The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 29, 1897, Page 1

v vorume Lxxxu . \ The NO. 151. e ———— SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 29, 1897. PRICE TIVE CENTS. THE EXCELSIOR BRINGS TALES OF STARVATION ON THE YUKON’S BANKS As Fast as They Can Miners Are Hurrying Down the River From Dawson to Where There Is Food. STRUGGLING, hungry, suffering A army of men, some alone and some accompanied by their wives, fighting for life, is now marching on its way over the rugged hills and frozen valleys from the Klondike and Circle City, headed for Fort Yukon, where food if not fortune awaits them. Such isthe news of the condition pre- vailing in the gold fields of the far north | according to the report of CaptainJ. F. Higgins of the steamer Excelsior that arrived in this port last night, fourteen days from St. Michael. “Suffering and death await many who hurrisd to the gold fields unprepared to facr/a hard winter,” said Captuin Higgins la night, “and a shortage of food that may result in appalling hard:hips is gen- erally expectea by those who have had an opportunity of observing. The river boais ‘Weare and Bella are now fast in the ice at Fort Yukon,and the supply of food carried by them will remain where it is. Those who are driven by the pangs of hanger to cease in their search for gold may go there and e:xcape death from starvation. We have bad no direct communication from Fort Yukon since the return of the steamer Margaret, that for a time was stranded alongzside the Weare and Bella. “TheMargaret finally managed to escape from the corner in which she was forced and brought back the news of the fate that seemed to «wait the miners of Daw- son and Circle City if they allowed their greed to combat their judgment, “Prior to the departure of the Margaret from Fort Yukon the Alaska Commercial Company’s agent at Circle City, not know- ing the cause of the liitle supply flest’s deiay, rowed down the river and found the vessel fast at the river's divide. Im- mediately seeing that the vessels would be wunable to proceed farther this winter, and appreciating the fate that awaited many of the miners who were relying on the arrival of the flect for supplies if they were not warned of the true condition of affairs, the agent turped the prow of his little boat toward Circle City and startea back to give warning to 1 who would listen. ‘He reachrd Circle City after erduring unto!d hard-hips and his words to ite people spread terror throughout the land | and in hordes they began to deser: the land of gold. Word was next carried to Dawson of impending famine and many people who had left positions, comfortable homes and families behina and who had spent their all to reach the Klondike forgot about gold and fortune and hurried to join the army that set out for Fort Yukon to await the return of spring. “The passengers who returned on the Margaret also report that on the arrival of ihe fleet at Fort Yukon, Sam- uel Wall, THE CaLy correspondent, 1d Jobn McGilivray, his compan- n, took & small boat and rowed he river to Circie City. They arrived at that town tired and hungry, but other- wise well, only to find that they would in all probability have to return to the fort in order to live out the winter. Many similar tales of hardships are told in St Michsel, out it 1s hard to verify them. “It is the prevailing opinion at St Michael that the flow of gold from the Klondike will not be as large as expected, owing to the scarcity of food. We brought down with us on ths trip some 8000 THE (STIEAMER ' BXCELSIOR. ounces of gold, but it bslongs to the com- | pany. The value of the meta! is some- | thing over $140,000—a nice little fortune | to be divided among several miners; but | it was all paid into the company for food and supplies, I belteve. *“We had but two passengers on the trip, | Mr. and Mrs. Ducas, who left San Fran- | cisco seversl months ago with an expe- tition on the Mare Island, that was towed to St. Michael by the North Fork. The Mare Island was unable to get up the river, and in consequence a | majority of the party she carried will | winter in St. Michael. Forty of the party d-serted the sbip some time ago and re- | turned to Seattle on the Novarro. Hun- | dreds and hundreds of people who are strugel nz to et to the gold fields are | | wintoring at St. Mickael. I may go to the | Klondike in the spring. “Tha: fellow Joaquin Miller is the big- | gest prevaricator [ ever heard tell about. I read his letter where he said that there was plenty of grub at Healey’s. Why some of the men that came to St. Michael with me said | that they could not buy any provisions here at any price. To hear him write avout the acres of bacon would make a men who knows anything about the con- dition of #ffairs there sick. He ouzht to be kee:~hauled. “All this thing about there being piles of gold there is all bosh. Of course there is lots of gold around