The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-20
TREASURE SHIP
ROANOKE BRINGS
KLONDIKE GOLD
Arrives at Seattle With Over Two
Million Dollars in Dust uDd
Drafts.

SEATTLE, July 19.-The treasure
ship Roanoke arrived in port this after
noon from st. Michael with $1,536,0 900 IN
Klondike gold about 100000 in drafts
and 240 passengers. 1t is the first i'm
portant golden message from the Yukon
mining district to reach Seattle this
spring.
On this one vessel are four tons Of
gold and the shipment would have been
larger had it not been abridged by the
caution Of miners in the interior. Fears
of marine disaster or piratical attack
have led heavy gold owners in Dawson
to intrust their ggs to many baskets.
The bulk Of the gold, 10000 ounces,
has been stored during the trip down in
seven boxes in a double cabin forward.
Five boxes, containing so, 600 ounces, or
$500, 600, are in the name of the Cana
dian Bank Of Commerce; the ether two.
containing 20,C-) ounces, or 1920. 900. rep
resent the wealth Of private individuals
shipped through the North American
Trading and Transportation Company.
Desire to evade the royalty and gem
eral miStrust have withheld a number
Of large owners from turning their
money over TO either bank or company
for safe keenirg. Such men have had
their wealth stored in their cabins and
have guarded it vigilantly. In many
instances four or five miners pooled and
guards were appointed for the down
trip.
The arrival of the Roanoke in Seat
tie was the signal for intense excite
ment, and scenes which attended the
coming down Of treasure ships last
fall were re-enacted. Vague rumors
Of mishap had been stated because of
the delay Of the steamers arrival. Time
was lost in the run down by coaling at
Dutch Harbor, and by reason of re-
duced speed through a fog later en-
countered. 1t is true there have been
fears among the more timid passen-
gers OF pirates and nearly all aboard
carried firearms. At St. Michael the
gunboat Wheeling and the revenue cut
ter Bear were anchored within easy
distance of the Roanoke and st. Paul.
ana just prior to the departure of the
treasure ships the Wheeling sailed for
Dutch HarbOr and waited until both
had passed that point in safety
There were rumOrs of shady charac-
ters aboard the Roanoke and fear of
them was aggravated by a robbery
Which took place on the steamer P. B.
Judge Mcguire of the Civil and
Criminal courts in the Yukon District
has announced his intention Of leav-
ing the territory, and is probably now
on his way out. Gold Commissioner
Fawcett will follow in the fall. They
have no intention of returning II is
said they feel as bitter against the way
things are being run as does Captain
Constantine.
The gold brought down on the Roa-
noke will be assayed at the Govern
ment office in this city.
A. E. Benson of Illinois intrusted
$4,000 TO the care of w. Patten of Kan
sas City, who was one of the regular
guards of the treasure on the Weare
on reaching St. Michael Patten was
unable to return the money, claiming
that it had been stolen from his room.
A passenger of note is Captain Con-
stantine, who has been at the head of
the police of the Northwest Territory
for some years. He is on a two months
leave OF absence, but it is understood
that he is Disguised with the manner
in which some of the Canadian officials
at Dawson have been extorting money
from the miners. and unless the evil is
remedied he Will not likely return to
that country.
Charles P. Burnett, The Calls special
correspondent at st. Michael, reports
that a great rush of prospectors is set
ting in from all directions to the Koyu-
hundred miles from its mouth on the
northern side. The Koyukuk is a
mighty river, fed by seven branches.
each branch taking substance in turn
from countless creeks and smaller
streams.
The whole country drained by the
seven branches is laced with running
water in intricate design and many in
dications point to the existence in these
divergent and widespread headwaters
of vast mineral wealth. Many are head
ing to the new fields in small boats and
steamers or over the land trail from
Fort Hamlin.
Seven steamers owned by private ex-
petitions are being prepared back of
St Michael Island TO run exploring
parties up the Koyukuk this spring.
Two other steamers whose destination
IS the same are almost completed at
Dutch Harbor Passengers could be
readily obtained at the mouth of the
Yukon by any steamer scheduled to
make regular trips to the new district
but such enterprise is checked by the
fact that the companies at st. Michael
and Fort Get There refuse to sell sup
plies to such steamers at any less than
retail prices. Failing to obtain steamer
passage many will go up the river in
small boats, and the district soon will
be alive with prOspectors.
w. NJ Scott, a mining expert Of Chi
cago, is authority for the statement
that on Tramway Bar are staked Il
claims Of 90 acres each. On bedrock
there are to feet of gravel. and one
short season five miners took out there
$50 900. Just above the bar is a splen-
did vein of Ignite coal. The vein is
about 80 feet thick and has been staked
for it's entire length. Only samples have
been so far taken out. Bar diggings