10 CUBA
Some Of the officers. :; IS SAID. were almost
frenzied AZ the prospect or pescahly chaS-
ing over the hills and dales Of goId-ribbed
Alaska for from four 10 SIX months while
their comrades in their regiments were
earning undytHg lauTe.s eon the field cf
hattie. Then there IS ever IL view 10
the army officer the chance of promotion.
Many 81 the Hcutenants and captains Of
the regular army have been made colonies
of volunteer regj mems There was also
a chance 70 do the heroic as Hobson dil
az Santiago de Cuba.
All this was felt by the officers Of The
surveying parties more deeply than may
well he imagined by 4 civilian l. Is said
that wasu Cap; Aher~cmb.e Iefp Po~.
Vaidos - come - Seattle Tor additional
pack animals Cap: Glenn, weo he's sen
twenty years % hard and honorable ser
vice, ard others IN the expedition az the
mouth 81 the Copper river. came down to
the landing art begged Capt. AbercF01l-
be. wth tears IN their eyes. 10 bring them
. hack orders % return Al once and jo.a
their regiments 81 the front.
CAPT Aherc-rTnbse forwarded the ap7,t-
ssjions together VITA kilograms se~t BY
individual officers 20 their influential
friends 4; Wash;aEscg. asking them .
intercc8e fc- them. Ths application We're
ssnt dtrec; % Gen. Merriam az san Fran
cisco 311 n Ele ttsFs% cf tETe tHe mat
ter MAS presented So Washington. Cen.
Merriam has forwarded an order - Cap,.
Aosrcrcfuhss ard Capt. Glenn. saying that
tAe war department. considers tha- toa
mech money has s.re&Gy been expanded
On tina expeditions - Justify thssr recall
ara that ire work - a. me highest import
arce. Excsp' OTIS we're fr--e IN the cases
~ T..cst J. : kop ard I,.euf. Gay II.
Preston TIE former returned with Cap.
sos~CreruAae an3 twS Jaws after BIS arrival
here LEFT fo- Washington wlsa soy IN his
hsart at the chance CT p8ru- lpa-trR "a t:le
ASht w5tA Spain.
Lieut.. Preston s. aot n s3,A good hack
re started MAY Is wth P party % u,ea
ana IS Typographical instruments fer CIR
cls C-tx. Oh the Yukon lie - with the
party q wAica = J. Cooper. & mining
man fror0 tri0U'e Geek. Co - ne lead
er- Owing "a tae last tdat he reindeer
provided by Tr. Saeit3r jackson proved
p faHGre "a "a MEANS % Transportation 20
Eas .atsf.or. the Two expeditions wn3ch
were 20 start E~0ra copper Etvsr sra Cook
sn3et "a the NQkrD veTs without Pack
- a.