The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-26
Tug Monarch at Last Takes Her
in Tow at Nanaimo, B. G.
THE DELAY HAS BEEN SERIOUS.
Loss Can Hardly he Calculated In
Holding Back an Expedition
Which Means So Much for Miners
of the Yukon Country-Shartercr
of Lucille Say They Are Not to
Blsme-Capt. Robtnson's Work.

The yexatioJis wait for tug which has
detained the pack train OF the klondike
relief expedition al Nanaimo for the last
eight days is now over and the ship Lu-
Gle with Its interesting cargo of army
officers. packers, mules and government
supplies is now on its way 10 Alaska. A
telegram received here yesterday an
nounced the arrival at Nanaimo of the
tug Monarch. The ship VIII be immedi-
ately made ready to proceed on its i'm
portant mission TO The north in tow of
the Monarch. Thus ends another of the
Introductory chapters Of the history OF
the government expedition for the relief
Of the men who may be reasonably sup
posed TO feel even now the dread invasion
OF want-men known to be battling I'M
successfully against scurvy, induced by
lack OF variety IN their food.
From the first there has been delay fol-
lowing delay until ii seemed that the
train on which 50 much depended would
never get under way. Even after sail
ing from this port. after detentlons SUM-
GENTLY discouraging, the vessel immedi-
ately on striking British waters was tied
up once more FOR what promised 10 he
an indefinite length of time. The liz
mules, whose condition is Of such import
ance 10 success in crossing the passes,
had suffered from confinement in the
stalls Of the ships deck and il was found
necessary in Nanaimo 10 unload them
and put them in j warm barn.
The transfer Of liz mules from ship 10
shore and back again is not child's play.
II requires some time and there is always
danger OF loss through injury 70 some Of
the animals. Hardly were they settled
q%h hgs ~
and again came the change from shore
10 ship.
The work Of reloading the stock was be-
gun yesterday morning and completed in
the afternoon. BY this time the Lucille
is We'll on her way providing no unfor-
seen accident has occurred.
All this delay has cost some one thou
sands Of dollars. II has been responsible
for loss that can hardly be calculated
in holding back an expedition on the early
arrival Of which in Dawson depends the
physical well being OF hundreds of min
ers. Further cost Is possible through
the arrival of the pack train at Dyea
after the snow and ice has become 80
slushy as 10 render the use OF pack mules
impracticable and the animals them
selves worthless.
1t seems difficult TO place the RESPONSE
hility. Havner &c Co.. charterers OF the
Lucille. claim that the government under
stood perfectly that there would be
wait at Nanaimo. THE government has
no cause for complaint" said Mr. Hav-
ner Yesterday Before the Lucille sailed
February is, We went 10 Capt Robinson
and told him that we could not promise
10 get the party TO Dyea at any definite
date. We told him that II might take
forty-fve days to reach there; that we
could only have the tug Monarch as far
as Nanaimo and must walt there 10 catch
another tug coming down from the north
If they wished 10 go by some other yes
sci we offered to unload their stuff We
even went 81 far as 70 insist that they
should pay the expenses OF loading and
unloading their stock at Nanaimo. should
snch move be necessary. We have such a
contract with the government Every
thing that could be suggested 10 expedite
the departure Of the Lucille from Naral.
mo we have since done Since she Ieft
here We have been under an expense OF
$50 day. so you can readily see our in
terest in getting the expedition landed IN
Alaska as early as possible
We have n contract with the Puget
Sound Tug Boat Company. which CON
trolls practically all the large tugs on the
Sound. - take the Lucille to Alaska. As
a matter Of fact they have about har,
again as much business as their hoats
can attend 10. think now. however
there VIII be no further trouble"
Since tho shin has been tied IN AZ Nan
aimo. Can't w w Robinson A. -,
representative OF the war dapsrtnen. rss
utsd N every way % hasten the exnadf.
ton on It's way. Since no tug could be
secured 20 first he thought ~ san.;,r
United States revenue cutter - 80.
the Lucille. A. tho time United -tsta.
District Attorney w Il Cav ala at 10
leFe that this could he fona b,lt 'a4or
changed h's opinion There vas ALL
some thought - bringing the Lucille bartr
70 American waters and transferring her
IrtlSht ana passengers 20 some steamer
The chief objection "a this vas So -
vessel with space enough - .ata a. -
TIRE pack train with th- supplies f,r ,hs
expedition, could be found r. v,~ 49,.
fact indeed which induced Capt Robirsen
70 recommend thu sending % the tot,
ana supplies by the Lucille TIE o~i1f,sI
contract az VIII be remembered. was =,
me steamer signal. but delay in the ar-
rival ~ that boat from Alaska ca-aas -
cancellation u the agreement
J I'D not understand that thera vas -
." A7F DELAY ~ Nanaimo until after me
J s3cl|@ md been loaded and vas on tho eve
Or Departure from this port" aaf1 Gao.
t'oa'hscn yeserday Had I known az {.
before J should have arranged 10 serA 49,
expedition north ny some other vessel Ma
not my instructions from the dspar.r1ar.
STATED particularly that the pack ,-af,
ana supplies must go or one vessel - ,,os
= Die should have arranged 10 send par.
on one steamer and part on another a.
~ vas. the Lucille Was the 0nfv avsfah1s
boat large enough - handle the vvhoia
thing. Havner & Co. have contracted url,h
the government II land the expedition IN
Alaska and they are responsible for any
sys that may occur. The government
looks % them FOR falHllment OF the con-
tract"
Meanwhile the bark Enoch Talbot wh,oh
left this port last Tuesday IN tow Of ,ba
tug Monarch "a ig exactly the nix from
~a!ch the Lucille SIS just escaping. Tne
II march has dropped the Talhsgt In Dear
fEre nsy and ia continuing n0rtA with the
i.ariie- The Talbot viii nave - wait IN
II so-rs other t4A carla@ alnna z IA % ~.