The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-08
AlaskAns Appeal for Profeestoa

Skaguay, Alaska, January al-yia
Seattle, Wash, Feb. uary 5.--A petition
has been circulated here and at Dyea
asking the war department to- send 300
troops here that law and order may
be preserved. The petition hs beGns.
signed by nearly all the best eiernent--
1t reads as follows:
ITO the Honorable Secretary Of War.
Washington, ID. c.:
I'VE, the undersigned citizens and
businss men Of Alaska. respectfuI-
ly petition and set forth:
That there is an extraordinary con-
ditionof affairs existing at and near
Dyea and Skaguay. Alaska, whhcf, caFxss
for prompt attention from the pEosscr
authorities.
AS a result of recent discoveries sd
gold in and near Dawson CITY. N w
t., Canada, during the past two years
there is an enormous rush of peoIsie ITO
that country from all parts OF tfse
world and il is estimated tlEFt ti,crc
will be 250,000 people start for tho f-old
fields OF Alaska and the Northwest
Territory, Canada, during the present
year, and not less than 70 per cent
will attempt to get in by way or the
SIIIhoCl anu NItllt lhd-cStS FEN&H skA
this early day the full capacity F cS-
cry steam and sailing ship ON the Pa-
cific coast is taxed to its utmost CA
pacity to carry the passengers and
freight that is being offered and they
are being dumped off at these two
points at the number OF 300 "A day
which will soon be largely incrcassed-
I'm view of the fact that there Is
local civil government in the territory
OF Alaska and no one with sufficient
authority to force the laws OF the land.
and much less suppress crime and dis
orders, and in view OF the large nurn-
Der Of undesirable and criminal class
who are now hocSing to our commuri-
ty to prey upon the unwary and inno-
cent pilgrim, and in order To have sosYR>
one with sufficient authority and iu
sufficient numbers TO prevent disorder
and blockades on the trails TeadfntS T0,
Lakes Lindermann and Bennett and
to protect the property OF citizens nj
the United States and believing tiIts
TO be an extraordinary emergency. we
believe that martial law should be de
clared in all this part of Alaska cyn-
prising the communities OF Dyea and
Skaguay and the trails leading there
from to the interna tional boundary
and that sufficient troops, not less than
300, be Immediately dispatched tn ffsesss.
potts to enforce the laws, and preserve
order"
"A double murder occurred here at y
O'Clock this morning. Deputy United
States Marshal J. NJ. Rowen, formerly
city marshal of Mount Vernon. Wash
ington. and Andrew McGrath, a native
Of Concord, Ontario. were shot and
killed in Jake Rive's variety theatre
by Ed. Fay, a bartender. Fay is te-
ing guarded by a committee OF citizens
Tomorrow he win be tried by a <syxn-
mittee of twelve persons. Judichs5
forms will be followed az CLOSELY 1ss
possible. 1t Is the general opinion that
il found guilty Fay viii he harssssd
The theatre has been closed by the
citizens. The murder had a sad So
quel in the death Of Rowen's wife ard
child, the latter born a short tiuse JJrv--
vious to the murder Of fits fatlnyr
Rowen was on his way TO Obtain med
ical assistance for his wife when tire
shooting occurred. The showing grvsv
out Of a brawl in which McCrat1, Was
a participant. He left the pfa,e and
appealed to Rowen, who. in .1,e cz-
pacity Of an officer. vert TO tho tfrea rrv.
to investigate the matter