The state herald., 1898-02-18

4 igaDle tributaries OF The Yukon, will sc
cure our people the commerce of this
whole country. 1t would give route
to the open sea that could be operated
all winter and act us check to the Ca
madam route"
|. A report dated Fort yukon; October
18th, deals with Captain Nays TRIP
from Circle City to Fort Yukon, hS
having left the former place on the
18th instant, and reached the latter
| after perilous trip.
At Fort Yukon about $50 people were
found gathered and there had been
some threats Of taking supplies by
| force. The report adds: ,....''--'.s1.
Lieutenant Richardson, by prompt
and decided action, had checked ali
! turbulence. and by cooperating will
the agents of both cOnfpaIiies had ar.
!ranged that all destitutes should be
fed. Those willing fif work were to be
allowed to cut wood for the compaIr
les at So per cord, and when they had
earned, sufficient money they should
pay for their Supplies. iEs9 a. car.
| '"rhe sick and indigent should be fed
without charge, and the bills for sucll
issues to come to me to BE Submitted
FLOR the action of Congress. This action
is now being taken"
Apparently Captain Ray left Fort
yukon for a time, MS under date Of that
place of November 1st he says. that
since his return matters have assumed
a very serious aspect. -.
/ The Alaska Commercial Company
had cache of 200 tons four miles
above Fort Yukon, and the N. A. Il.
and 4. Co. cache at Fort Yukon. The
Alaska Compnny's agent reported to
him n meeting was being held to fur
| thcr movement to seize the COM
pany's cache.
He adds: ~ went up with Mr.. Rich
ardson, and, soon after arriving, there.
was waited upon by II committee from
n miners meeting, who stated In their
demands that there We're seventy-tvc
of them, and they demanded that they
be furnished on credit with an outfit
OF provisions and clothing for nine
months Thls Mr.. Davis. the agent, de
cllned to do. | explained to them that
would give orders on the stores for
food to feed the destitute, but rs the
companies offered work at good wages,
the able bodied should accept IT, and
| those having money would be allowed
to purchase reasonable outfit of pro-
visions for the balance of the year.
Il came away without getting any
definite answer out of them, leaving
Lieutenant Richardson at the cache for
the night. | received note from him
saying he believed they intended to nj.
tack the cache Mt 10 n. IN. next day. Mt
once issued notices taking possession
OF the cache and had them posted that
night on the door Of the storehouse and
In all the companies, and early next
morning started from here with twcn-
| ty-fivc men volunteers. I could not
arm them efficiently. being able to
raise only five rifles and n few pistols.
so | deemed 1t wise not to take any
thing but. pistols concealed.
Soon after starting word came 10
me that they had passed resolution
4 TO arrest me, should ! attempt to 90
| to the cache. When ! arrived within
one and one. half miles of the cache I
| was met hy one man tNobletb. who
| stated the miners wished TO have me
come TO their camp 10 talk over the
situation. which | declined TO do. He
then came out In his true colors, and
said they had determined TO prevent
my going forward by force and at n
Signal from him, twenty-five men.
armed with rifles. came out OF the tim.
ber and covered the party. Noblett said
they hqd possession of the cache.
AS Lieutenant Richardson was
there and ms | had not heard any fir
ing. knew his statement was false
and said so. at. the same time starting
on. ana told them they might open the
fight II they wished TO. He then said
that as conditions were changed by
Tmy seizurc'o OF the stores and they were
10th to disturb government property.
that II would walt few moments he
would consult with the committee and
asked II ! was still willing to feed the
destitute. ! stated my terms to feed
the destitute, and ms long as the com.
panies would take wood they were 10
go to work at the rate OF So per cord,
and IL they could not get work, they
would be fed II possible until the river
opened: that bona iide miners could
obtain outfits provided they went into
the field.
In n few moments he fNobletD re
turned and said they accepted the
terms, and ! went 10 the cache where
l found between thirty and forty men.
who said they had nothing, and l
caused. all to he fed. have hoisted
tho flag over buildings and placed n
guard.
"rlils II not n case OF worthy desti.
tutc miners, II Is a cnse OF prcmedita-
ted robbery. and had they been able 10
get possession of either Lieutenant
Richardson or myself. the cnche would
have been lost. Nn,inbcr OF very dcs.
pcrate and lawlessi characters have
been forced out " Dawson. Northwest
Territory. -.
There are quite n number In The
camp near tho cache. md ] learned 10.
day that they have been quietly secnr.
Ing arms since their arrival and mean
mischief am securing all the arms
and ammunition can. aud shall move
with caution aud get matters In sucli
shape ms 10 hold the balance OF power
] nm compelled to take the rcsponsi.
blliiy TO protect life nnd property. md
TO save nv many lives ns possible In
the emergency"