The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-04
British Flag Now Floating on
United States Territory.
American KlOndike Pilgrims
Say That White Pass
is IN BOUNDARIES
Of Alaska, and Are Indignant
About British Action.
News of the KIOndike From
Many Sources.

Seattle, Wash, March 4.-E. r.
Knapp, Of Boston, Mass, who arrived
here today from Skaguay authorizes
the statement that the Canadian au-
thorities raised the British nag on the
summit of White Pass on Saturday,
February 26. This has heretofore been
considered American territory. Mr..
Knapps authority for the statement is
the foreman of the Humbert Transpor~
tation company. He reported the af-
fair to Mr.. Knapp, who is connected
with the company, just before the latter
left Skaguay.
In reference to the report that mar
tial law had been proclaimed at Ska
quay, Mr.. Knapp said that when he LETT
last, no such action had been taken,
neither was it anticipated. Mr.. Knapp
also said that the reports of deaths at
Dyea, Skaguay and on the trails had
been very much exaggerated. He had
made a personal examination and aScer-
tanned that since November there had
been nineteen deaths at Skaguay and
thirteen at Dyea- This IS not at all
large considering the population of the
two places. The report that two men
from Dawson had periShed on the
White pass with a large amount of gold
dust on them is said by Mr.. Knapp to
have no foundation.
The rivalry between the towns Of Ska
quay and Dyea is characterized by Mr.
Knapp as being at white heat and this
is the reason, he thinks, that so many
exaggerated stories of death and hard
ship are sent out. Each town is doing
all it can to throw diScredit on the 9TH
Five steamers arrived from Alaska
today. The Utopia, Huenemen, Del
NOrte, Protection and Queen. The
Queen brought the latest news, having
left Skaguay last Sunday. The most
important news brought down was a
confirmation of previous reports that
the Canadian officials had raised the
British flag on what is regarded as
American soil. 1t is feared that sers-
Gus trouble will grow out of the Cana
dian attempts to collect duty on the
summit of the White pass and Chilcat
pass and the Americans viii resist the
payment on what they consider Ameri-
can ground.
Another complication will result from
the various tramways which are being
constructed to carry freight over the
passes. The officials of these tramways
are reported to have declared that any
interruption of their construction work
or any attempt to exercise any right OF
ownership will be resisted. 1t is
thought at Dyea and Skaguay that the
movement of the American authorities
will be to claim sovereignty over those
two places. Last summer the bound
ary line was at Lake Bennett, then at
Linderman and now at the summit Of
the mountains which is only about 20
miles from salt water.
Two days before the Queen left Ska
quay, the wind which had blown from
the north continuously for seven weeks.
shifted and began to blow from the
southwest, causing a general thaW to
set in. The change in the weather
caused hundreds of people who had
been detained by the severe cold to
start over the trails from both Skaguay
and Dyea, and when the steamer left.
a general exodus from both towns was
taking place. Both trails are report
| ed in excellent condition.
On the trip down the Queen passed
| the Cottage City a short distance south
| of WrangeI narrows. The latter ship
evidently had trouble. as her bow was
smashed and covered with canvas to
| keep out the waters
News is brought by the Queen that
! the ship Corona which went ashore on a.
| reef off Lewis island on the morning Of
| the 23d of January will be raised to-
| day.