The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-19
Adventures of Expedition on the
Steamer Humboldt.
SOME DELAY. BUT NO DISASTER.
Not nm Instance of sickness, aud Not
single Accident - Ex- Mayor
Wood shows Rare Executive Abil-
fly, SilencinE Many Complaints
ON Trivial Matters, Quality of
the Food and other Grievances.

The following belated letter from r. c.
Washburn. formerly managing editor of
the Post-Intelligencer. came down on the
Queen. While nearly month older than
other communications from the Yukon
printed this morning, II gives interesting
details OF the Humboldt party's expert
ences on the lower Yukon, and Will no
doub, be read eagerly by a large number
OF people:
ON YUKON RIVER, at Mouth of
Koyukuk. Sept. -, 1Sg..-The Humboldt
expedition. which left Seattle August
II under the direction of Mayor Wood.
has arrived at the above point and
the river steamer, Seattle No. ]. con-
sfyucted at St. Michael by passengers
and crew, is moving up the river night and
day at fair speed. 1t Is expected that
the new town On Munook creek will he
reached within three days and large por-
ton OF the passengers put Off at that
point. Up 10 the present time the Wood
venture has been a remarkably successful
one, There have been some delays and
the usual trials incident to trip of the
magnitude of the one now being taken.
but IL is the common opinion of all the
passengers that their voyage TO the North
has been attended by rare good fortune.
The sea trip WAS without vicissltudes;
nothing OF a serious nature interrupted
camp life at ST. Michael while the boat
was under construction, and there has been
DO yexatious delay since the trip up the
river began. No serious accident has been
recorded. there has been TO instance OF
sickness or I'll health. and, while there
were many opportunities for injuries and
minor catastrophes, not one has yet been
met. With l1 inexperienced men engaged
e
barses and assisting IN steamboat con-
struction. II is regarded something al
most marvellous that there have been 20
deaths, drowning accidents or spra ms
bruises or alarming hurts.
The Seattle No. left ST Michael for
the river September IL. TIP 20 that time
the mayor had worked eighteen hours Il
day experimenting the construction OF
his boat and settling the iunumera bie
difficulties and disputes which must in
evitab.y arise in a party OF 100 gold
seekers anxious 10 move on. He has
shown himself to be a man OF remark
able executive ability and no trouble has
arisen which he has not been able to
settle. Complaints have arisen upon all
concSyable matters-siow progress. poor.
board. lost provisions, ard kindred sor-
rows. but IN all Instances the mayor has
been able 10 pacify the passengers. either
by granting relief 20 the sufferers or
making them believe he was granting IL.
on fhe whole. he has managed the crowd
admirably.
Since leaving ST. Michael The temper Of
IN. voysgsrs has been sweeter than 1.
was during the somewhat tedious three
weeks Of boat building. Good progress
has been made. the boat running night
and day. and az the up-river country
comes nearer the spirits Of the tIve-weekS
travellers rise correspondlngly From the
first, owe: half Of the pass ngers have
responded ~ al calls to lend a hand
They worked faithfully at boat building
without pay. ard along the river have
been ready 20 turn in whenever there
has been any labor 20 b. performed
While The steamer l. rot a fast one.
shs has made fairy good time, and her
construction must have been substantial
for. with no trial trip testing OF en-
gines or boilers. there has been no stop
ping because Of byeakageS or the recss
sity FOR repairs. delay Of sixteen hours
was occasioned by striking on the ba,
a. the mouth Of the river. but s.nce chat
time she has not grounded. and tho
Yukon - lower row than has been re-
corded for years.
Reports from the upper country are
al OF the Same tsncr. No beats have
fsaohsd Dawson since July. and nc pas
sengsFs .sssing Seattle Via sl. M..aae.