INTRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC REINDEER INTO ALASKA. 43 



arrange with Capt. E. 8. Walker, Eig-hth Infantry, IT. S. A. , for the 

 payment of the Lapp.s by the War Department. 



July 28: A beautiful day. All day on shore attending to Inisiness. 

 During the forenoon, Mr. Gray, as agent of the North American Trans- 

 portation and Trading Company, sublet to Mr. William A. Kjellmann 

 the mail route between St. Michael, Golovin Bay, and Kotzebue Sound. 

 Mr. Hendricks and I went on Mr. Kjellmann's bond. Returned to 

 the ship at midnight. Mr. William F. Doty left the Bear and took up 

 quarters at Hotel Heal3^ 



July 29: Fine weather continues. All daj^ on shore attending to 

 business. About 11 p. m. Captain Walker took me off to the ship on 

 the army steam launch. The trade of St. Michael has greatly 

 changed since a year ago. Then there was a rush of miners up the 

 Yukon River; now very few are seeking passage up that river — but 

 thousands are coming down; some to leave the country in disgust and 

 others to try the Cape Nome mining district. The up-river business 

 is now mostly freight. Owing to the decrease of the passenger traffic, 

 many of the small river steamers are laid up. The harbor is full of 

 them. 



Jul}^ 30: After lunch I went ashore to attend divine service, held in 

 the dining room of the Hotel Healy, and conducted by Rev. Loyal L. 

 Wirt, territorial superintendent of Congregational missionary work 

 in Alaska. About one hundred persons were present at the service, 

 which was of great interest. The theme of the discourse was, '"■ Christ 

 the wonderful." After service I returned to the ship. 



July 31: During the night there was a change of weather. A storm 

 commenced, with a low barometer, which increased during the fore- 

 noon to a gale. During the night, the Yukon River steamer Jessie^ 

 of the Alaska Commercial Company, went ashore with thr(M> ]>arges, 

 loaded with military supplies for Colonel Ray. At 5.3() a. m. the 

 Bear commenced dragging its anchor and was thumping on the bot- 

 tom; in half an hour we were under way, and at 0.45 a. m. anchored 

 in deeper water. The gale increasing, at 10 a. m. we were again under 

 way, seeking shelter behind Egg Island, where we dropped anchor at 

 noon. In the harbor at St. Michael a large luuiiber of vessels dragged 

 their anchors, and a number of the smaller boats went ashore. Toward 

 evening, the force of the gale being spent, the Bear hove anchor at 

 8.40 and returned to St. Michael at 10.15 p. m. The depth of water 

 in the harbor was lowered 5 feet ])y the storm. 



August 1: Went ashore on the iirst trip of the steam launcii and 

 was very l)usy with Captain Walker, U. S. A., completing the di-aw- 

 ing of checks for payment of Lapps. At 4.30 p. m., with Mr. Kjell- 

 mann, returned to the Bear on the army steam launch, and at 4.50 we 

 were under way for Unalaklik. A ])oat was lowered, and Mi'. Kjell- 

 mann and I were sent ashore with the mail. On shore we fortunately 

 found live Lapps and a boat from the station. They were routed out 