the. Klondike, but all the claims are taken up and it will take a whole lot of money to buy in there. “Some of the men who came down with us trom Fort Yukon to 8t. Michael had been in the country for three or four years, and none of them had more than $1000. A grest many specu- lators have been buying @ what nuggets they could from the miners, and they will use them when they come here and to other places to boom Minook Creek. Any man who takes hold of any proposition on that creek will most surely { get hus fingers burned.” The captain also said that there would be some suffering at St. Mickael among the tenderieet who left here on the South Fork. TIhe Mare Island, which was| towed up by the South Fork, is frozen in a little above the mouth of the river. The clerks, bookkeepers and others who made up her passenger list are en- camped on the banks. The company has | promised to house their provisions for them. If they do not the grub will freeze, as the tents offer no protection against the severe cold of that place. Among the party whom the Excelsior brought up to Fort Yukon were sixteen men who went in “light.”” There was not a siove among the outfit and no sheet- iron with which to make any. It is pre- dicted that the foolhardy fortune-hunters will suffer a great deal before the winter is over. “There 18 a possibility that some food may be taken into the famine threatened country from Fort Yukon on dog sledges, but that is bardiy probable, as the course between the points is so rugged and at times precipitous and dangerous. The safest way for the miners to do is to obey the warning of the Alaska Commercial Company’s agent, and those who are almost out of food to hurry to the present source of supplies, Fort Yukon.”” Captain Higgins reports the predica- ment of the men on the whalers which | necessaries 1s all that can are frozen in forty miles from Point Bar- row to be even worse than neretofore sup- vosed. It seems almost impossible for food to be sent to the men before July, and short rations and a scarcity of other be looked for- ward to. A vivid description told in the northern country of sixteen weak and hungry men battling with the waves on a floating iceberg seems to compare with the condition of gold-seekers who are hur- rying back to Dawson City for food. When the whaler Thrasher picked up the men who had been thrown into the water from their whaling-boat the waves had commenced to wash over them and death stared them in the face for hours. The wind had full sway as there was no way for the unfortunate men to protect themselves from the storm. In fact, when rescued they were emuciated, heipless, hungry and desperate men. “The condition of the men,” said Cap- tain Higgins, ““is startling. Frozen in be- yond human aid and with no chance of being supplied with more food is no pleas- ant experience. I hardly believe that the men will siarve or freeze to death, but their condition is not to be envied. The rescue of the men from the floating ice- berg by the crew of the steamer Tarasher was thrilling. In a few hours more the entire sixteen men would have frozen to death or tsken their own lives through sheer desperation. Iiis an easy maiter for the mind to lose its balance when placed in such a hopeless predicament. By July food will be sent the men, but the question is, will they be abie to subsist on extremely short rations auring the in- tervening months. Their condition is hardly to be believed, but the parties who had the gold fever and were able to get very far north are also in a peculiar posi- tion, to say the least. The outlook in the whole Klondike region is hard to be prophesied. Hunger, cold, misery, and possibly death to many, is putting it mildly. I heard of no deaths from want, but that is not saying that we may not near of some or many be ore the winter is over."” ANDREW CARJEGIE’S If His Armor-Plate Works Are Not Eought by Uncle Sam He Will Sell Them Abroad. PARIS, Oct. 28.—Andrew Carnegie, who is here, says that he has offered the Car- negie armor-plate works to the United States Government. lithe offeris not accepted the firm will sell them abroad. He says that he only took up the armor business from a sense of duty to his mum? and that the works have never paid. The firm means to sell out at the smallest possivle loss. —_— GFFER. DENIED 4 NEW TRIAL. Glenwood Lwmber (ompany Must Pay $6000 Damage, B8AN JOBE, Oct. 28.—The wmotion for a new trial ir the suit of O, Limberg against the Glenwood Lumber Company, and in which judgment for $6000 damages was given for plaintiff was denied by Judge Hyland to-day. Limberg suet the lumber company for damaces for injuries sus- tained wh le employed driving a lumber wagon. He claimed that owing to the short lines given him he was pulied off the wagon and run over. The injuries lnoanh.nm; the amputation of his right eg. DR, BROWN SCORES A VICTORY Congregational Council at Chicago Decides in His Favor. MISCONDUCT CHARGE NOT SUSTAINED. Action of the Bay Conference Condemned by the Present Investiga:ors. THE FINDINGS ARE AN EX- ONERATION. Those Who Suspended Him on This Coast Ordered to Desis: From Furthzr " Persecution.” Special Dispatch 1o THE CALL. CHICAGO, Oct. 29.