The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-08

Since early ia January hardly week
has passed without some small scoop leay-
Ing for Alaskan waters with parties OF
prospectors who were willing to take any
risk to get there. Some OF these smaller
boats have reached Skagway, Juneau and
Wrangel In safety. One was wrecked on
Vancouver island. fortunately without loss
of life. Others have put back from Vie
toria, Nanaimo and Everett after their
owners had almost los, their lives through
their rash venture. Several OF the sleeps
have never been heard from. and among
the latter Is the Atlantic, which left here
for Juneau late In January with seven
hardy prospectors aboard.
The Atlantic Is now several months
overdue at Juneau. ard those who have
friends aboard have given them up Tor
lost. The siooD was one OF The smallest
OF the feet that started north, being I'M
der i've tons burden. She was heavily
loaded. 1t is said that the sloop was not
In the best of condition. being very Old.
With her heavy load OF human freight
and their outfits the sioop was not In
shape to stand up against heavy weather
The prospectors knew this, but counted
on crossing the open stretches In good
the many islands during the storms. They
were not acquainted with Alaskan waters.
but were willing to trust to luck and their
charts.
The sloop has not been seen since the
Sunday afternoon that she slowly made
her way out of the local harbor, while
the seven men aboard tried TO find room
for themselves on her narrow deck. At
least, II she has been seen the matter was
severe storms along the southeastern
coast during the past four months. and 1t
is believed that the Atlantic failed to
weather one OF these. II so. every one on
board persisted. They had no life loaf.
for the sioop was scarcely larger than
one. She was also unprovided with life
pressrvers, as the men were abort OF
money ard had nothing TO spare for fit
ting up the craft. Had they been wreck
ed. and any OF the seven reached shore.
1t would have been reported at Juneau.
where several men Of the party have been
waiting In vain for the arrival Of the
sloop. The only possible chance for the
Atlantic to be on the surface is that she
was driven far out TO sea through Dixons
entrance or some other opening in the
chain OF islands that line the southeastern
shore In that case there is slight
chance that she may be aba TO beat back
TO the coast. but people Interested in the
craft have given her up.
Arthur McI4ain, OF Montana, was at the
head OF the party that started on the IL
fated trip. His brother. W. c. McLain.
and several other men were 10 join the
party at Juneau. ". G. McIain went
north about a month after the Atlantis
left Seattle. and has been waiting there
even sinea for the arrival OF the sloop. He
has at last given her up as lost, and in a
letter to A. G. Minter. OF this city. says
that he will go on to Dawson alone.
While many people along the water
front remember the sloop. no one seems
TO know the names Of any of the members
OF McL.ains party. The sioop fitted up
between the city dock and the Pacific
Coast Company's bunkers and the men
seemed proud OF the fact that they were
setting out In so small a sloop on such a
dangerous voyage.