The herald., 1898-02-12

THAT along the Tananah, Minool
creek, Birch creek and the head of Fort,
Mile there are diggings that will pa,
from $40 to $40 per day per man are nov
Lying idle, as they will not pay expenses
at the present period. am satisfied tina
with adequate means of transportation
and cheaper food, this will develop int
one of the greatest gold-producing re
gions in the world.
"A railroad from the head of Cooks in
let, Prince William sound, to the moutl
of the Tananah, from which point sup
plies could be delivered by light-draf
steamers along the navigable tributarie.
of the Yukon, will secure our people thu
commerce of the whole country. I'O.K.
the orders for all supplies which the
government is to be responsible for, ant
will submit the total amounts when the
work is finished. Both agents have yer.
bally asked me to take charge of the
caches, which have refused to to, fol
cogent reasons.
'I shall not force an issue, but shall
defend the caches from violence and pill
lage, as they contain the only provisions
this side of Dawson, upon which many
hundreds of people are dependent for en-
istence for the next seven months.
SHOULD it come to fixing the amount
each shall receive, 1 may then be COM
PEELED to take charge, as l find there
are many lawless and turbulent charac-
ters here. have gone over the stock and
manifests of both companies, and fnd
that both have exaggerated the amount
on hand here. The people arriving here
all agree in stating that the managers or
both companies urged people to come
here, stating, as an rhducement. that
there were over 1000 tons of provisions
at this place, when in fact there are less
than 300 tons, and that badly assorted for
issue. With a ration of three pounds per
day, there can be fed at this place 200
people until the 1st of June, without tea
or coffee. 1 may be placed in position
where l may be compelled to take pos
session of the caches to save them from
pillage and to insure an equitable dis
tribution.
Il went UP to Fort Yukon with Mr..
Richardson, and soon after reaching
there was waited upon by committee
from the miners meeting, who stated
their demands. There were 10 of them,
and they demanded they be furnished on
credit with an outfit of provisions and
clothing for nine months. This Mr.. Davis,
the agent, declined to do. 1 explained to
them that / would give orders on the
stores to feed the destitute, but as the
offered work at good wages,
the bodied should accept it, and
those having money would be allowed to
purchase a reasonable outfit of provis- (
ions for the balance of the year. / came
away without getting any definite an
swer out of them, leaving Lieut.. Rich
ardson at the cache for the night. 1 re-
ceived a note from him, saying he be-
lieved they intended to attack the cache
at 10 a. m. the next day. I at once is
sued notices, taking possession of the
cache, and mad them posted that night
on the door of the store house and in all
the camps, and early next morning
started from here with 25 volunteers.
could not arm them efficiently, being able
to raise only five rifles and a few pistols,
80 deemed it wise not to take anything
out pistols, concealed.
"Soon after starting word came to me
hat they had passed resolution to ar
est me should 1 attempt to go to the
,ache."
81 started to go to the cache. When
arrived within one and one-half miles
If the cache L was met by one man (Nob-
ett), who stated that the miners wished
o have me come to their camp to talk
,ver the situation, which declined to
10. He then came out in his true colors
md said they had determined to prevent
ny going forward by force, and at sig
1t, 1. ~.
anne out of the timber and covered the
)arty.
"I stated my terms, to feed the desti-
ute, and so long as the companies would
axe wood they were to go to work at
he rate of S. per cord, and if they could
lot get work, they would be fed, if pos
ible, until the river opened; that bona
ide miners could obtain outfits, provided
hey went into the field. In a few mo-
nents he (Noblet) returned and said
hey accepted the terms, and went on
o the cache, where 1 found between 30
Ind 40 men, who said they had nothing,
md I caused all to be fed. have hoisted
he flag over the buildings and placed
guard.
This is not a case of worthy destitute
IllHeTSy IL IS pIeHleulldleu TODDeTy, ana
lad they been able to get possession of
either Lieut.. Richardson or myself, the
cache would have been lost. A number
If very desperate and lawless characters
have been forced out of Dawson, North
west Territory.
Il believe my experience confirms my
opinion formed on my journey here, that
some radical steps are necessary to give
to life and property next sum-
mer, with the opening of navigation.
Il am still of the opinion that it should
be a military government, with power
to hunt to the death the lawless ele-
ment.'
Under date of November 2 Capt Ray
recommends that the government take
steps to effectually check emigration to
this region of all people who do not come
prepared with sufficient provisions to
last them for two years.
The next day he submits a recon-
mendation for a patrol steamer to check
the operations of the lawless.
Accompanying the report is letter
to the adjutant general from President
Weare and Manager Healy of the n. A.
T. and T. Co.. strongly appealing for the
protection Of the strong arm of the mil
itary, and letter to Capt. Healy from
Capt, Ray, advising the company that it
must take steps to check the exodus
down the river as far as possible; that
provisions are short, amounting to less
than 300 tons and urging the cOmnanv