The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-02-10
PROWESS OF CAPT. RAY
Prevents Toughs in Alaska from
Selling Supplies
WITH AMERICAN FLAG AND NERVE.


from Taking Forcible Possession of the
Provisions-E. Hazard Wells, the Special
Courier with Captain Rays Dispatches
Reaches Washington.
Washington, Feb. 10.-E. Hazard
Wells. the special courier who brought
out Captain Rays dispatches from the
Yukon, has reached Washington. He
did not bring the full copy of the dis
patches, these having been expressed
by General Merriam from Seattle. Speak
ing to a reporter, Mr.. Wells said:
IT cannot properly say anything as tc
Captain Rays report, but / can say
that l left him in a rather critical posi-
ton and the sooner the government
gets support in to him the better. Cap
tain Ray had only one man with him,
Lieutenant Richardson. They reached
Fort Yukon somewhat ahead Of mob
of between eighty and 100 of the tough
est men that could be picked out of
Dawson, and when i left the captain
he was standing off this mob from the
provision caches largely by virtue of
small American flag and his own mag
struck Dawson this mob of toughs left
for Fort Yukon knowing that the Weare
company and the Alaska Commercial
company each had cache of provis-
ions there.
The Captain Was Determined.
1.-The Dawson men intended to appro-
pirate these supplies and let the rest
of the camp shift for itself. Captain
Ray learned of this. and posted himself
at one cache, while Lieutenant Richard
son guarded the other. They were in
uniform, and each of them had small
American flag. The mob tackled the
captain first, and ordered him to give
up. He refused, and for a time it looked
as though there would be shooting, but
between his uniform and the flag the
mob was overawed,
Captain Ray then established him.
self as a sort Of military director, SUI
perintended the sale and distribution
Of provisions and will make an ac-
| counting to the companies when 1t Is
] all over. When / left ne had the sup
port of about sixty Of the decent ele-
ment, and there are about 500 of the
better element there also, but few
| bad men in a place of that sort can
| usually make trouble and run things If
J they get started.
! "As to provisions, they will need the
! government relief by the time 1t reach
( es them, but there is no reason 1t should
I not get in all right. / came out by the
! White pass and the road is good, though
the Dyea trail has recently been buried
| by a big snow slide.
I Each Must Have 1000 Pounds.
zone thing can't be too strongly i'm
pressed on those who contemplate join
( ing the spring rush. Major Walsh, the
Canadian commissioner, will allow no
man in over Canadian soil who does not
bring 1000 pounds of provisions. To
start without that will be to be turned
| back.
| LAS to the reported trouble with Ca
| madam collectors on American soil be-
! tween Lake Llnderman and Lake Ben
| nett, do not believe it. The Canadians
were collecting at Tagish when / came
] out, but that is in unquestioned British
J territory. They seem to be a very de-
[ cent class of officials and are not in
clned to make trouble.
! THE rush next year so far as one
I can Judge is going to be on the Tanana
( river in the heart of Alaska southwest
! of the Klondike and in American ter
[ ritory. There is where the most of the
| 100 900 new corners will strike. The
J transportation companies cannot get
| provisions enough in for all that crowd
and the government probably will have
| to help them again next winter"
Il