The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 9, 1897, Page 1

> VOLUME LXXXIL—NO SAN FRAN(,ISLO TUESDAY Call MORNING, NOVEMBER 9, 1897. PRICE FIVE CENTS. “THE CALL'S” GOVERNMENT TO SEND THE CUTTER BEAR TO SAVE THE WHALERS President McKinley and His Advisers Act Promptly on the Appeal of “The e e e e e e e s sk s s sk e R e e ek e At e e ek sk e e ke e e e sk ke ke e sk e ke st e e ke e e e e ek e ke e ek de e ok ook ok ok 1 he Cer the timely and from t locked death that offered fellow-countrymen Americ 1 thus far successful to furnish can nation is d the Nation. of THE CALL for the relief of the 400 American whalers at this moment starvation in the icepack near Point Barrow has found ntral Government at Washington. efforts of THE ships in the polar waste will not, if human aid can now avail, be left to glutthe prowls by the gla all the provisions in the white desert of the se Arctic. ross the continent and the people of the republic will applaud the promptness and rit that characterize the action of the administration in ordering the revenue cutter pared with haste for an expedition to the coast of Northern Alas deeply concerned in the race of the lifeship, and the universal e Bear will reach the 400 whalers bafore cold and famine have reduced their sands in their comfortable homes in this mild clime will pray ‘“God speed the the Government would dispatch a ship to Call” to the Heart of immediate CALL in their behalf the brave Within twenty-four hours the B e e e S L LR LB PR RPN TO SAIL IN SEATTLE, Nov. 8.— revenue that he et recetved ed by him h 1 r > d not as was rece Bear 12 when the T AR AR A T A 4Ok M 2 3 204 23 2 2 o4 2 o o o o o4 o o 2 o d that he x tain repl Wou X R e e e Orrice, RicGs HoUsk.) ~GToN, D. C,, Nov. 8. True to the prom.se made to the repre- tative of THE Caryn last tary of the Navy Long had a talk with the y this morning concerning mprisoned in the Arctic ice. counci! Secretaries Gage, Long and ger and Chief Shoemaker of the reve- rine, Commodore Melville, chief Navy Department, kinson of the navy lv. The Secretary of iered the situation urgent, nded not to await the report of mmandant of the Mare Island yard, which he telegraphed for last nicht, nor D the regular meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday. The re t the conference of | the President with his Cabinet to-day is .t the revenue cutter Bear has been red to prepare at once for a trip Bering Sea to relieve the unfortunate halers. Shortl fter noon to-day TrHE CALL correspo t received a message ssking bim to call at the Nsvy Department. Secretary Long said: *'The President bas just had a conference with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War and myself to consider the proposition of lief urged by TE , and has ordered \ Bear to m ready at once, but the ssident is of receiving any hat he can, for he the matter. The s have been brief, d I request that you wire to San Fran- co and ascertain the following facts: “First—The President would like know as accurately as may be just where the whalers are at this time. Tuis infor- mation may be given approximately, but of course we would like to have specific in- formation if possible. +Second—How did the news of iheir predicament reach San Francisco? “Third—How many vessels are caught in the ice? Captain Tuttle, cutter Bear, stated to THE CALL correspondent to-night could be made . ready the whalers imprisoned in the Arctic Ocean. Id have his cutter ready in two weeks. night Secre- | to | TWO WEEKS. commander of the orders to go north. A telegram to-day from Washington inquir- for service to go to the The cap- Je e de Aok e Aok dedk ok ok ke ok | “Fourth—What evidence have you that | they have not provisions enough to last them? “*Fifth—Ask your friends to send to you in detail the information they have and then transmit it to the department.” “Have you received the report from the commandant of Mare Island Navy-yard?" the Secretary was asked. *No; it has not arrived yet, though I expect to have it early to-morrow. expedition has been ordered already and will be under the supervision of the Treas- ury Department, although, of courss, we from the commandant may give us some additional information. But we are con- vinced that something shouid b= done at once, and the Bear was deemed the most suitable vessel in the service of the Gov- ernment for the purpose. “It you will call on Mr. Shoemaker, Chief of the Revenue Marine, he will be able doubtless to give you some of the de- tails of the proposed expedition.” Treasury Department. He sai¢ he had been called over to the White House by telephone rather unexp-ctedly and joined the President and his advisers. He found the President and Secretaries Gage, Long and Alger, Commodore Me:ville and Commander Dickinson. +I supposed,” “that the Prrsident wanted me to furnish advice as to the feasibility of such an ex- pedition, and I gave my opinion very plainly. Itold him there was ns doubt that these whalers were in a predicament and might be in grave danger, but that owing to lack of specific information I could not say how grave or how immi- nent the danger was. *“‘Do you think that if human lives are in peril the revenue marine can do any- thing for their relief under the circum- siances?’ asked the President. **We have done it before and we can do it again,’ I replied. The | expect that the report we are to receive | I then saw .Cnief Shoemaker at the | said Chief Shoemaker, | ‘“‘Yes,’ said the P.esident, ‘we can do itif we make up our minds that it can | be done.” *The President then inquired of Secre- tary Long whether there was any vessel in the navy that was available for such <ervice. Secretary Long replied that the Toetis was the only one; that before she could undertake such a jjurney repairs to 324 24 24 24 2 2 24 224 3 3 2 2 2424 2 2 2 2 2 52 3 24 20424 4 the amount of about $47,000 would have | | Hooper after AL IS ANSWERED sREE RENVENUE CUT:FER BEAR. But he had a talk with Caprain he Cabinet meeting this afternoon and aiterward Chief Shoemaker said :hat she could be ready in iwenty days or perhaps less. tion. “Instructions have been wired to begin | work at once,” said he. “She is a com- modious vessel and will be able to carry enough supplies to maintain not only her own crew comfortably, but to give to the whalers plenty. We will load her with | 100 barrels of beef, pork and tack and all | such substaatials.”’ “Who will have command of the expe- dition?” “Tne commander of the Bear, Captain Tuttle,” said he, ‘‘and no better man could be selected. He has already made | two trips up there, and Captain Hoover, who has been up twelve times, agrees with 1 “Will the plan of Lieutenant Stoney be carried out?” inquired the correspondent. “The expedition will be under the su- pervision of the revenue marine and will | The | be carried out by Captain Tuttle. plun of relief cannot be determined in the absence of more specific information. The matter should be leit largely to the | diseretion of the Bear's commanding offi- cer, as emergencies may arisejthat we can- not foreshadow, but in general the plan will be as follows: If the Bear can get through Bering Straits ot course she will do s0; but if not St. Michael will be the base of all operations.’’ “Will the reindeer at Port Clarence be utilized 2" “Perhaps so. Indeed, I think it very likely. T think that alarge herd of them will be driven from either Port Clarence several weeks later. This matter will be decided definitely before I leave Washing- ton. An alternative proposition is to have the Thetis follow the Bear. The Secretary of the Navy said to-day she needed re- pairs in the sum of some $40,000, but Chief Shoemaker told the President at the con- ference to-day that with the expenditure of about $2000 the Thetis could be made ready for the trip. The Thetis might be better than the Corwin, forshe is a good deal larger.” “How many reindeer will be driven from Port Clarence to Port Barrow ?"’ “Thatis a matter for Captain Tuttle to decide after he gets there.” “Has the Becretary of Interior given his consent for this uss of the reindeer?’’ “Oh, there will be no trouble about that,” said the captain, “for Secretary SOME OF“ THE MEN IN THE IGE. take considerable time. The Bear was then suggested and Sec- retary Gage and Chief Shoemaker said that of all vessels that was the one for the trip. After further consideration it was decided to act and to act promptly, and Secretary Gage, through Chief BShoe- maker, accordingly wired instructions to Captain Tuttle, commander of the Bear, now at Seattle, to prepare the vessel for the voyage. Chief Bhoemaker wired to Captain Tuttle to ascertain how long it would take to get her ready, and late to- night had received no definite informa- | expedition.” Do you think that the Bear can reach Norton Sound in time?” “1 do not think anything about it,”" re- plied the bluff old captain. ‘T only know that men are in peril; that we have been ordered to perform our duty; that we nave accomplished such things before; that the Bear is a stanch and valiant craft, and what has been done can be done agaiu., If any vessel can do it the Bear can. Bhe will try her best to pass Bering Straits, but if she cannot do it St. Michael will be the base of operations.”” WHERE THE IMPRISONED WHALERS LIE. to be done on her and that tbis{would | me that Captain Tuttle is the man for the | or Port Prince of Wales to Point Barrow to furnish meat for the whalers.” “Where will the Bear take on provis- ions?' ‘*At Seattle,” said the chief. *“Instruc- tions to that effect have already been sent. Our plan now is to send another vessel as soon as possible after the Bear. This is our custom, so that they may offer protection, one for the other. The proba- bilities are the Corwin will be selected, though this is not definitely settled. She 18 now at San Diego.”” “Will they rendezvous at any certain place ?”" “No rendezvous is necessary up there in the ice’ said the chief with a smile. “They will have no trouble about meet- ing. The Bear will be instructed to bring the whalers back in case their ships are too badly damaged to navigate when the ice breaks up next June or July. We do not think the Bear can get back to San Francisco untit next fall.” I next saw Captain Hooper at the Shore- ham. He had already had atalk with Captain Shoemuker concerning the expe- dition. The Treasury Department places great reliance on his judgment in all mat- ters and things concerning Alaska and the Bering Sea. Captain Hooper said: ‘“Yes, I will un- doubtedly superintend the work of getting the vessel under way, for I am in charge of the work of construction and equip- ment in the revenue marine service. But Captain Tuttle will have charge of the expedition as captain of the Bear, and no better man could be selected. I had a taik with Hon. John W. Foster about the seal conicrence, and