The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-22
CRIME or sr,ck.En RIVER.


The discover was made by Los Angeles
party headed by a man named Robinson,
and az they approached the tent the muir
derer hastily left the scene Of his crime
and made frantic tracks up the Recovered
river with his horse and sled. The two men
we're Burns and Headritson. OF Chilliwack.
Frazer river. 3. c. The man who COM
mitted the deed is supposed TO be Charles
Claw. a Norwegian, who was travelling
with the Frazer river party
The details Of the latest OF the many
murders that have occurred in ALASKA this
year was brought to Seattle yesterday on
the steam schooner Navarro. which arrived
from wrangel. having left that port last
Monday. The Navarro also brought news
of the killing OF a prospector named Cot
Inns. from Los Angeles by falling timber.
near Big Canyon. and Of the drowning OF
a man named Black. from Iowa. who went
through the Ice In the same locality.
The news reached Wrangel through
Charles Nee. who had gone up the Stickeen
as q guide for Mackenzie. Mann Co. and
who had just returned from Gienora- The
story OF the double killing. as learned by
Cant. Higgins. Of the Navarro from Nee
follows:
The discovery Of the murder was made at
dusk on the evening OF April BY party
from Los Angeles. headed by man named
Robinson They were coming UP the rver
when they noticed tent blown down. As
they approached the tent big man on q
sled. drawn by a horse, was seen 70 orNo
rapidlv away. They called for him to stop
Inn. he Maid no attention and drove rapidly
uu the river. BY the time they hao as
covered the dead bodies Of his victims inc
man was out of sight.
The members Of the Robinson party were
impressed by the mans suspicious move
ments and decided to investigate. On MT
ing I'M thu tent they noticed two bodies
wrapped iu heavy blankets. when they
pu,led away the covering terrible sssas
met their eyes. The left side OF Burns
head had been split opea with sharp AZ.
The blade had gone into the skull ana
glancsnE off, had cut deep Gasn GOWN
into his cheek. Hendritson's skull was
er,,shea in with the blunt end Of the AK
The men had been dead some time as 'he
blood which covered their faces and inc
blankets around them was almost dry.
scene Of the Murder.
Living alonssie one of the bodies was
the weapon with which the crime had
been committed. There was no sign OF
a struggle. 1t Is the theory OF those who
made the discovery that Claw killed the
Two men some time during the night while
they were sleeping. The murderer evil
IDENTIFY stayed around the scene Of his
crime until scared of by the Robinson
Marty. He had covered the bodies up
carefully and the wind had blown the
tent down on top OF them. The few peo-
nile who had passed during the day paid
no attention to the fallen tent. which
was some distance back from the river.
HENDERSON and Burns were members
OF a party OK six. all from ChiiliwacK. b.
C. The other members of the party were
claw. the supposed murderer. the joss
BROTHERS and a man named Nierpont.
They had proceeded up the river Win
their outfits and had separated about
twelve miles below Glenora. Claw mad
remained In camp with Hendrifson ana
Burns. The other three had gene on to
Telegraph creek, and were seen there
when Nee left on April s.
The cause of the double murder Is prob
iematical There was no sign that the
bodies had been robbed. SO revenge FOR
some wrong. rea. or faneied, was probably
tho motive The crime has many things
i'm common with that of Cowboy Tan
nar at Copper City last January Tanner
shot William A. Lee, OF Loweii. MASS,
and ~. A. Call. OF Worthtngton. Mimi.
IA hax a ri o.
eidst TO put Tanner out OF their party.
because OF disagreement, and he resent
ed the move by killing two OF them.
Claw may have been driven 10 the deSd
by a similar motive The other members
of the Fraser river party had only heard
of the murder when Nee saw them at
Telegraph creek. and advanced no, theory
"a TO the cause OF the deed
Unlike Tanner who was promptly placed
under arrest and as promptly strung up
at the nearest tree, Claw made good his
escape When Nee left The scene of The
crime on April he had not been captured.
The Canadian mounted police are In pnr-
suit TIE bodies were n charge OF an
other detachment OF police and were 10
be buried near the spot where they were
murdered.
Two other Deaths
Nee brings the news OF two other cas-
uat;Ies from the upper river. The leader
Of party from Los Angeaes named Col
Inns was instantly killed on March II by
a falling tree. at a point about fonr niles
above Big canyon. He was standing In
front Of his tent. talking win some MEM
bers Of his party. when a small cotton-
weed tree suddenly fell on him. He did
net have time 10 get from under and the
trunk struck HIN on the head. His
brains were dashed out. HIS friends buried
the body and went on up the river.
TWO brothers named Back. from Iowa.
went through the thin ice while going
M the river near Big canycn. One OF the
brothers managed TO get hold OF the edge
OF the Ice and crawsed out The other
went under. the zee ard was drowned.
His body win probably never be recovered
Nee IL the irss man who has come down
from Telegraph creek for long time
Tie brings the Interesting news that fke
Stiekeer Is likely 70 break up earlier this
year than twer. The Gee Was out in two
places as far Gp as sixty-sise miles from
the n,euts He had 20 hus.A rata 20 set