Predictable Money Means More Than Politicians' Promises

Late on the night of July 16, 1897, a reporter for the Post-Intelligencer in Seattle boarded a tug and set out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca to intercept an inbound steamer from Alaska. The Portland had sailed from St. Michael carrying several Washington residents and their wild stories. Beriah Brown Jr., the P-I reporter, had heard the whispers of successful gold hunters making their triumphal return and he wanted to get the scoop before anyone else. At around 3 in the morning on Saturday the 16th, the Sea Lion and Portland met up and Brown began to hastily interview anyone he could find.