Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-02-07
TROUBLE IN THE NORTH.


Skaguay, Alaska, Jan. ii, VIA Seattie'
Wash. Feb. 5.--A petition is being cir
culated here and ut Taiia asking the
war department to send 800 troops
here, that law and order may be pre-
served. The petition also asks that
martial law be declared. The petition
is being signed by nearly all the best
element. 1t concludes;
"And, believing this TO be an extraor-
binary emergency, we believe that
martial law should be declared In All
this part OF Alaska, comprising the
communities OF ITALIA and Skaguay,
and the trails leading therefrom TO the
international boundary. And that suiil-
Client troops. not less than 800, be I'M
medlately dispatched to these points
to enforce the laws and preserve or
der"
1t is stated that Gov. Brady will or
der one of the government cruisers
now stationed at Sitka to TINS place. 10
preserve order. The cutter Will arrive
in few days.
Good prospects have been found on
the Big Salmon river. Prospect holes
have been sunk to the depth of forty
five feet, but water interfered with the
work before bedrock was reached.
Inspector of Mines McGregor, who
started for Dawson some weeks ago
with SeNeful TONS pl HupplieS anu Il
number of horses, has abandoned the
trip. McGregor got as far as Lake
Lebarge, where he received orders from
Mai. Walsh. administrator of the Yu-
kon district, who is camped ut Big
Salmon river to abandon the trip, be-
cause OF the impossibility to reach
Dawson with horses. McGregor has
gone to Big Salmon to confer with Mai
Walsh.
The recent orders of the Canadian
customs officials ut Lake Tagish, pro-
hbiting any person to pass there with
less than 1000 pounds of provisions for
each man, has had the effect of stop
ping many people who had started for
Dawson with less than that amount.
A double murder occurred here at 2
o'clock this morning. Deputy United
States Marshal j. NJ. Rowen. formerly
city marshal of Mount Vernon, Wash.
and Andrew McGrath. native OF Con-
cord. Ont. were shot and killed in
Jake Rice's variety theater by Ed Fay,
n bartender. Fay Is being guarded by
a committee Of citizens. Tomorrow he
will be tried by n committee OF twelve
persons. Judicial forms will he followed
as closely as possible. 1t is the general
opinion that II found guilty. Fay Will
be hanged. The theater has been closed
by the citizens.
The murder had a sad sequel in the
death of Rowen's wife and child, which
was born u short time previous TO the
murder of his father Rowen was on
his way to obtain medical assistance
for his wife when he shooting oc-
Cured. The shooting grew out OF "A
hrawl In which McGrath was a
participant. He became involved in a
quarrel with one of the female at
taches of the theater, whom he accused
of stealing $40 from his pocket. Rice
the proprietor of the place. and n num-
Der of heelers. 1t is alleged. jumped on
McGrath, inflictlng several wounds In
the back of his head.
McGrath escaped and went out of the
place to get n gun. He met United
States Deputy Marshal Rowen and
told him his story. Rowen started to
ter entering the house first. Rowen
followed. When McGrath entered the
house. he lmediately took off his
coat and struck at Fay with his fist.
Fay Immediately drew his revolver
and fired, the bullet striking McGrath
in the groin. He dropped to a chair
without word. Roven turned to pull
his revolver from his hip pocket. when
Fay fired again. the bullet striking
Rowen in the stomach. Rowen reeled
but didnot fall. and reached the street.
where friend found him and took him
to DIR. Moore's office. block distant,
whene he died of internal hemorrhage
two hours later.
The shooting In the theater woke
up sleeping man named Jones. who
drew n revolver and began to shoot
Unfortunately. A bullet from his
revolver went through both OF HI La
monts thighs, inilicting slight
wounds.
Fay claims In justification OF the
murder that he acted in self-defense.
as McGrath went out of the saloon to
get gun.