The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-09
CAPT. RAYS SITUATION.
Special Courier Wells Says the Army
officer Needs Assistance.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Sc. Hazard
Wells, the special courier who brought out
Captain Rays dispatches from the Yukon
reached Washington this evening. He did
not bring the full copy of the dispatches.
these having been expressed by General
Merriam from Seattle. Speaking to a re-
porter Mr.. Wells said: II cannot properly
say anything as to Captain Rays report
but / can say that l left him in a rather
critical position, and the sooner the gov
eminent gets support in to him the better.
Captain Ray had only one man with him.
Lieut.. Richardson. They reached Fort Yu-
kon somewhat ahead of a mob of between
eighty and hundred of the toughest men
that could be picked out of Dawson, and
when / left the captain was standing off
this mob from the provision caches largely
by virtue of small American flag and his
own magnificent nerve. When the food
panic struck Dawson this mob of toughs
left for Fort Yukon, knowing that the
Weare Company and the Alaska CONNER
cial Company each had a cache of pro-
visions there. The Dawson men intended to
appropriate these supplies and let the rest
of the camp shift for itself. Captain Ray
learned of this and he posted himself at one
cache, while Lieutenant Richardson guarded
the OIner. lney were III UNIFORM ana naU
each of them a small American flag. The
mob tackled the captain first and ordered
him to give up. He refused and for time
it looked as though there would be shooting,
but between his uniform and the flag the
mob was overawed. Ray then established
himself as a sort of military dictator, super
intended the sale and distribution of pro-
visions and will make an accounting to the
companies when 1t Is all over. When / left
be had the support of about sixty of the
decent element, and there are about six
hundred of the better element there also,
but a few bad men in place of that sort
can usually make trouble and run things II
they get started.
LAS to provisions, the people will need the
government relief by the time it reaches
them. but there is no reason it should not
get in all right. / came out by the White
pass, and the road is good, though the Dyea
trail has recently been buried by a big snow
slide. One thing cannot be too strongly i'm
pressed those who contemplate joining
the spring rush. Major Walsh, the Cana
dian commissioner, will allow no man in
LOO pounds of provisions. TO start without
that will be to be turned back.
LAS to the reported trouble with Cana
dian collectors on American soil between
Lake Linderman and Lake Bennett l do not
believe it. The Canadians were collecting
at Tagish when | came out. but that is in
unquestioned British territory. They seem
to be very decent class of officials and not
inclined to make trouble. The rush next
wear so far as one can judge is going to be
on the Tanana river, in the heart of Alaska
southwest of the Klondike, and in Ameri-
can territory There is where the most of
the 100 $50 newcomers will strike. The tram.
portation companies cannot get provisions
eminent probably will have to help them
again next winter.