Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-21
MARTIAL LAW IN SKAGUAY,
RESULT OF SHOOTING SOAPY SMITH,
THE GAMBLER.
One of His Ring Leaders stole s27OO
From "a Miner Gang Refused to Re-
turn IL and smith Was Shot Some
Good Strikes Reported.

Victoria, e. c., July l6-Martial law
was declared in Skaguay as result of
the killing of "Soapy" Smith, Il notorious
gambler, and the subsequent arrest OF
sCN Cral members of his gang. Bowers,
one of the ring leaders, had stolen $500
from newly returned Dawson city MN
or. The ganc refused to refund the
money which led to an Indignation meet
ing ana "Soapy" Smiths shooting.
citizens then, armed with Winchcstcrs,
patrollcd the streets. announcing their IN
tcntion to arrest all implicated with the
/ dead gambler.
The search resulted in the apprehension
of lowers and about n dozen others capt
| Ycatman Of the lith infantry, stationed
! at Dyea. brought the soldiers to Sklgway
md proclaimed martial law and according
/ to passengers on the steamer city of Seat
/ Tie. Ycatmdn, fearing his inability to re-
: strain the Indignation OF the citizens, who
/ threatened to lynch the prisoners, decided
To- give the mon a chance FOR their lives
and allowed them TO go free.
/ "Sudpy" smith the notorious desperate,
| was Killed On July by The city engineer
. Of Skaguay on the wharf at that place.
"SoapS's" gang had robbed a new ARRIVAL
from Dawson Of $25t0, and a meeting rt
c.,izcns was called to devise some means
of obtaining a refund Of the money and
rid tho town of "Soapy's' gang "SoarN'
procC ,dcd to break up the meeting, arm
cd w!th Il Winchester rifle. At the ch-
trance to the wharf the city engineer had
been deputcd to guard against Interrupt
ton. and he resisted "Soapy's" intrusion
with the result that the latter struck him
: with the end of the rifle. The men closed
and "Soapy's" rifle went off severely
, woundmG the guard. who Immediately
f. shot him through the heart with "a tevol-
YER "Soapy" died instantly and ~ the in
quest held subsequently the engineer was
y cNout rated on the ground of Stll-defcIcc.
The steamer Cottage city brought down
n last nGnt about - men, who left Dawson
City about June 5. travelled To White
= Horse I,arids and trans ferred their
u steamer to the head of Lake Bennett.
= They bring about thrce-quartrrs Of a mil
. lion dollars in dust and paper. mostly III
= latter.
They say that the banking accommo-
u dation at Dawson is now 50 good that
: there Is no necessity for men bringing on;
money I'm any other form than drafts. Tn
= Canadian Bank Of Commerce and the
- PAM, of British North America are stor-
ine dust for shipment via st. Micha"rs IN
boats of the transportation companies
| Among the men believed to have NOR,
money on the Cottage city are the Butici
brothers. of Ellsworth, MINI. The eldest
@ went in three years ago, and the Other
three last year. They have cleaned up
large amount on Bonanza Creek, and now
~ hold the claims An English syndicate l.
n represented by Mcfarland and Coleman
i tho latter of whom came down last night
= The price obtained cannot be learned
n hut Coleman, who /: thoroughly reliable
:. Is authority for the statement that 1t Is .
Z. very large one.
All men the on board refuse to state the
II full amount of money brought out Sew
i oral of them have been working only az
y days wages, at Slj n day.
The only boats which had reached Daw
y SON from st. Michael's were tho Ilamlin
l. the Wcarc. the Bella, the May West, an'
l. the Victoria. all of which had been boun,
$ w all winter.
Is Among the men who have arrived on
= are Phil Dobson, Los Angeles Henri
he Cheney Rochester. y. y; and Miller an
Vines, New York State. All have none,
10 yariously estimated at $1,000 to 5000
" each.
Is The health of Dawson City was good
and no lawlessuoss exists. The Mounte'
Police are giving great satisfaction.
Exceedingly good strikes have bcc'
made on New Bench El1orado. Bonanza
French Creek, and Skookum Gulch, whic'
u, are reported to be enormously productiv
1T high levels. The quartz claims pros
10 pectcd so far yield poor prospects.