The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-29
G. W. Grayson, Jr., Has a Bitter
Experience at st. Michael.
THE BIG SQUARE COMPANY.
Steamer Proxreso Returning From
Passengers and Cargo-Could Not
Land-Wiii he Plastered With Lii
bels on Her Arrival Here-Wind-
Up of q Disastrous Speculation.

There will be a very lively demonstra-
ton on the part % the passengers o. the
steamship Progreso when that vessel ,an1s
al her Seattle whar. within the next Two
weeks With the rs passengers and 400
tons OF freight wiki whica she started for
S. Michael four weeks ago. According 10
the latest advices from the north the Pro-
g1eso is probably headed back to this port
by this time with her Passengers and
freight on board.
George ". Grayscn. j., 81 Vancouver.
B. {. aho weat north on the Progreso as
general manager for the Big Square Com
pany is more than pleased that he escaped
from s.. Michael before the passengers had
an opportunity 10 cause him trouble. II
vas suggested many times that they pat
his neck through a moose. ana he thinks
that lie era Hled out Of q very tight h0.e
by getting away. The story Of his eX-
perieHces in the north and his account OF
The inside business OF the defunct company
are very interesting. Yesterday he said:
My connection with the Big Square oeE-
lie began last May. when / accepted the
position OF general passenger agent. | To-
Gated III Vancouver and worked up abou,
$lo,0p worth Of business Tor the company.
When the Progress arrived "a; Victoria /
vas instructed 10 mike the trip north in
ner and arrange for the transfer % the
river steamers. | WAS provided with drafts
foY <o,si. which wee TO be cashed by the
auditor II the company, j. A. T. Evans,
who MAS said to have gone into the in
terror with that amount of money. and VINO
was 30 have reached 81 Michael by the
time We arrived In ease Evans did not
>ut.W zap I MS fJ.G that the North Amer
icstU Transportation and Trading Company
would cash the crafts. | was further IN
struytcd tAai | could sell SEA barr,.s OF
-four 90 tons Of coal ana s. 40 worth Of
paints aud OH which were or board With
ms money was 10 pay the balance OF
81 .@o duo Moran Bros. Tor two river
steamers
Our first trouble va, the loss of the
rlxer steamer Marause when twenty-four
hours olE Of puTt. This alarmed the pas
sengers, who were afraid none OF The river
boats would reach 81 Michael. / found
that the -four and coal which was - sell
,iid not belong 10 ;he company. and that
the paint simply consigned FOR sale on
commission. This deprived me o. cousd-
erabio prospective revenue
Then care my trouble with Capt II.
Gllb0y of the ProgreSo. He claimed that
the charter OF the PTogrcso Was up on the
day W arrived az 81 Mi hael and de-
handed so per day demurrase after that
time. knew that the charter read from
seattle Ia s.. Michael and return, aDi
would not listen 10 him.
1t Was about this tme that the passsen-
gers seriously considered hanging M.
They law that It Has doubtfui If there
- efp AZ
when we arrived ana were afraid the cap
tain would insist on bringing them back.
There were several committees appointed
by different groups OF passengers. one
committee said that / could not go ashore
Unless they went with me, When We got
t. St Michael however, ! went ashore In
the captains boat and did not return to
the ship.
I found that Auditor Evans had not ar
rived and that the North American Com
pany would not casa my drafts. got
Capt. Gihoy to sign an agreement % land
the passengers and take the expenses out
OF the freight collections. III this way
the Progrsso Steamship Company assumed
the yoke that was hanging the Big Square
Company. The North American Com
plny pnt their steam launch at my d's-
posal and ! was enabled TO board the
Charles Nelson. on which I returned to
Seattle.
AS soon ~ the Progreso gets back in,o
port | WI l!bel her for ~ sum for The
violation If charter agreement. The pas
songers VII probably cover the ship vita
separate liotIs"
In regard to the Big Square Company.
M Grayson sail:
''The affairs u the R.g Square are IN -
bad way. l. r Campbell 4 Sons East
nrn milliaua:re+s ace the moueyeA men back
OF the company. After spending about