Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-09
DALTON OF DALroN's TRAIL
Exhibition. OF Pride, Nerve and GEM
erouif, liz =, GifAzcr, nS Ala.l-.

DALTON OF DALTON'S TRAIL. !
Exhibitions of Pride, Nerve and Gen.
m crosby by IL Citizen OF Alaska.
A man from Harvey county, Oregon.
who is spending a few days in San
Francisco, is an old friend Of Jack Dali
ton of Dalton's Trai! fame, and knows
how the Alaskan trail builder came to
be called Dalton. For that was not his
name in the States.
Jack Dalton lived for several years
in Harvey county," said the Oregon
man, but there he was known as Jack
Miller, which is his real name. He
brought with him to Harvey county
span of fine horses, and after while
somebody who Gid not like him-and
he was such an independent fellow that
he had good many enemies-spread
the report that the horses had been
stolen, and sent word to man in UNI
atilia who claimed that he had lost
Just such span. The upshot Of it
was that warrant was issued for his
arrest. All Of Miller's friends-and I
was one Of them-believed that he
could easily clear himself and prove his
ownership of the team if he would SUBJ
nit to arrest and let the case come to
trial. But he was too proud to do any
thing Of the sort. He said that any
body who wanted to believe him thief
was welcome to think So and would
still believe it il he went through
hundred trials; but he had done moth
ing wrong, and didn't propose to be ar
rested until he had done something to
be arrested for.
Miller had killed his man, and so
the officers set cautiously about the
business of arresting him. In fact.
they showed SO much caution that Mil
Ter reached the coast in safety and
shipped for Alaska There he as
sumed the name Of Dalton, thinking it
was less likely to draw trouble after
him than his own name, and as Dalton
be has been known ever Since But
nobody need, ever tell me that Jack
Miller didn't rightfully own those
horses, even if he didn't want to be ar
rested. He sent for his wife, and they
made their home at Juneau until the
died.
Miller killed a man named Egan a
year before the trouble about the hors-
es. He and Egan had quarrel which
they settled in a friendly way. They
shook hands over it and took a drink
together and Miller supposed that was
the end of it. But an hour or so after
ward, as Miller was mounting his
horse, Egan stepped up and yelled,
Well settle it now Miller leaped
from his horse, drew his gun, and
stopped to let Egan's bullet pass over
him. At the same instant he shot Egan
through the head. He was exonerated
by the Coroner's inquest and was new
er even brought to trial.
But five years afterward friend of
the dead man named Thorpe took a
party of gold seekers over Dalton
Trail. He had long before sworn to
avenge the murder OF his friend, and
proceeded to do it by destroying bridg-
he was doing and went to meet Thorpe
and his party. He told Thorpe thai
, from that point the trail was danger
] Gus, and some one was likely to bt
hurt if they followed it. Thorpe ant
his followers took the hint and strucl
= out over another route, in which the,
:, soon got into such difficulties. as Dal
ton knew they would, that they coult
4 neither go on nor retreat. Dalton the,
, sent party to help them out and pilo
= them back to his own trail, which b
|. told Thorpe they would then find per
$ fectly safe. The seeker after reveng
n went on his way and left the trai
5 alone after that. One of his party ha
s both legs crushed by fall, and Dalto
took this man to his own house an
= nursed him for six months"