The San Francisco call., 1898-04-08
ARE PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK Another Expedition to Search for the "Island
 of Gold" Captain Moore and the British Capitalists to Be Closely
 Followed.
Tho Schooner Altair Will Start Immediately in the Wake of
 the Free Trade.

There Is to be race TOT the ISland of Gold,'' for which the schooner Free Trade has started out to search. H. Talbot Watson and the other British capitalists interested with him in the venture are not to have it all their own way, and the chances are that unless good luck attends them, another party of gold hunters will be In possession when they reach the new El Dorado.
 The schooner Atair is now receiving a thorough overhauling and as soon as all the repairs have been made and the stores are aboard she will start out in the wake of the Free Trade. Her master and owners say she can sail knot and a half to the Free Trades one, so the latter's long start will not be such a serious handicap in the long run.
 When the Free Trade was being fitted out Captain Moore had for his first officer Captain Charles Gilbert. Be- fore the sailing day came around the two men quarreled and in consequence Gilbert libeled the schooner for $70 wages due him. He got his money and the Free Trade went to sea with another first mate. Now Captain Gill; bert asserts that 1t was he who dis covered the Island of Gold" and that Captain Moore has only the general sailing directions and does not know the exact location of the quartz ledges. The exact latitude and longitude are in his possession, however, and he can go direct to the spot while the Free Trade will be sailed from pillar to post in search of a will O the wisp.
 s~, 1r follows: A couple of years ago he made a cruise to the canneries in the ship St. Nicholas. While out on hunting expedition he ran across the quartz ledges in question and at once saw their value. He brought some of the specimens to San Francisco and an assay showed them to be very rich in gold. Gilbert made another trip north in the St. Nicholas and relocated his treasure island. On his return to San Francisco he met Captain Moore, whom he had known for many years, and told him about the quartz ledges.
 Moore broke faith with me" said Captain Gilbert yesterday. "He want ed all the information and then tried to get away with everything in sight. That was the reason I left the Free Trade Captain Moore knows the right course to steer, but he does not know the location of my find, and I don't think he will ever find it. Anyhow, the Altair can sail rings around the Free Trade, so I will beat her up any, | how"
 | At the back of the new venture are A. P. Hotaling, the millionaire liquor dealer, and ex-Judge Gordon, and they are sending along with the expedition c. Carroll, a mining expert Captain Gilbert will take along c: Holmes a as l first officer, George Forrest second ofh- cer and five seamen. They expect to be gone about two months.
 The schooner Hattie Phillips Is be- ing got ready for trip to St. Michael with the party of hardy gold hunters who came out here from Gloucester, 1 Mass, on her. When the schooner ar enough advanced to make the voyage to the Yukon, so Captain Blackburn accepted charter and went north for a load of lumber. The schooner got back a couple of days ago, and her owners are now outfitting for two years stay in the frozen north. They are taking along a steam launch and six dorieS, and if possible will sell the schooner at St. Michael If not the Phillips will be laid up until they re- | turn from the gold fields, and then the entire party will go back home in her.
 The paddle steamer Tiger Is now al- most ready for her voyage to St. Mi chael and as soon as all the equipments are aboard Captain Dollard will be | ready to start at moments notice. | The inspectors of hullS and boilers tried her under steam yesterday and found everything in firSt-clasS order, and Ma rine Superintendent Tabrett of the Ris- don Iron Works says the Tigers en- zines and boilers are one of the best jobs ever turned out of their shop.
 Lightship No. 70 Is In position on the bar and the old whistling buoy has disappeared. Yesterday No. 70, in com mand of Captain Lowell, and the light house tender Madrono. in command of Captain Davis, went out over the bar, and once her anchorage was reached 1t did not take long to drop the big mush- room anchor and make everything snug on the lightship. The Madrono then took up the whistling buoy and returned to the city. Last night the lightship's signals sounded for the first time on the bar, and her masthead lights served as beacons for ships en- tering and leaving port.
 After considerable delay the steamer Humboldt finally got away for Dyea and Skaguay yesterday afternoon and about 150 more will join at Seat tie. There was some delay over the getting of the freight aboard, but as soon as that was fixed up 1t did not take the steamer long to get under way. Max Kalish, agent of the vessel went up on her.