Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-02-12
RESPECTED THE FLAG.
It Protected Provisions at Fort Yu-
kon From a Mob.
CAPTAIN RAYS BRAVE STAND

He Held or the Would be Robbers and
Seized the Food For Distribution Un-
der His Immediate Supervision-No
Trouble with Canadian Collectors.
Washington, Feb. Sc. Hazard
Wells, the special courier who brought
Captain Rays dispatches from the Yu-
kon, arrived last evening. He did not
bring the full copy of the dispatches,
these having been expressed by Gen
eral Merriam from Seattle Speaking
to a press representative Mr.. Wells
said:
IT cannot properly say anything as
to Captain Rays report, but 1 can say
that left him in rather critical po-
sition, and the sooner the government
gets support in 20 him the better. Cap
tain Ray had only one man with him.
Lieutenant Richardson. They reached
Fort Yukon somewhat ahead Of a mob
OF between so and 100 of the toughest
men that could be picked out OF Daw-
son, and when 1 left the captain he
was standing Off this mob from the
provision caches largely by virtue of
small American flag and mis- own mag
nifcent nerve.
when the food panic began at Daw-
OF provisions there. The Dawson men
intended to appropriate these supplies
and let the rest of the camp shift for
| itself. Ray learned of this, and he
/ posted himself at one cache, while
i Lieutenant Richardson guarded the
/ other. They were in uniform. and each
Il OF them had q small American flag.
| The mob tackled the captain first and
| ordered him to give up. He refused.
| and for a time II looked as though
| there would be shooting, but between
his nerve and the flag the mob was
| overawed.
Ray then established himself as a
sort OF military dictator superintend-
ed the sale and distribution of pro-
visions. and will make an accounting
to the companies when II is all over
When left he had the support OF
about 60 OF the decent element, and
there are about 600 of the better ele.
ment there also, but few bad men II
| a place of that sort can usually MAKE
trouble and run things IL they ge
| started.
II "As TO provisions. the people vii
need the government relief by the tim
It reaches them. but there is no reasol
, IL should not get in all right cam
out by the White Pass, and the roal
D 1
Gently been buried by a big snow
slide.
zone thing cannot be too strongl
. | impressed upon those who contem
| plate Joining the rush this spring. Ma
| jor Walsh, the Canadian commissioner
/. | will allow no men in over Canada
soil who does not bring LOCO pounds c
| provisions. To start without that wi
{ be to be turned back
"As to the reported trouble wit
5 Canadian collectors on American so
: between Lake Linderman and LAX
Bennett, do not believe 1t. The Car
adams were collecting at Tagish whe
5 / came out. but that is an unque'
Il toned British territory. They seem
be a very decent class OF officials an
5 not inclined TO make trouble.
II 1.-The rush next year, so far as OF
o can judge, is going to be on the Tai
ana river. In the heart of Alask
: southwest OF the Blondike. and
: American territory. There is whe
! the most of the hundred thousaT
{, comers viii strike.
= "The transportation companies ca
IS not get provisions enough in for 4
IF that crowd, and the government W
lie probably have to help them again ne
d, | winter"