—The Times- Herala this morning prints tne following: The Congregstional Council called to judge between Dr. C. O. Brown and whe Bay Conference of California, and to decide whether the con'erence was justitied in suspending Dr. Brown from membership on the strength of the finding of the San Francisco council that tried him for im- morality in April, 1896, reached a unsni- | mous conclusion at & late bour last night. The termsof the finding have not yet been made known, but the purport of them 1s a complete victory for Dr. Brown. The finding begins with a comvlete and emphatic exoneration of Dr. Brown from the charge of misconduct, which was tried #nd deciared not proved by the previous council. It then proceeds to pass on to | the action of the Bay Conference, and con- gemns it. A test motion was made o ap- prove of its action, and on informal vote it was voted down by a majority of two. The council then adopted a compromise resolution giving the conference a sort of technical approval. But the council then sadvised the Bay Conference to desist from any further per- secution of Dr. Brown, referring to its protests addressed to the Dubuque and Chicago associations against admitting Dr. Brown to membership in these bodies. The work of the council was not com- pleted last night, however, and it will as- semble again this morning. In the mean- while a committee consisting of Dr. Boynington, Dr. Burnham and Dr. Waterman 1s charged with the task of perfecting the form of the finding. FECT A L BEROWN’S DRAMATIC PLEA. With Sarcasm and Eloquence He Asks for the Vind'cation Which He Secured, CHICAGO, Oct. 28.—All the delegates were present with the exception of Dr. Philip Krohn of Lake View Church to- day when the final meeting of the coun- cil, which has been hearing the conten- tions of Rev. C. O. Brown and the Bay Conference of San Francisco, was called to order. Dr. Brown, with his wife and sons, carrying lLuge telescope grips, came in eariy. The grips puzzied the minisiers, wno could not understand why the Browns should wish to take a sudden journey, uutil Dr. Brown expleined that we “telescopes’ were full of evidence. Dr. Hatch led in prayer, after which the moderator called upon Dr. C. R. Brown. The latter said that, aside from explain- ing a few questions which had been asked him during the night session, he would not delay the conference. Then the central figure of all the pro- ceedings, Dr. C. O. Brown, laid his gripful ot ev.dence on the tab.e and prepared to speak. As he did so the members of the Bay Conference solemnly arose from the seatsin front of him and retreated to the benches at the farther end of the room. Dr. Brown began with compliments for the counsel and then declared that his adversaries had uncorked all kinds of metaphors during the previous day, “ascending in joyous flights of song and descending three pairs of stairs with a thump—rhetoric and thumps about equally divided.” Dr. Brown seemed in a sarcastic mood. He threw verbal arrows at his Oakland pamesake, who had said that he did not like the similarity of titles, and dectared that he would not for the world be cone fused with Brown of Oaklund in any wa; Afier a few more warm attacks onthis ad- versary’s oratorical ¢fforts he settied down to the practical business of the day. The speaker denied haviug had any voice in the selections of the orizinal San Francisco council, and hint:d that if he had kuown anything of that council’s makeup Dr. McLean would have been barred as a bitter, biased 2nemy. The reasons allegea by the Bay Con- fereuce for Dr. Brown’s suspension were then taken up. “The payment of money to any one was never a specitic charge,” saii Dr. Brow “The "'"'E’ that I was practically con- victed by Miss Overman’s letters is too puerile for publication; a case where my word was staked against thatof a con- fessed perjurar and liar.” Dr. Brown protested that the final charge—that of threatening conduct toward a young lady of the congregation— was not brought to light till aiter the find- ing of the council. As for pumishment, asked, had he not be-n sufficiently pu ished by the council's censure? Nothing more thi ure had been intended by the council$ Gnding, yet the Bay Confer- ence had pt% dmed Lo suspend bim on the council's nce. The Bay Conterence representatives had cleimed that the couns s findings were full ot specific charces, yet wuere, on reading the findings, couid they be found? - Dr. McLean objected, and said he would like to introduce new evidence. The Cunitnucd on Second Page PARRICIDE FLANNELLY, A DOUBLE MURDERER, FLEES FOR HIS LIFE SHERIFF NcEVOY. DECLARES THAT THE PENITENTIARY YAWNS FOR CROKER And John Brooks Leavitt Also Charges Tom Platt With Blackmail. NEW YORK, Oct. 28.