The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-11
THE PASSING IHRONG.


Francisco. is in the city. having arrived
Monday night from San Francisco. Mr.
washburn is On his way 10 Alaska. and
viii leave for Sitka in q few days On the
steamer Dora which arrived yesterday
morning from Alaska.
Mr. Washburn stated that the Alaska
Commercial Company was making exten-
sive preparations TO handle the rush OF
geld seekers coming daily from the East
en- their way north. A fleet of four steam
ers. the ST. Paul, the Portland, Bertha
and Dora, is being fitted out.
The ST Paul. which has recently been
completed at the Union Iron Works IN
San Francisco. is considered the principal
vessel OF the feet. She is of ?. SO tons reg
ister with triple expansion engines of lso
horsepower. She Is provided with accom-
ulodations for 90 cabin passengers. The
steamer has electric lights and other con-
veniences. II is expected that this steamer
will leave San Francisco about June 10
on her initial voyage 10 St. Michael. and
will ply exclusively between the two ports.
The next vessel in Importance is the
steamer Portland, which last year was
operated between Seattle and st. Michael
by the North American Transportation
& Trading Company, and was the treasure
ship which set the country afire with the
first news of the richness OF the klon-
dixie gold fields This vessel was pur-
chased a few weeks ago by the Alaska
Commercial Company, and has been ui-
dergoing repairs and alterations at San
Francisco. She has aecommodat tons for
about 135 frst-class passengers and 100
steerage The Portland will sail from San
Francisco one week after the ST. Paul,
pursuing the same route as that followed
by the former vessel.
The Bertha and Dora are vessels of
much smaller tonnage. The Bertha Is the
vessel that picked up the British ship
Scottish Dales, disabled Off the mouth "
the Columbia river during the winter of
1895. and lowed her TO Port Townsend. She
Is now at San Francisco being overhauied
and generally improved. The Dora is
sister ship to the Bertha. and up 10 the
present time has been carrying the mail
between Sitka. Juneau and Wrangel. lsi-
mediatciy after taking Mr.. Washburn to
Sitka. the Dora will proceed TO San Fran
cisco. where she will be overhauled pre-
paratory TO taking her place In the COM
pany's fleet.
Mr. Washburn also states that the Alas
ka Commercial Company will operate
feet of twelve boats on the Yukon river
about the middle OF June. plying between
the principal ports located on that body
Of water.
He was a smart looking chap and he
felt smart. lie had been listening TO
discussion among crowd Of men on First
avenue. near Pioneer place. as to whether
all the bnnko cases that have been report
ed to the police had really taken place.
Some thought that either there had been
some story telling or the victims were the
biggest fools that ever struck a live town.
while others said that il did not take
very smart bunko man to pick up a green
horn on either First or Second avenue at
any hour OF the day.
A big. fat. jolly. good-natured man said
that he did not care much about the
hunks" as any man who was beaten b.
them in reality looking for a sure thing
himself. Il would like 10 see those clever
pickpockets caught he said. They are
a curse TO a city. They are the hardest
kind of thieves to get right, too. because
they pass the money out of their hands
so quick that even if you see them turn
a trick it is a twc-to-one shot you Will not
nail the right man.
''Oh, l don't know" said the smart
young man. as he leaned back on his
heels with his hands in his trousers
pocket, IF a man keeps his eyes open
there is not much chance OF his having his
pocket picked. l would like to see any
bunko man get my money and he fin
gered SO and s. gold piece in his rieht-
hand pocket. Just then some one brushed
up against him. and his hat was tipped
over his eyes. Involuntarily he took his
right hand out OF his pocket and straight
ened his hat. Then he put his hand back
In his pocket His So had gone. He dia
not report the case TO the police.
George II. Emerson. the well-known
0Fays haroor iunbcrmaIi. arrived in Sc
attic last night from San Francisco. He
Is here to take hand in the Alaska trans
portation business, his company owning
several ships that have been chartered
10 carry freight and live stock TO the
north. The big tug Astoria viii prob
ably be brought 10 the Sound 10 be used
In one u the lines Of freighters between
Seattle and Dyea and Skacway.
san Francisco looks we'll" said Mr..
Emerson al the Butler last night There
Is no; the Klondike stir there that pre-
walls in Seattle, however. Although the
newspapers ara printing 4 good deal Of
matter concerning the amount Of business
that San Francisco would do In connection
with the rush TO the gold fields. there 70
but little out CT the ordinary routine OF
business being transacted
California needs rain very badly \
half-inch fell last week IN the southern
part OF the state, laying the dust a triae
II there are not copious rains the crops
VIII suffer. Indeed an almost total fan
IRE or the wheat crop is already threat
erred. FruHsn the irrigated districts viii
not suffer-
party 81 travelling passenger agents
for some Of the most prominent lines in
the country arrived from San Francisco
Yesterday ard spent the day here In
tue party were Amos Burt. representing
the Vanderbilt lines; J W Adams. Of ne
Nickel Plate +. 4 Cooper. Of the Chi
cago & Alton. ard " + Niles travel
ing freight agent Of the Union pacgio.
All four are good specimens Of the genial.
sood-natured travelling railroad agent
raen who have a large territory Ia cover
and who are supposed "a 20 about visit
ing their coupon agents from time 20 .inie
In remind them that their respective lines
are sttl on the map
Seattle looks 50 much like san Fran
cisco 'hat am sorry - leave here" eaii
NJ. Burr last night. u have been com
irg bore regularly ~ years pas; and
Fever have I seen the city loek 80 waU r