The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-27
Richmond, rates would be advanced to
$500 and no tickets sold for any less

$500 and no tickets sold for any less
amount.
The final statemeot was to the effect
that the party would be under the super
vision of Macdonald himself as general
agent CT the company at Juneau" For
full information as tic equipment, ETC., !
Macdonald, 1t la said, referred prospeo-
tive victims to the officials OF the passen-
ger department of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad Company. This gave tone
of ofIical responsibility to the circular,
and it is no wonder that hundreds were
prepared to bite at the attractive bait,
when, to the gooo fortune of the eXpec-
tant gold. seekers, Macdonald and his ne
farlous sphe enc were exposed.
Representations, made personally by
Macdonald to the Eastern men whom he
hoped to involve in his plans, were to the
effect that his company had absorbed all
of the important steamship and trans
portation companies operating between
2rget Sound and Alaska. He said that
the British Yukon transportation and
Trading Company was another name for
the North American Transportation and
Trading Company, which WAS operating
line of steamers from Seat lie to St.
Michael, the new organization to be
effective january l, 1898. He also repre-
sented that his company controlled all OF
the boats and pilots on the Yukon river.
Macdonald it is stated, went so far as
to arrange for the apportiOnment of the
passage money between the vcrious lines
of railroads making the chain to seattle,
and the steamship line to Alaska.
Macdonald arrived in Richmond, Va,
early in November and at once began
operations 1t is stated that he pre-
scented his prospectus to the railroad Off
Gals and secured Il hearing. Then he set
about printing his circulars and getting
ready to reap IL harvest of coin. ne pa
raded, it is said, as wealthy claim
holder, and added no little to the attract
iveness of his scheme by stating that he
would personally lead the expedition TO
the gold fields.
1t can we'll be surmised that this part
Of his undertaking appealed to the unini-
tiated gold seekers, who doubtless imag-
ined that Macdonald, a sort of klondike
Moses, would lead them direct to the
promised land and bid them lay hold of
rich gold bearing proper ties right aud
left. Nothing would seem easier than to
follow this apostle of the Yukon into
ease and plenty for their remaining days.
Then followed inquiries of Western
men by the Southern railroad officials
1t is said that kilograms were sent and
letters were written. Macdonald had
stated that the Seattle Office of his COM
pany was located on the Yesler wharf.
Investigate ton showed that no such office
at the place named was to be found. He
gave the address of the Victoria office as
No. 10 Government street. the Post.
Intellige ncer correspondent at that city
reported that no such number existed,
and that the man whom Macdonald said
was the general manager Of his company
was unk nown in Victoria.
Inquiry was made at the Chicago and
Seattle offices of the North American
Transportation and Trading Company,
and the denial was emphatically made
that any company had absorbed it. The
officials repndiated MacDo nald ana de-
MED all knowledge of him.
Next came an inquiry OF the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company, which Mac
Donald represented was to be absorbed In
his syndicate of transportation lines. The
company gave vigorous and pointed de-
NAL of the story that it was TO be taken
into the folds of the Macdonald concern.
It WAS ascel tanned that no such man ds
Macdonald bad beenssageI of the Alaska
Commercial Company at ST. Michael.
Mr. Wilson was agent for the company
there and during his absence y Mr. Ling
WAS acting agert.
Any bank in Seattle, it is stated, had
been given by Macdonald as references
but officials of several banks stated that
they did not know Macdonald.
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