The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-09
FOR PUGET SOUND DEFENSE.
4 NUMBER or TUGDOAH 10 he
PURCHAsED FOR Use.
they VIII Ne FitseA Up with Rapid
fire Guns asA Will Be . Formula
BILE Fleet Of Ganboass, sa0eient to
Protect Agaiast Any Privateerias.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Infell!gencer:
PORT TOWNSEND. April s---Aith all
the war talk that has been heard. and the
vast preparations that have been under
way along the Atlantic coast during the
past month. the people OF Port Townsend
have never fully realized the serious aspect
OF the Epanish-American outlook until to-
day, when Il became known here that the
government had secured an option on four
of che fastest and most powerful or the
Puget Sound Tugboat Company's fleet for
use as patrol and possible defense vessels.
By advices from washington this even
ing It il learned that the option is likely to
be closed. and the four tugs may within .
very few days be doing actual duty - part
OF the government auxiliary fleet. Tho
tuss that are to be purchased are the Ia
coma 80 tons; the Richard Holyoke. lN
tons: the Sea Lion. 1Ss tons. and the Tyee.
SIG tons. II u announced that guns VIII
be forwarded TO Puget sound Immediately
to be mounted on these tugs. and that they
will be detailed 10 patrol the waters or
Puget sound. the Straits OF Juan do
Fuca. and. IL necessary. the California. Or
egon and Washington coast. II Is sup
posed that this step has been taken by the
government IN response to the urgent re-
quest of shipping men in the Northwest
to provide some means OF protecting the
American commerce in these waters IN
case OF actual hostilities with Spain. As
surance was given some time ago that II
the situation became serious. ample pro-
vision would be made by the government
to protect the American merchant marine
on the Pacific as well as the Atlantic
ocean. and the fact that nothing was be-
ing done in this connection led conserva-
tive business men to believe that war was
not seriously contemplated by the admin
istratiou.
Today's action on the part Of the gov
eminent. however, has had the effect OF
disabusing the minds of such men, and
war is now believed here to be certain
fy There is considerable speculation here
about the rumpr TO the effect that in case
Of war a formidable feet Of Spanish pri-
vateers will be sent out to this coast to
intercept the Klondike treasure steam
ship when 1t comes down from the mouth
of the Yukon early In July. and 1t Is said
that the two Alaska commercial COM
panies have already made arrangements
to have this treasure brought down by
British vessels instead OF transporting It
In their own steamers. II the war should
continue till that time. this k.ondike
treasure would be great temptation to
Spanish privateers.
The price agreed to be paid by the gov
eminent for the four tugs on which an
option was obtained today cannot be
learned, but inasmuch as the tugboat COM
pany has business contracted for several
months ahead. II Is probable that the
management OF the company obtained its
own brice for the tugs. Capt. John b.
Libby. manager OF the tugboat company.
was surprised to know that the story Of
the prospective dea. had leaked out. and
refused to have anything whatever to
say about il.