The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-06
REPORTS FROM CAPTAIN RAY
Uncle Sans Representative on the
Yukon Scores Things.

Washington, April 4.-Secretary Alger
has received some interesting reports
from Captain P. H. Ray, of the Eighth
infantry who was sent to Alaska to keep
the war department informed as to the
condition of affairs there resulting from
the large immigration into that territory
as a result Of the gold excitement.
The latest of these reports is dated Fort
Yukon, December 90, a little more than
a month later than those previously re-
ceived In one of his communications
the captain calls attention TO the depIor-
able condition of the mail service in Ala
ska. The regular contractor brought but
one mail October 2S) as far as Circle City
this year, and had sent none out. There is
no provision, he says, for forwarding mail
west of Circle City in the winter. The
postmaster for Circle City is somewhere
in the states, his assistant has been put
out of the office for drunkenness, the
postofice department has failed TO pro-
vide the postoffice with any postage
stamps, and the mail that comes in by
steamer via st. Michaels is without any
proper supervision. There are no route
handling the mail pay little or no atten-
ton to it. The present mail contractor
is frozen in somewhere about the mouth
of the Tannanah and it is to be regretted,
the captain says, that contracts are award
ed to men who do not understand the
conditions existing in the territory. They
seem to be financially and mentally in
capable of filling their obligations.
In another report the captain says that
the migration of people from Northwest
Territory has about ceased. From par
ties direct from Dawson he learns that
those who are without provisions TO last
them until the opening of navigation, are
going out, by the way of Juneau. From
his knowledge of the conditions existing
at Fort Yukon and reliable information
from Dawson City, he does not believe
there will be any loss or starvation among
the whites.
The Indians along the Porcupine and
Juan de Leur are starving. Advance
couriers have come in begging that food
be sent out as the women and children
are dying along the trail. The captain
had sent out food and said he would do
<.
There are about $40 all told in two bands
They report that the caribou migration
did not come their way, and that the fish
catch last fall was almost an entire fail
ure. Nearly all thier dogs have persisted
from want of food. leaving them helpless
The captain says the civil authorities
are not furnishing any protection to life
and property form the boundary 10 the
sea. and are powerless to do so with the
meagre machinery a their command
There is a dangerous element gathered
at Fort Yukon that was forced out Of
Dawson. who show some disposition 70 be
but the captain says he
hopes TO he able TO keep them under con-
troll. Should the army be given any
power 10 act next spring he suggests that
a small detachment Of troops under
first boat II can be used TO guard the
first boats coming down the river with
treasure. will have an excellent moral
effect and. the captain adds. i, is possible
that he may be IN need Of assistance.
Parties coming up the river report thrre
steamers wintering at the mouth Of the
Tanannah with over 100 peopleon board
and about 800 people at Rampant City,
(Manook).
les of sold reported either in Alaska or
the Northwest Territory.
The captain says;hat ne has no: receiv-
ed any communication from the war de-
partment since he left the United States