The Alaska prospector., 1902-04-17
BRAVERY OF CAPT. JARVIsS
Some Stories About the New Soi-
 1ector of Customs.

Revenue Cutter bc'f- WI" ""'' "'7 tinction in lS9S. by his intelligent daring in his commanded the" land Government expedition to Poin, Barrow for the relief of inn perilei whalcrS. says the Saturday Evening Post. has been selected by President Roosevelt as the proper man to untangle the complex con dition of Federal affairs at Nome, Alaska; and to effect reform there. he has been appointed Collector of Customs for the District of Alaska.
 Captain Jarvis is a remarkable man. He has more power person- ally over the natives of Alaska than has the United States Government. On his thousand-milc journey over the ice-wilderness. wlptc he faced blizzards before which even hard cned Aleuts and Eskimos rccoilcd,
 
 it became necessary to purchase three hundred reindeer as food reserve for the icc-bound men in the far dcsolation of Point Barrow. Charlie Artisall, an Eskimo of prominence, declined to part with his herd though promised that the United States would literally repay him, but he said that if Jarvis would take them on his own res ionsibility he was more than wei come to them. And the Eskimo's faith in Jarvis was such that he refused utterly to accept written acknowledgment or receipt.
 Frequently the civil authorities in Alaska, when unable to manage refractory natives, have called up- on Captain Jarvis, who, without arms and without a guard, has been able to paciiy and disperse the unruly Y men as if they were children.
 "ln his adventures in Alaska, whether on relief expeditions or in turning hack plaguc-stricken yes sells from northern ports, Captain Jarvis has not gone armed" said one of his colleagues. His mas tery over men is due altogether to his wonderful self-command and his moral force. Although beloved by the rough frontiersmen and feared by the outlaw element, Jar wis has none of thc rough charac- teristics which might be supposed to win leadership among these classes. He is modest and reticent, never enters q bar, never makes any sort of burly demonstration and is not a mixer
 At one time a pirate cruising in Arctic waters, terrorized the coast. Jarvis, then Lieutenant, Was sent by Captain Healey, known far and wide as d grim commander, to ei- feet the capture. It was believed that the pirate had taken refuge in certain shelter. and Jarvis was sent there with instructions not to return without the sea-bandit. On entering the cove Jarvis learned from friendly natives that the pi- rate craft had gone hundred miles down the coast. Undaunted and obedient to instructions. he followed. Ten days later he re- turned with the outlaw and his ship in charge. In emergencies oi any sort he is cool and resourceful.
 "On another occasion Jarvis was sent with a small boat and crew t, carry provisions to stranded min CTS. The boat overturned in tn, surf, but Jarvis remained cool ant managed to save his crew. A boa sent to his rescue perished with al on board. When the storm hat somewhat abated, Jarvis put bacl to the revenue cutter. One of thu ships officers, viewing the strug gling craft through telescope said to the grizzled Captain Healy
 "Lieutenant Jarvis boat is re turning, sir, but the Lieutenant. am sorry to report, is not on her.
 "'You're a liar,r thundered tn, Captain. If the Lieutenant's boa is coming I'll bet thousand dol lars he's abOardc"