Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-25
Special Dispatch to the spy.l


Seattle, Wash, Feb. 24th.-The Wor-
cester and Northwest Mining and Trad
ing Company sailed tonight for Yakutat
on the brigantine Blakely, compromise
having been effected, after considerable
trouble with the Pacific Steam Whaling
Company, with whom they had contrac-
ted for transportation to Valdes pass.
They were to leave on February 10th
on the steamer Alliance and paid $1,000
advance on $4,000. The contract was de-
layed in getting here, and they asked
that the sailing of the Alliance be de-
layed.
As the steamer was late, the COM
pany agreed. After reaching Seattle
the association changed its mind, and
decided that they could charter YES
sci for Yakutat cheaper, and go to the
Copper River from that point. The
Whaling Company refused to release
them, and the Alliance went north with
the berths reserved for them empty
The company brought suit for the
recovery of the $1,000 advanced on the
passage, on the ground that the steamer
did not sail on the 10th
Ia The Whaling Company then brought
suit for the balance of the contract
price for passage, less $500, the estima-
ted cost of meals on the up trip.
They asked for s1S60, and attached the
outfits purchased by the Worcester peo-
pie, Compromise was finally effected
and the Whaling Company returned
part of the $1,000 advanced. The asso-
citation is also out from the expense oi
a long stop in this city. They brought
suit unadvisedly, and. though they have
been dismissed, the Worcester people
paid the costs in both suits.
Yakutat, their present destination, is
several hundred miles east of Port
Valdes Prospectors think they have
found an easy way to Copper River.
The news, as given in the above
special dispatch to the Spy, will be
learned by the many friends of the
members of the company with joy this
morning; and now that the start for
Alaska has been made, once more the
ter and Northwestern Mining and Trad
ing Company will resume the even tenor
of it's way. The dispatches giving no.
tice of the law suits that were brought
caused very animated talk among the
Worcester friends, and some blamed one
group of men and others another re
the family of President Charles A
Wilkinson will the news seem doubly
agreeable, when they know that Mr.
Wilkinson who has been the father OF
the company, and whose enthusiasm
and interest alone have been the fac
tors in building up the plan for the triI
for the golden fleece, has again risen
equal to the occasion, and Shown him
self to be the leader that he had proved
himself on many similar previous eX-
petitions. To guide body of 40 men tC
the Alaskan fields without a hitch on
petty disagreement of some kind, would
be impossible; and now that every com
plication has been met and that 43 Wor-
cester people are on their way to the
land of promise, congratulations will be
heard on every hand.
The end now reached is what friends
in this city hoped for, and when the
news Of the two suits was published, the
outlook did not look especially cheerful
At last one step nearer the Ell Dorado
of the north has been taken
Thursday the family of Mr.. Wilkin-
son received letter from President
Wilkinson, dated about week back