The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-03
Statement of Deputy Marshal that
Uncle Sam Would Claim the J<IOn-
dixie Secuted by Gen. DufieId.
DIVIDING LINE IS KNOWN
AND DAWSON CITY IS FIFTY MILES
ON THE CANADIAN SIDE.
Exodus from Sault ste. Mnrie and
other Towns to the New Michi-
picOten Gold Diggings.

PORT TOWNSEND, Wash. Sept. "A
letter just received from John L. Smith,
United States commissioner at Dyea and
Skaguay. intimates that government Off
Gals now on the way to the upper Yukon
may, by their official acts, bring on serious
international complications with the Do
minion government He says:
1T is announced here by deputy United
States marshal that the United States gov
eminent is to make "A claim to a large por-
ton Of the Yukon gold fields which have
hitherto been supposed to be in
British territory and that the
territory which is claimed as be-
ing within Alaska includes Dawson City.
There has heretofore peen some mystery
connected with the appointment of William
J. Jones as United States commissioner at
ST. MichaeTs, coupled with instructions to
proceed overland to his destination. When
he passed through here Jones stated that
he would soon be conducting important
government business in the eastern district
of Alaska, and would be assisted by
force of deputy United States marshals.
THE newly appointed deputy marshal for
Juneau. J. ]. Rutledge. arrived here few
days ago, and told me he had imperative
instructions to pass through to the eastern
district of Alaska with all possible speed,
and he would be joined shortly by other
deputy marshals, with HEADQUARTERS coy
ering Circle City and American river. He
stated that similar instructions had been
received by Commissioner Jones and him
SELF and Rutledgc stated more or less pub
licly here, in addition to much that he told
me contidentially, that ne proposed, Jointly
with Commissioner Jones, to assume Jurls-
diction over the Klondike district including
Dawson City. Rutledge says the situation
there is such that the American miners,
who are largely in the ajority, feel resent
full toward the Canadian government for
portunity to submit to the Jurisdiction of
the United States authorities and to assist
in enforcing 1t, if need be.
THE basis of the claim to be made by the
United States official to disputed territory
is in the fact that the boundary line has
never been determined and the United
States authorities are claiming to possess
Information to the surveys made by the
Canadian government that fixes Dawson
City and a large part of the gold district
within Alaska. This proposed action of the
United States authorities promises to re-
suit in the most serious international dis
pute that this country has had for years.
The first effects will undoubtedly be felt
in Yukon itself, where the absence of suffi-
Gent military and civil authorities will in
vite a settlement of the difficulty by the
miners themselves. 1t is we'll known, too,
that there are not provisions enough on the
Yukon to supply anywhere near the num-
Der of people now there, and the majority
of the people who get in before the freeze
UP will not have two or three months sup
plies. Before that there is bound to be war
and conflict of civil authorities will only
increase the animosity of the respective
adherentS of Canada and the United STATES.
AS majority of the miners are well armed
the question of bloodshed will be one of
degree