The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-06
TROOPS ARE ASKED FOR
A nOTRl4E MURDER YESTERDAY
NiARSlIAl. RoWE< Nlll.En,
RUSH OF PEOPLE AND TRouslE FEARED
Marshal Rowea's Wife and New Born Child Die
Sooa Afser the Trageay-.No Local Civil
Government and no One With
Sufficient Authority.

Skaynay, Alaska, january 81, via SAT-
re. Washington, Fob. a petition has
been circulated her, and at Dyol asking
,ae War Department to send three hun
,lred rr,,opS here that law and orSie"
mar h, PRESERVED. The petition is being
signed 10y nearly aR the best clement. 1t
reads as follows;
80 the Honorable Secretary Of War,
Washington. II. G:
1--WE. ghe undersigned citizens and
hsSigev>S men If Alaska respectfully Pc
4itsoa and set forth:
THAT there Is an extraordinary condl-
zian 81 affairs existing ut and near Dyea
and Skaguay. Alaska. which calls for
Drenopt attention from the proper au-
thoriticS.
Is :. result of the recent discoveries
Of gaid in and near Dawson City, \. W.
r.. Canada. during the past two years,
there = an enormous rush of people TO
that country from all parts of the world
and ii is estimated that 100000 people
will start for the gold fields of Alaska
and the Northwest Territory, Canada,
during the present year, and not less
than ~ per cent VIII attempt TO get IN
by way of the Chilk0ot and White
masses. Even mt this carry day the full
capacity of every steam sailing ship ON
the Pacific coast is taxed TO its utmost
capacity to carry the passengers and
freight that j. being offered and they
are being dumped off at these two points
at the number of 800 a day, which via
soon be largely increased.
I'm view OF the fact that there is no
local civil government in the territory
of Alaska and no one with sufficient au.
thyrity TO enforce the laws of the land
and much less to prevent crime and dis
order. and in view of the large number
of the undesirable and criminal class
who are now fiecking TO our community
to prey upon the umwary and innocent
pilgrim. and in order to have some one
with sufficient authority and in sufti-
cient numbers to prevent disorder and
lblockaties on the trails leading to the
Lakes Lindermann ana Bennett, and to
protect the property Of citizens OF the
United States.
And. believing this TO be an extra
ordinary emergency. we believe that
martial laws should be declared in al
this ~ert Of Alaska, comprising the COM
munitieS Of Dyea and Skaguay and the
trails leading therefrom to the interna
troops. not less than 300. be immediate
ly dispatcher to these points to enforce
the laws and preserve order"
A double murder occurred here at ,
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, We're shot and kill
ed in Jake Rice's variety theatre by Ed.
Fay. bar tender Fay is being guard
ed by committee of citizens.
Tomorrow he will be tried by COM
mittee of twelve persons. judicial forms
will be followed as closely as possible.
1t rs the general opinion that if found
guilty Fay will be hanged. The theatre
has been closed by the citizens. The
murder had a sad sequel in the death of
Rowen's wife and child. which was
born a short time previous to the muir
der of its father. Rowen was on his
way to obtain medical assistance for his
wife when the shooting occurred.
The shooting occurred out of a brawl
in which MeGratth was participant. He
left the place and appealed to Rowen,
who. i'm the capacity of an officer, went
to the theatre to investigate the mat
ter.
THE RELIEF EXPEDITION.
Portland Ore, Feb. 5.-The expedition
which the United States government j,
sending into the interior of Alaska will
supplies for the relief of miners wht
are reported to be in want, sailed fol
Dyea tonight on the steamship Georg,
w. Elder The Elder carried $50 pas
sengers, 81 of whom are officers ant
enlisted men of the army who will ac
as escort to the pack train, which it il
expected, will carry the supplies over th'
passes.
About 200 tons of provisions wer
forwarded by the government from her
and an additional supply will go from
Seattle in a few days.