The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-27

credited to him by reputable aud respon-
sible railroad officials his scheme ia one OF
the cleverest and most atrocious in its
wicked scope yet devised.
Macdonald was rot averse, it seems,
to having a golden halo thrown about
him by representing that he was pos
sessed of placer claims galore, located in
the Klondike, and indeed was better
known in the North as the "Klondike
Milionaire.'' He asserted, it is stated,
that he had been the agent of the Alaska
Commercial Company at st. Michael for
long period. aud had been engaged in
mining and other producing avoca-
tions on the Yukon for four years.
The man displayed more than common
originality and cleverness in the alleged
swindling line by first associating him
self with the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
road Company, through it's agents at Rich
mond, Va That he succeeded in ingra-
tiating himself into the confidence of the
railroad people there seems to be little
doubt. and that he Also managed to work
himself into the esteem of very reputable
people in Richmond and other points in
the South seems evident.
The first inquiry that was sent out con-
corning Macdonald was directed to Ger
tain railroad officials in the West. 1t
came from the men with whom MacDon-
aid had connected himself in Richmond.
There he proposed to the Officials of the
Chesapeake and Ohio, it has been learned,
the formation Of a party of not more than
500, which would be carried through to
Dawson, via Victoria or Seattle, for the
low figure Of $3.50. The route included II
steamer line from Puget Sound to ju-
neau and thence by abroad and the Taku
river to Lake Teslin. From this point,
according to his scheme. Macdonald was
to personally conduct the expedition to
Dawson by steamer, down the Hoota-
binqua and Yukon ri vers.
Circulars, announcing the organization
of the company for the purposes named,
and defining the route, as Indicated, were
printed and, it is said, distributed widely
throughout the South. They awakened
great interest and soon after they were
disseminated inquiries for passage and
particulars as to the route began to pour
in on the officials of the railroad compa-
MES. So plausible were MacDonald's rep
reservations and so complete as to details
s his scheme, that many people with
dream of untold riches floating before
them, took up with the plan. No small
part of MacD onald's alleged graft" was
the offer to take people to Dawson for
$3.50, ridiculous figure. Indeed, it was
this fact, it is stated, which first led sus-
picion to fall on him, which led to inves-
legations, resulting in the exposure. Had
Macdonald placed the figure at $500 or
$780, with liberal ''livvy" t. the rail
road people in the East and to the men
with whom he sought to ally himself, it
is possible that he might have secured
neat sum in the way of advance payments
and made away with fortune before his
mask was torn from him and he was eX
posed as a common swind,er.
The circular, which was distributed
through the South and East, announced
the organization OF the British Yukon
Transportation and Trading Company
and contained q description of the new
route, via Lake Teslin and the Hoota-
linqua river to Dawson. Passengers were
to be booked to the Big Salmon, Mcmillan
post, for points on the river of that name,
Stewart river. Bonanza camp, Kl0ndike
river, Forty Mile, Fort Cudahy and Cir
Gle City.
The details of the route were set forth
with great elaborateness. 1t was stated
that the company's boats could not &C
commodate more than 800 persons and
that the sale OF tickets would be restrict
ed to that number.
Here was where Macdonald, it is be-
lieveu by those who have investigated the
matter, hoped to reap small fortune.
He stated in his circular that of the prin-
ipal sum of $3.50, $40 was to be deposited
on making application for passage. His
arrangement with the railroad people
was, it is learned, ID retain half of this
advance payment and give the other half
TO the company.
AS if 10 stampede the gold-crazy people
of the country into his net, Macdonald
wound up with the statement that after
the departure of the special party from