Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-02-17
CAPTAIN RAYS REPORT.
Critical Condition of Affairs IN
Far Alaska.
starving Miners and DesperadOes Threaten
the Small Force at the Captains Com
mand Company Stores Seized
and Doled Out to the Needy.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The war de-
partment yesterday made public the
advlces received from Capt. P. II. Ray,
OF the Eighth infantry, who was sent
TO Alaska to report on conditions in
the mining country.
The reports embrace a period run
ming Eom October B to November and
are dated from Circle City and Fit.
Yukon. They show very serious
state of affairs; that trouble is threat
ened at various places and that there
is serious danger at some points of lack
of food, owing in large measure to
the failure of the transportation COM
panles to get in sufficient supplies.
In report dated Circle City, October
3, Capt Ray recommends. should the
department decide to establish a post
on the upper river, that the mouth of
Mission or American creek be chosen
as the site, with a sub-poSt, if neces-
sary, at Circle City. The best interests
of the service, he says, require perma-
nent garrisOns to be located well away
from mining towns, so that the troops,
If required to act, will not be biased
by local influences.
On the food question he says:
THE question of food here is a very
serious one, and the action of the n. A.
L. and L. Co. is causing much friction.
will Use my best endeavors to recon-
cilc all differences peaceably and get
all people who are without provisions
down to Fort Yukon as soon as posi-
bic, where there is an abundance of
food. / learn that while food is scarce
in
lying camps are fairly well supplied
The stores two are selling very con-
servatively. The eating houses are all
closed save one.
report dated Circle City, October 6,
deals with the subject of miners meet
ings, several of which Capt Ray wit
messed and noted their actions. 1t
shows that Capt. Ray was able to per
Suade the men at Circle City to take no
more provisions than they needed to
save themselves from starvation and
that they agreed that the agent of the
company should open the companys
storehOuse and check him stores landed
by the commission, no part of such
stores to be removed without cash pay
ment at the cOmpany's own price.
On another occasion the trouble was
due to the fact that the master of the
Weare would not proceed to Fort Yu-
kon with so people belonging in Daw-
son, who had come down as a volun-
teer crew, at the request of Manager
Healy,to handle her for the round trip,
SO that they could obtain winter sup
plies. The men appealed to Capt. Ray,
who says:
Il took them before the agent of the
company who, after hearing their case,
admitted that the company was re-
spOnsible, that he would furnish them
shelter and food until such time as the
river should become passable, and they
could reach Fort Yukon. The whole
matter has been much aggravated by the
drunkenness and inefficiency of the
master mariner of the Weare.
Apparently Capt. Ray left Fort Yu-
kOn for time, as under date of that
place of November 1, he says that since
his return matters have assumed a
very serious aspect. The Alaska Com
mercial Co. had a cache of 400 tons four
miles above Fort Yukon, and the n. A.
I. and T. Co. a cache at Fort Yukon.
The Alaska company's agent reported to
him that a meeting was being held to
further movement to seize the COM
pany's cache. He adds:
Il went up with Mr.. Richardson and
soon after arriving there was waited
upon by a committee from a miners
meeting who stated their demands;
that there were rs of them and they
demanded they be furnished, on credit,
with an ''outfit of provisions and
clothing for nine months" This, Mr..
naviC tho 1ao1Ina1 70 do
planned to them that would give Or
ders on the stores for food to feed the
destitute, but, as the companies offered
work at good wages, the able-bodied
should accept it and those hav-
ing money would be allowed to pur-
chase a reasonable outfit of provisions
for the balance of the year. came
away without getting any definite an
swer from them, leaving Lieut.. Richard
son at the cache for the night. re-
ceived a note from him saying he be-
lieved they intended TO attack the cache
at 10 a. m. the next day. 1 at once is
sued a notice taking possession of the
cache copy inclosed) and had copies
posted that night on the door of the
storehouSe and in all the camps, and
early the next morning started from
here with 25 men volunteers.
II could not arm them efficiently, be-
ing able to raise only five rifles and
few pistols, so 1 deemed it wise not to
take anything but pistols concealed.
soon after starting word came to
me that they had passed resolution to
arrest me should attempt to go to the
cache. When 1 arrived within one
half mile of the cache L was met by
one man (Noblett), who stated the
miners wished to have me come to their
camp to talk over the situation,
which l declined to do. He
then came out in his true col
ors and said they had determined
to prevent my going forward by force,
and at signal from him % men,
armed with rifles, came out of tn tim
Der and covered the party Noblett
said they had possession of the cache,
but as Lieut.. Richardson was there,
and l had not heard any firing, I
knew his statement was false, and
said so, at the same time starting on,
and told them they might open the
fight if they wished to. He then said
that as conditions were changed by my
seizure of the stores, and they were
10th to disturb governmental prop
erty. that if would wait a
few moments he would consult with
the commission, and asked if was
still willing to feed the destitute