The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-28
Wore Members of the nl-Fated
Jessie Expedition hurdered7
AlAskAM TRADER SO ALLEGES.


After many importunities on the part OF
relatives and friends Of the unfortunase
members. and especially Capt Kicnafa
Chllcott, manager of the Coinmoia NAsikA-
ton Company. which owned the vessel. tne
government has definitely determined 10
investigate as 10 the manner In which the
eighteen aboard the Inflated little steamer
Jesxss met their death az or near the mouth
OF the Kusko kwim river. and 10 this end
has dispatched. the United States revenue
cutter corwin. The Corwin IN now en-
route 10 the Kuskokwim bay. in Bering
sea.
News of the governments action reached
this city yesterday In the shape OF a let
ter from s. ~ Rock. first assistant enxi-
neer OF the cerwin. TO Richard Camden.
In part the writer says:
I'VE have received orders to investigate
the kuskokwim expedition. and II you VIII
please send me photograph. ana 9, ,s assef,s
fects It win be OF q great deal OF service
In tho matter"
6everai Of the corwIn's officers were col
lege mates Of some OF the young men VINO
met such n mysterious death on this ex-
pedition. and. AZ Capt. chilcott remarked
yesterday. II Ia needless to cay that they
TO the bottom. Mr.. Camden knew per-
sonaily every member OF the crowd that
left this city, having been college class
mate OF number OF them.
The government was al first disposed not
10 investigate tho matter from the fact
that the first reports from the north were
10 the effect that the Jessie and her tow.
the barge Minerva, hac been wrecked and
all passengers drowned. but these were
dispe'ied, or at least largely 80. through
letter written by Reuben G.. Marstcn. long
an Alaskan Indian trader. giving informa-
ton which leads to the belief that the Jes-
ME people were murdered and their outfit,
varlously valued at from &0n 10 $1,000
stolen by Kuskokwim Indians. Marssen
got what news he tells OF the AFFAIR from
hts wife. an Indian. and presumably OF the
heard that the Jessie passengers were
drowned. he writes:
II have 1t FOR fact that such was not
while sleeplng were killed and robbed by
INDIANS and the bodies taken some distance
from shore and put into the sea. learn
ed these facts through my wife. an Indian
visited her relatives on the kuskokwim
river She heard Indians telling about Il
during drunk and quarrel over the pos
taken from the murdered people
Marstcn further states that his wife had
also talked with her grandmother about
advised against killing the whites
There were about seventy Of the muir
derous Indians who. an Marsten says.
hit them ON the heas. with clubs and then
robbed them of all their yaiuables and
threw their bodies In the water
Oae Year Aso To-day.
The members OF the Jessie party. fourteen
In number. sailed from Seattle June Z. 1898.
aboard the steam schooner Iakme with the
barge Admiral, on which were loaded the
Jessie and the Minerva. In tow. Passing
through the Aieutsan islands Morayian
missionary. Rev. r. Webher. his wife and
two children. Joined the expedition The
a ;as,,n. reached , ksskokvim hey. her ees-
steamer and barge and on these the Jes-
sic and Minerva. the passengers and the
supplies were loaded
"a near a. can be learned II was the fol-
lowing morning. June y. one year ago to-
day. that the Jessie with her eighteen peo-
PIE. Including the crew and the missionary
OF the Kuskokwiu river but had been on,
but few hours when both vessels were
swamred. The passengers are believed Ia
Rave all gotten ashore. though the Indians
claimed when taking 10 the whites that
they were drowned. At all events no per-
son was left to tell the tale. not soul
escaped.
The Alaska Commercial campany.s agent
at Dutch harhor made diiigent inquiry con-
corning the disaster. but could learn Moth
ing satisfactory.
Capt Chiicott took the matter ur. an
Psalng sueuessiveiy 20 the treasury. navy
interior and war departments 10 order an
INVESTIGATION but accomplished nothing
until n second appeal Was made To- the
treasury department. which IN proceeding
In the matter as Indicated.
The expedition was undertaken not only
~ mining venture. 20 search for gold on
the kusknkwim bat also for trading psfr-
rcses II Was one OF the hest-equlppsd ever
sent from this rort.
The persons constituting the expedition
were W. 4. Reyson, Tennessee. r. r.
Ffaarsun, Tennesser. DR. n. Allen Kee-
sucky; 4. {. stesron. Harry Heiresn. Sc
attic. z. = Lines Connecticut: q p
Amraud. Seattle: Eagsnesr kenxlsv. -
Smsllhouse. &. III. WsntcheiI J. n Marnhy
Kentucky: I'll knudsen. Gcnesee. Idaho.
clifford Hare. England. Japanese cock
Rev. r. Wefsssr. wife and .wo children
WARMERS orchestra every afeernoon
and evening at Madison pavilion.