—*'1 cordially ap- prove Henry George’s declaration that the penitentiary yawns for Richard Croker,” said John Brooks Leavitt at the Citizens’ Union meeting in Longacre Square to- night. I hope tbat as socon as we get a District Attorney elected who is mnot amenable to political pulls that evidence will be 1aid before the Grand Jury. [Ap- pluuse.] “But we must treat both political ma- chines impartially. I will say a word about Platt on the same line. As Mr. Gardiner uttered the war cry, ‘To hell with reform,” I follow George's state- ments about Croker with the cry, ‘To jail with Tom Platt.” [Cheers and hisses.] It is well not to use such words withoat having facts to back them, and as soon as we have 1n office a District Attorney of tbe kind I have mentioned I propose to bring to his attention a certain bit of blackmail by Mr Platt which, as I learn now, {rom a quotation from the Penal Code, will subject him to an inaictment. The Penal Code says that itis a misde- meanor ‘to obtain property from another, with his consent, induced by a wrongful use - f force or fear.’ “Some years ago Mr. Platt made a de- mand upon a certain life insurance com- vany of this city for $30,000. The direc- tors in great fear conciuded to pay the money, and directed the treasurer to draw the check. But he happened to be oneof those sturdy men who believed the corporation’s money ought not to be paid out except for value received, ana refused to araw the check. [Cheers.] “Theieupon,’’ continued Mr. Leavitt, measuring out his words slowly, as if each one weighed a ton, “the directors cabled the situation to the president, who was in Europe (it was not the present president) and he cabled back to the treasurer to make the payment. [Hisses.] The treas- urer still refused, and thereupon some ar- rangement was made and the money was sent to Mr. Platt without going through the treasurer. “The company was the New York Life Insurance Company. The president was Mr. Beers and the faithful ana fearless treasurer was Mr. Banta, whose firm atti- tude a few years ago was of untold benefit to the company. [Cheers for Mr. Banta.] 1did not learn this from Mr. Banta. Ido not know him. I shall not make public at present my source of information, bt I am authorized by my informant. to say that Mr. Banta will not deny the fore- going statements. [Cheers.] Asapolicy- holder in the New York Life Insurarce Company I propose to see what can be done to compel the company to sue Mr. Platt [hisses] to recover the money by a civil suit. It seems to me that it is a clear case under the Penal Code of obtain- ing the property of another through fear.”” [Applause.] A reporter found Mr. Leavitt at the City Club afier bis speech, which was heard by 3000 people of the Twenty-sev- enth Assembly District. I cannot give you the source of my in- formation to-night,” he said, “but I will say this, that I have it in writing over the signature of a responsible man. There have been a 200d many general charges made here, and another $25,000 there. But they do not give names and da To- night 1 gave a specific case and the name of the company which paid the black- mail to the bose. Mr. Bantais still with the company as treasurcr., Heisa noble old fellow, and it was he who saved the company when President Beers had so nearly drageed it down to ruin.” 70 SEEK ANDSEE'S BALLOON. Two Expeditions Will Start in Quest of the Missing Arctic Explorers. STOCKHOLM, Oct. 28 — Dr. Otto Nordenskiold, the well-known Antarctic explorer, will superintend an expedition to be fitted out at the joint expense of Norway and Sweden to asceriain whether any trace of Professor Andree's balloon can be found near Prince Charles Promon- | tory. LONDON, Oct. 29.—According to s dis- patch to the Daily Mail from Copenhagen a telegram has been received there from the island of Vardoe which says that Cip- tain Sverdrup of Dr. Nansen's exploring ship, the Fram, will start immediately with an expedition for Prince Charles Promontory to look for the Andree bal- loon. Elile e RIOT OF GREEK VGLUNTEERS. Being Cold and WJngr/ They Seek Food and Raiment in the Shops of Athens. BRINDISI, ItavLy, Oct. 28.—A dispatch from Athens, which the censor there re- fused to allow the operators to send, says that great excitement prevailed at the Greek capital on Monday. Several hun- ared volunteers, the message continues, inveded many of theshops of that city and seized clothing and food. The shop- keepers resisted, some of them using arms in sodoing. This caused a panic. All the shops in the town were hurriedly closea and finally the rioters were dis- persed by stronz patrols of troops, who succeeded in arresting the ringleaders. ‘The rioters defended their conduct on the ground that they were cold and hungry. ——— WILL NOT MAKE A CONTEST. Pullman’s Sons _Salisfied With the Conditions of the Falace-Car Magnate’s Will. CHICAGO, Oct. 28.