Evening journal., 1898-02-19
IN LAWLESS ALASKA
United States Marshals Pow
erless to Act.
ADDITIONAL TROOPS ARE ORDERED
the Lowest Element Apparently In Con-
troll of Dyea and skagguay-Deputy
Marshal Shot Dead-Native Work
men Driven From Their Labor.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-secretary
Bliss is In receipt of a letter from Gov
ernor John G. Brady of Alaska de-
scriptive of the lawless condition of
affairs at Skagguay and Dyea. 1t was
referred to at the cabinet meeting yes
terday when Alaska affairs were under
discussion, and was considered sufficient
justification by the members for the
dispatch of the additional military force
already authorized 20 be sent to Alas
ka Territory. The following is a copy
Of the letter:
News from Slagguay by the steam
boat now in port is serious. The United
States deputy marshal has been shot
dead in discharge of his duty. An
other man was killed at the same time
at the same place. Recently the steam
ers have been carrying great lists Of
passengers. Many of these are gam
blers, thugs and lewd women from the
worst quarters of the cities from the
coast. They have taken in the situa-
ton at Skagguay and Dyea and appear
to have combined to carry things with a
high hand The best people at these
places are powerless because they have
no municipal form of government. The
United States marshal is powerless be-
cause he can appoint only a few depu-
ties, and when they undertake to act
they are singled out as targets by this
ruffianly element. One of this class was
tried in the United States district court
last December for the killing of United
States Marshal Watt in January. 1897,
and was acquitted by the jury in the
face of positive testimony. In fact,
these influences seem to be Joined hand
in hand and will surely go unpunished
unless the government takes immediate
action and provides the necessary force
at Skagguay, Dyea and other points.
Congress should grant immediate re-
lief, so that both naval and military
officers can act when requested by the
civil authorities. The United States
marshal should have a patrol vessel at
his command, with necessary accom-
modations for eight or ten deputies and
proper armament. I do not see how
he can perform his duties as executive
officer of the court unless he has such
means Of locomotion always entirely at
his own command.
''At the present time a large and i'm
portant mining property is held by a
number of miners at Berner's bay. This
property was recently placed in the
hands Of a receiver by the court, but
to date the receiver has not come into
possession. In this instance there IS
much to be said in favor Of the miners
action and their self control. but IL Is
Of such nature that violence may be
the result. The marshal has no means
Of reaching that point with a sufficient
force to carry out the instructions of
the court Judge Johnson leaves by this
boat to settle this affair amicably II
possible.
Two weeks ago or a little more a
gang Of men commanded Captain Pat
terson Of the steamship Alki TO dis
charge the natives who were handling
the freight on the wharf The captain
was obliged to compromise with them
by paying them so cents per hour for
work on the wharf. but he insisted that
the natives should work on the vessel
am sorry to report that the court
house at Juneau has been burned to the
ground. So far the winter has been re-
markable for mildness, and this tends
to bring the crowds sooner than they
were expected"
The letter was dated Feb. 3.