The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-20
T0UGHS At SkAGUAY
CAPT. r. w. JoHxsToNss VIEW OF
THE SITUATION.
the Bodies Left Hanging for
Days . Horrible Warming to

III man tries 70 do the right thing AZ
Sksguay. he viii get skinned"
This IS Tire way one OF the Rosslie's pas
sengers puts T. in describing the state OF
affairs az Skzguay.
According 10 this mans statements, and
ne Is well enough known here 20 give
weight 10 what ne says. there are more
toashs 20 the square inch al Sxastlsy tnan
any other place on earth. Men who are
on the square az home become little short
81 desperado~s on the trail he said.
Two men have been executed by the
miners for stealing. One was shot and
the other was hung near the summit OF
White pass. The name OF the man who
was hung cannot be learned He was A
young fellow, OF French blood. ard
crooked as the proverblai dogs hind
leg
Packers returning over the Skaguay trail
told the story OF the lynching at ths sum-
init TO Capt. e. W. Johnston. Of this city, who
spent four weeks al Skaguay and Dyea.
They said the body was allowed 20 hang
for several days before II was cut down.
The miners would not allow II 10 be re-
moved, prefsrring 70 keep il hanging there
as horrible example for men inclined 20
deeds OF thievsry.
Capt. Johnston. who IS well known in Sc
attic, arrived az Skaguay with two barges
and a tugboat August is. For nearly a
month he was engaged in carrying miners
and freight from Skaguay 20 Dyea- and IN
landing freight from the steamers at
Skaguay. He is In a position 10 know
about how many were successful in getting
over White pass and the number that are
at Dyea. waiting TO get over the Chtlkoot
trail 70 the lakes. In conversation with
Post-Intelligencer representative yesterday
he said: 'sThirty-five hundred men have
gone from Dyea over the Chilkoot trail TO
the lakes I know that this number may
be considered large. but ! am IN a position
to state the facts L took the majority OK
them from Skaguay, together with theu
outfits and horses.
Not more than four full outfits have
gone over White pass. The trail IS lined
with people from the beach 10 the sum
nit. They will have 10 stay there Til VIM
ter Then they may have chance 10 see
over.
.aThe miners are talking of opening up
trail over the ice up the Skaguay river 70
the lakes at the summit, which FORM 'ie
source of the river. II they go al IL IN
a business-lke manner. they Will succeed
in getting a way opened up. so they can
cross the range on the snow and ice. IL
they don't do this. they viii spend the
winter at Skaguay or else leave the place
altogether"
Capt. Johnston was unusually success
full in his business ventures at Shasuas'
He came back with a roll of bills amount
ing 10 nearly $4,000 which he made IN
CARRYING freight and horses on his barge
from Skaguay TO Dyea. He also landed
most of the freight from the steamers
landing at Skaguay.
Capt. Johnston took the barges Ajax and
Bjax to Skaguay in August. loaded with
horses and feed. He was paid - per ton
for freight from Skaguay TO Dyea, and -
for horses Fifty tons was an ordinary
load. It took from ten hours to day
and a half, according TO circumstances, for
him to make the trip.
The Ajax was sent back to Seattle after
being used nine days. During the re-
mainder of the time Capt. Johnston had
the Bjax at work Tightening freight Fl -
the steamers to the shore, or else carry
ing il 10 Dyea for those who saw the utter
hopelessness OF trying to get through the
jam on the trail.
Capt. Johnston sailed from Seattle Aug
ust 10 with the harges Ajax and Bjax.
loaded with horses and feed. They were
lowed north by the tug Pioneer AT that
time horses were worth almost any money
on the Skaguay trail, an average price
being from sl5d e 500.
Arriving at Skaguay. the horses were
unloaded, and Capt. Johnson prepared to
carry out a contract he had with the
steamship companies. TO land their freight
al ChdEuaS- Between the difiNd dis VI NtS-
sells from Seattle. Capt. Johnston engaged
his barges in making trips between Dyea
and Skaguay, carrying the outfits and
horses Of miners He found the business
extremely profitable but was hampered
after the departure OF the tug Pioneer for
want OF a tow. In many cases he was
forced TO accept the terms OF the towboat
owners, and declares that for skill In
pinching a man in an extremity some Of
the owners OF the tugs quite equaled any
he ever encountered.
At other times he was more fortunate
in securing a tug at reasonable prices
One scow load Of men. horses and freight
Melted him 81 0So The Transfers at Dyea
wanted TO charge him so per load for
carting the freight from the scow to the
beach, This was a distance OF about
three-tourths OF a mile The price de-
manded was of course prohibitory In
order TO protect himself from those who
wanted to squeeze" him. Capt. Johnston
purchased teams and wagons 10 do his
own freighting 70 the dry land. and in this
manner was enabled to protect himself