—There is to be no contest of the Pullman will, so both sons of the dead palace-car magnate deciared 10-day. Said George M. Puliman: ‘“The idea of wishing to contest my father’s will never entered my head nor my brother’s either. No stens have been taken and none will be taken to break the will. My relations with the Pullman Palace Car Company and with my family are most cordial. 1am in the company in the ca- pacity of an assistant superintendent and expect to remain with the company.’’ Sl A To Be fid of Weyler. HAVANA, Oct. 28.—General Weyler will leave Havana to-morrow on the Mont- serrat. He will be accompaniea only by his general staff officers and aides de- camp. Taere will be no other passengers on the steamer. At 3 o'clock to-morrow afternoon, pre- vious to the embarkment of the general, there will be a great popular manifest tion in his honor. The volunteers, accor: ing to the programme, will take a promi- nent part in the demonstration, | | Ferk Jet kAo A e e e e ek ko ek A ek A e e e ok O ROA R ARk ok Rk ok ke | | HLY SECOND VIGTIM DIES AT REDWOOD Sheriff P. McEvoy Suc- cumbs to a Surgical Operation. TALK OF LYNCHING THE FIEND. Leads the San Mateo County Officers to Spirit Him Away. PEOPLE FOOLED BY THE FIREBELL. While the Yourg Demon Is Driven Rapdly In the Dlrection of San Jose. Foeddedokk koo Jokkeokook ook ok REDWOOD CITY, Oct. 28.— Three events have kept this commuoity in great excitement all day—the spectacle of Patrick ¥ annelly’s funeral, the ampu- tat on of Sheriff McEvoy’s arm and his subsequent death, and the spiriting away of mur- derer Thomas Flannelly, who was hurried to the San Jose jail about 3 o’clock this sfternoon. When the doctors decided that the amputation of McEvoy’s arm held the only chance to save his life there was some taik of Iynching the wounded prisoaer, whose builets had killed his own father and cndangered the popular Sherifi’s life. When tie doctors said there was little hope of Mcdvoy’s recovery the talk of lynching buscame more serious. Prominent citizens dis- cussed it, and the entries to the jail were erowded with men of determined visage. Under Sher- iff Mansfield and half a dozen leading citizens decided that the wisest thing would be to re- move the murderer to San Jose. A falie alarm of fire drew the crowd to the extreme north= western part of the city, where- upon the murderer was hustled intoa spring wagon and driven to San Jose without molesta- tion. * :t Fk 3k ek ook ok ek dekok ko REDWOOD CITY, Oct. 28.—There has been greatexcitement here all day, cansed by the critical condition of Sheriff Phil McEvoy, whose li‘e is despaired of by the surgeons. Dr. Robert McLean of San Francisco arrived early this afternoon, held a hurried consultation, and expressed grave doubts whether the Sheriff conid survive the amputation of his left arm. The presence of the criminal responsibie NN NN NN INN N F N NN NN NN NN NN NN NN NN RN KRR RNER | for his father’s death and for the Sheriff's critical condition incensed the people more deeply as the day wore on. Staid business men assembled in the streets in nervous groups, and their stern visages bespoke the depth of their emotion. 1t was decided to hang Flannelly if McEvoy died. Many prominent citizens knew the common thought, for there was but one sentence ou every tongue, “‘Hang him.” A well-known attorney said to-night, “tHad McEvoy died this afternoon noth- ing could have saved Kiannelly.” About 2 o'clock it looked as if nothing couid stem the tide that had set in for the murderer’s life. Men crowded the streets and talkea of nothing butlynching. They crowded the entries to tue jail and eagerly inquired concerning the Sheriff's condition. If somebody had whispered ‘‘Phil is dead’’ the town would have been transiormed into a vigilance committee in fifteen win- utes. When the public pulse was at the stage thus depicted a prominent citiz:n went 10 Under Sheriff Mansfield, who is guarding the life of the murderer who tried to take his, and said: “Joe, you know what the people want. Now, what will you do if the best citizens in our town ask to see the murderer?” The officer replied as he nursed his wounded arm: “[ must protect the pris- oner at all bazards, just as Pail would do now if able."” “Do you mean to say you would endan- ger the lives of our best citizens to pro- long tnat of the infamous criminal you are guarding?" “I would do my duty and protect the prisoner at all hazards,” was the laconic reply. 1t was then that a consultation was held with Manstield, who agreed to help spirit the wounded prisoner away to San Jose. B. A. Rankin, an ex-soldier noted for bravery, and Deputy Constable Fred Desirello were chosen to take Flannelly in an old spring wagon and make the aash for safety. Ata given signal the Chief of the Fire Department turned in an alarm for the