he told me it would be concluded belore next Saturday. I therefore expect to start for the coast on Saturday, and probably shall go direct to Seattle. We have talked the matter over and agreed that some vessel should follow’ the Bear soon as possible, As Chief Shoemaker savs, the Corwin is rather too small to hold a stock of provisions, but on the other hand, because of ner size, she may be the best vessel for that purpose. Being small, she could probably round the point and reach Poiat Barrow sooner than the Bear, although she would start Bliss will agree with the President and his associates and with Captain Shoemaker and myself that when human lives are in danger, mere <entiment must not be taken into consideration.” “Will the deer be already trained for hauling or packing provisions?"” *I doubt it,”” said Captain Hooper; *‘not many of them are trained for that. I think Captain Tuttle will nave to take some dogs and sleds along for hauling provisions as well as food for the deer, for there may be very little deer moss along that route for them to pick.” “Is there a plainly marked trail from Port Clarence or from Cspe Prince of Wales to Point Barrow ?” *No, but there is no danger of the party losing its way, if they take a few natives along with them.” “Do you think the trip can be made from Port Clarence or Cape Prince of Wales to Point Barrow in from thirty to fifiy days?” *“Yes,” said he, “it can be done in thirty days, I think.” “From reports before you do you think the whalers will be able to subsist until this relief arrives?’ “Yes, I think they will be able to main- tain themselves on bear and smaller game, with such seals as may poke their he dsout of the ice boles. Besides there are likely to be some Indian villagers not fsr away and the Inaians may be able to furnish some focd, although 300 is a good pumber to feed.” In conclusion the captain paid a high tribute to the Bear. ‘‘She bas made such trips before this,” said he. “‘She rescued the whaler Narvich on her last trip, in 1880 re<cued the Jeanette and two whalers and in 1886 the waaler Amethyst.” “Can the Bear be ready in twenty days?” “Yes, in less time if necessary.” C. C. CarrroN. STONEY VOLUNTEERS TO LEAD RESCUERS. VALLEJO, Nov. 8.—Lieutenant George | | M. Stoney’s plan to rescue the 300 seamen on the whalers that are frozen in off Polnd Barrow has been indorsed by Rear Ad- miral Kirkland, commandant of Mare Island Navy-yard, and a board of officers consisting of Captain Henry Glass, Cap- tain Whiting, Capt. Clark, Captain Kempff and Lieutenant-Commander Per- kins. After listening to Mr. Stoney’s re- port the admiral wired to Secretary Long that the plan of rescue was entirely feasi- ble and recommended that Lirutenant Stoney be placed in command of the ex- pedition, that officer having formally volunteered for the service during the day. Lieutenant Stoney arrived al the navy- yard from San Francisco at 6 o’ciock and went at once to Rear-Admiral Kirkland’s esidence and reported that he had carried out the commandant’s orders to investi- vate the feasibility of sending a relief ex- pedition to the Arctic and was ready to report. Immediately after dinner Admis ral Kirkland, Lieutenant Stoney and Cap- tain of the Yard Glass retired to the Ad- miral’s office and, with a huge chart of Alaska spread before them, Lientenant Stoney was asked to explain in detail his plan for the rescue ot the unfor.unate whalemen. “My idea,’’ said the Lieutenant, “is to properly provision a ship and proceed as far north along the Alaskan ccast as possible. Iam satisfied that the ship can reach the north shore of Norton sound, and probably Port Channel. That would be the objective point, for there the first herd of reindeer is stationed. There are several hundred head in this herd, and I would take them all and drive them north along the coast, accompanicd by three or four good dog teams. But first I would mflnrmxnnnu NEWS OF THE DAY. Weather forecast for San Fran- cisco: Ciloudy in the morning Tuesday, breaking away during the day; fresh westerly winds. FIRST PAGE. United States to Save Whalers, SECOND PAGE. Hall Tried to Kill His Crew. THIRD PAGE. Theodore Durrant to Hang. ‘Walker Divorce Case Argued. FOURTH PAGE. Races on Eastern Tracks. Weyler's Friends to Greet Him. Canada Looking for Peace. To Attack Newhall’s Will, Whisky Leads to Murder. The Stock Market. FIFTH PAGE. Dawson a Prey to Famine. Guldensuppe’s Slayer on Triak SIXTH PAGE. Editorial. A Cutter in Danger. Relief for 1lce-Bound Whalers, The Klondike Craze in the East. Cornstarch in the Flour Barrel, SEVENTH PAGE. A New Trial for Martin. McConnell Will Face Case. New Home for Orphans. Good Men for Freeholders. Federal Officers Criticize Lynch Fuentes Arrives in the City. EIGHTH PAGE. A Great State Boulevard. Racing at Ingleside. Father Yorke on Gordon. Poor Hospital Appliances. Garbage Men Cause Fear. NINTH PAGE. A Layman Roasts Ministers, The Cocos Island Treasure. Married to Be a Priest. At the City Theaters. TENTH PAGE. Commercial News. ELEVENTH PAGE. Oakland News. Work of the Supervisors. THIRTEENTH PAGE. Births, Marriages and Deaths. FOURTEEN TH PAGE. Luis Loaiza Married. The Capron Will Cise. Three People Asphyxiated. Sull Reaching for Traae. Angry Bay City Wheelmen, Bruta lity of a Mate. A Chilean Consul Arrives. E | | e E E E E s E | E E 2222999222822222222229222229229202292222222222222R8002022002002022202029220002080020020002900020200828