The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-29
BANIsHED FROM THE TRAIL.
Quick Justice for One Who Took Pay
from a Dead Man.

the following letter, dated Lake Bennett,
Northwest Territory via Seattle, Wash,
Aug. IS: Another exciting episode occurred
on the Skaguay trail Z day or Two ago.
The miners held a meeting and ordered a
man named Cleveland to leave camp. He
was provided with sufficient food fc~ a
week or ten days AMI q skie, and was
given three hours to ooey the mandate.
Cleveland was one of the promoters in
opening the trail and was operating u pack
train to the lakes. He sold the property
and made himself scarce II short order.
The trouble originated over moving The
body of Mr.. Howles, of Seattle, who was
drowned near Skaguay, d few days ago
Cleveland took the body down to Skaguay
and exacted a charge Of so. No enc
stepped forward with the money, and he
reached into the dead mans pocket and
took out a wet 40 hill, ren,ar;Sing, That
will pay me-
The miners did not object so much to the
charge as they did to the heartess manner
in which payment was eXacted. The NIX rt
they discussed the thing the more indig-
nant they became and it was not long Ee-
fore meeting was convened. 1t was with
difficulty that some speakers contained
themselves. Clevela Id had several friends
present who pleaded and begged for mercy
There was no MISLEADING ne sentiment of
the men, They were highly incensed that
any one should forget tic reverence AMI
respect due the dead. Some of those present
advocated severe punishment, lu, the YER
dict of three-querters OF the men was that
the accused shO1d forthwith lC;,Ve the
country. Glegoflnd was informed CT the
verdict and lie set sail foI JUNEAU.
Up in this country miners have peculiar
20
The manner is plain, blunt and pointed, and
from 1t there is no appeal or delay. A
month or so ago on the Dyea trail there
vas considerable stealing and petty pilfer-
ing. The thief was cunning, and adroitly
cast suspicion on an innocent man by con-
cealing some of the plumber in the latter S
tent. A meeting was called at Camp Lake
Linderman, and the suspected man, not
wtthstanding his protestations of innocence,
was held for trial before a miners court
The strongest advocate for dealing out
punishment was the man who was after
ward found to have been the guilty party,
along with two other worthless characters.
The accused was adjudged guilty and sent
back to Juneau. The stealing continued
and, by accident emphasizing the old
proverb that murder will out" the guilty
party was detected, and his companions
became frightened and hurriedly started for
the coast.
The guilty fellow resolved to remain. and
defied the miners to do their worst. The
miners convened and counsel for both sides
was chosen. The accused rather treated
the proceedings with a contemptuous man.
ner. The argument was convincing and
had its effect The presiding officers order
ed those who favored hanging to stand to
the right and those who held Punishment
from the country sufficient punishment
to stand to the left, and any one who be-
lieVed the accused to be innocent to step
forward Several present had come pre-
pared with ropes and were ready to assist
In hanging the man If he were adjudged
guilty.
Nearly four score men lined themselves
up on either side-for there was not a man
present who. thought him Uncomfortable
the accused looked on the strange and un-
usual spectacle with an assumed indiffer-
ence. The lines were formed. The clerk
was instructed to make the count. The
vote for hanging was thirty-six, and those
who favored Punishment numbered thirty
seven. BY single vote the mans life was
saved He refused to accept the verdict.
and declared that he would not leave the
country. EX-Constable Fitzgerald, late of
Seattle, who is now al Camp Lake Linder-
man, stepped forward and said that if al
lowed to select an assistant he would send
the accused out of the country. He took
the fellow to the coast and at Dyea pur-
chased a ticket for Seattle and placed him
aboard a Puget sound steamer That put
an end to thieving for while.
We set sail for Camp Lake Linderman
at o'clock "Wednesday afternoon. A
strong wind was blowing down the lake and
backed up considerable of sea. and we
thought it a favorable opportunity for test
ing the seaworthness of our boat. She was
heavily loaded and carried full crew. sail
was hoisted and away We sped down the
weathered every sea like water fowl. An
other boat which started out a few miles
ahead of us was compelled TO seek shelter.
Ii was an exciting boat ride.
Lake Linderman Is six miles long one
half mile in width, down in a deep canyon.
and has the shape of a slightly bent elbow.
On the port side, on the cone of an immense
bowlder, futtered in the breeze the stars
and stripes. BY it's side was another staff,
which bore the tattered remains of the en-
sign of Great Britain. which had been
whipped to pieces by the billiards. of the
north.
1t is the dividing line between Alaska and
the Northwest Territory. In the tWinkline
of a second our boat had carried us into
Canadian waters. The rocky canal that
empties Lake Linderman into Lake Bennett
by the peculiar formation of the land is
partly concealed. Without previous warn
ing the waters suddenly become swift and
then plunge into canyon filled with
rugged powders, and which means certain
destruction TO a loaded boat Before realiz-
ing the danger we We're on its brink. The
sail came down in a hurry and we pulled
out of harms way and landed on the OPP
posita shore one hour and thirty minutes
from the time we set sail.
Our supplies were quickly landed and we
went into camp; heaVy ram set IN dur
ing the night. The next morning sur
veyed the rapids. They cut through a wal
of granite formation for a distance OF
three-quarters OF mile and have fall OF
forty feet.
The stream is swift fun of powders
and careful navigation is necessary to avoid
accidents. With two hundred feet of rope
fastened TO the bow and In the hands OF
five men, our party got into the boat and
began the descent. Gradually the long rope
was paid out and by careful steering we
avoided the powders. Once il was neces-
sary that / should jump overheard into the
water waist deep and push of 10 prevent
the boat striking hidden rock. The last