The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-21
THE FIGHT OV IL SkAGUAY.
Original Locator VIII Have Hot
Contest In the Land once With
Towuxite Claimants.

Special TO the Post-Intelligencer.
sKAGUAY. Alaska, Oct. 1.-THE con-
test for the possession u the townsite CT
Sksguay has begun. The original claim
ant is Bernard Moore, son CT Capt Will
lam Moore. a well-knowa seafaring man
in Pacific coast waters Several years
ago. during his wanderings 70 and fro.
Cart william Moore came 10 Tatya In
let. now the heay Of Lynn canal, where
the town OF Skaguay now Is located he
returned more than once 10 the place.
and. being himself a British subject II
1881 induced mis- son Bernard TO declare
his intention OF becoming r citizen OF the
United States. and file On 80 acres 'front.'
ing on Skaguay bay. FOR a ''ranufaetur-
ing and trading post" according 10 law
raised By congress In that year.
X is well known that the British gov
eminent had SET up 2 claim 70 this strip
OF the sea coast hasing It's contention
on the treaty between Russia and Eng
Land made in 1s24 Capt. Moore there
fore advised his son 70 become an Anleri-
can citizen. while the captain himself
would retain his allegiance 70 Great Brit
air. Thus. he contended. the $50 acres
would remain IN the family. no matter
what the final disposition Of the boundary
question might be. Capt William Moore.
having spent much Of HIS life AZ sea. hal
become an excellent ''ses lawyer and
his son Bernard followed his fathers adj
vice and fled on the land IN question IN
1881 The survey ~ the quarter section
was made the same year by Charles W.
Garside. deputy United States surveyor
for the district Of Alaska. and duly re-
corded
Several years ago Bernard Moore took
20 himself for wife an Indian woman OF
the sitka tribe. and Tow has an interest
ing family OF three or four. He. how
ever. made no attempt 10 prove Up" on
tire claim. although he had built a log
cabin near tide water. which be and his
family occupied occasionally No trad
ing or manufacturing business was car
RED on by him his principal vocation be-
iuz hunting fishing and prospecting.
The rich gold discoveries in the Klon-
dixie country and the unprecedented rush
Of people 20 that region brought Skaguay
bay into prominence. o. the thousands
who started for the chain of lakes Lead
Ing down the Yukon. many essayed 70
cross the divide over what had been
known as White pass trail At the be-
ginning Of August Skaguay was a small
CITY Of tents Businesses OF many kinds
we're carried on hensath tents. and the IN
eux finally became so great that wooden
buildings began 20 ~ erected Then Il
was that Bernard Moore saw bis oppor-
tuuity company. known as the Alas
ka 4 Northwest Territories Trading &
Nannrzcturfnv Companv was incor1or-
sted r. Victoria The president Is John
II Esclorns % that city. and the man
ager Is II p peliinghurst. % the same
place. The company is known there
popugarly as the Brftish-Yukon Company.
II Immediately began the construction q
a saw nil. which has been r operation
Tor some weeks. A store was also built
ard stocked. and a boarding and cook
house erected Bernard Moore then con-
veyea By mortgage 20 the Alaska &
Northwest Territories Trading Company
/ his right. fitle and interest IN the manu-
featuring and trading site. which he To-
Gated n is71
with the influx Of The gold hunters cauas
a townsits bo0r-. Hundreds % lots wer'
located. the locator simply putting up :
notice az location On a convenient tree
cr sake A sort % town COMMITTEES va
elected 20 look after the interests q th4
/ citizens A recorder was elected ire per
scr selected being United States Commss
siorer John ". Smith This Official r. sad
| - havs rakea IL 10 less than g. 80 20
I his services n recording tne location q
lots A to~n surveyor was also elected
/ TIE ofHeiaI bang Frank p Reid Late d
{ Whafcorn Wash. A survey % the town
size wzs made. Streets ant alleys werl
Surveyed sad ire building boom began.
Moore posted notices warning BOT seeker
rot - treSrsss upon hfs property. Fl,
E might as well have notified re chiprnun ~
% cease thsf- chattersrE Thpn Be asket
TIE town surveyor . locate = tract q 6T'
acrez. or 4 corner 81 whtch was Noorsi
{ rsslzeu~~ This vas 67ns. ard ir q cor
rer q ire town. trAntinx SIC water Moor,
has carefully fence6 OF h5s ave-scre plat
Cant Ncars was also given unstsrutet
f yso~sssxfo- 20 number OF lots n Il.
heart II - tovTu.