The record-union., 1897-09-03
BRITISH SEIZE
A STEAMER.
The Eugene Is in the Hands of Ca
madam Officers.
Was on Her Way to the Mouth of the
Yukon.
Claimed That She Violated the
Customs Laws in Having Called
in at Comax, British Columbia,
After Having Cleared From
Port Angeles for ST. Michaels.

VICTORIA B. c., Sept 2.-The
steamer Eugene, which was going to st.
Michaels to carry the passengers on the
steamer Bristol up the Yukon River to
Dawson City, was seized at Comox by
order of the Collector of Customs, she
having called in at Comox after hav-
ing cleared from Port Angeles for St.
Michaels. A small fine will probably
meet the case, but the seizure means
further delay to the Bristols passen-
gers, who were here over a week wait
ing for the steamer.
PORTLAND, (Or), Sept 2.-The
steamer Eugene, the seizure Of which
is reported at Union, B. c., by the Ca
madam customs officers, left this city
August Goth for Dawson City.
The Eugene is a river steamer and
was towed to Port Angeles from AS
toria.
AT Port Angeles the Eugene was
joined by the steamer Bristol from Vic
toria. The Bristol was to convoy the
Eugene to the mouth of the Yukon,
where the Bristol's passengers were to
be transferred to the Eugene, which
was to take them up the Yukon to
Dawson City.
Nothing is known here as to the rea-
sons for the seizure. The owners Of the
Eugene are out of the city.
TALK OF CLAIMING THE FIELDS.
PORT TOWNSEND, CWash.), Sept. 2.
The Morning Leader" to-day pub
lished the following letter from the
United States Commissioner at Dyea:
1T IS announced here by Deputy
United States Marshal that the United
States Government is to make claim
to a large portion of the Yukon gold
fields, which have heretofore been sup
posed to be in British territory, and
that the territory which is claimed as
being within Alaska includes Dawson
City. There has heretofore been some
mystery connected with the appoint
ment of William J. Jones as United
States Commissioner to ST. Michaels,
coupled with instructions to proceed
overland to his destination.
"When he passed through here Jones
stated that he would soon be conduct
ing 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. j. Rutledge, arrived here a few days
ago and told me he had imperative in
structions TO push through to the east
ern district of Alaska with all possible
speed, and he will be joined shortly by
other Deputy Marshals, with headquar-
ters covering Circle City and American
River.
He stated that similar instructions
had been received by Commissioner
William j. Jones and himself, and Rut-
ledge stated more or less publicly here,
in addition to much that he told me
confidentially that he proposes, jointly
with Commissioner Jones, to assume
Jurisdiction over the Klondike district,
including Dawson City. Rutledge says
the situation there is such that the
American miners, who are largely in
the majority, feel resentful toward the
Canadian Government for various reas
ons, ard will welcome the opportunity
to submit to the jurisdiction of the
United States authorities, and to assist
in enforcing it if need be.
THE basis of the claim to be made
by the United States officials to the
disputed territory is in the fact that
the boundary line has never been de-
termined, and the United Stats au-
thorities are claiming to possess infor-
nation as to surveys made by the Ca
madam Government that fixes Dawson
City and large portion of the gold
district within Alaska.
This proposed action of the United
States authorities promises to result in
;,1+ -
that this country has had for years
The first effects will undoubtedly be
felt on the Yukon itself, where absence
of sufficient military and civil author
ity will invite settlement Of the diff
Guilty by the miners themselveC. 1t is
we'll known, too, that there are not pro-
visions enough on the Yukon to supply
anywhere near the number of people
now there, and the majority of people
pie who will get in before the freeze-up
will not have to exceed two or three
months supplies. 1t seems, therefore,
that there is bound to be a warfare for
existence in the mining district, and a
conflict of civil authorities will only in
crease the animosity of the respective
adherents of Canada and the United
Stats, and as majority of the miners
are we'll armed, no other conclusion can
be reached but that the question of
bloodshed will be only one of degree"
KLONDIKE BRITISH TERRITORY.
WASHINGTON, Sept. ?. = General
Duffield, superintendent of the Coast
and Geodetic Survey, identified in de-
termining the line between Alaska and
the British Northwest Territory. is now
impressed with the probability of troub-
lie between this Government and Great
Britain over the location Of the Klon-
dixie gold fields.
1T is true he said, when shown the
dispatch from Port Townsend, quoting
a Deputy United States Marshal as say
ing in effect that the United States
would assert control Of that section,
that the location of the line between
the two countries has not yet been Off
cially accepted, but the location has
been very definitely determined. The
Hist meridian was designated as the
boundary between Russia and Great
Britain, and nothing remained after our
acceptance of that understanding but
to locate the meridian. The location
was made on the north of Porcupine
River by a1lr SURVEYORS and in the vi