The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-06
CIHZeRS OIL DYED Petition Tor SOL
dIGS 10 Enforce Lows.
NO CIVIL GOVERNMENT N The TERRITORY
Large Number OF Criminals FIoclxinv
TO tho Country 10 Prey on Honest
Miners-Two Mcn Killed by n Bur,
tender-C.tizcns Will Try tho nRur.
dercr.
Skaguay, Alaska, Jan. 81,
via Seattle, Wash, Feb.


A petition has been circulated here
anu ut Dyea asking the War Depart
ment to send 300 troops~here that law
ana order may be preserved. The pc
tition is signed by nearly all the best
element. 1t reads as follows:
TO the Honorable Secretary Of War,
Washington, D. c.:
"Ws, the undersigned citizens and
business men Of Alaska, respectfully
petition and set forth:
That there is an extraordinary con-
dition Of affairs existing at and near
Dyea and Skaguay. Alaska, which calls
for prompt attention from the proper
authorities
AS result of recent discoveries of
gold in and near Dawson City, n. w.
T., Canada, during the past two years,
there is an enormous rush of people to
that country from all parts of the world,
ana IL is estimated that there will be
2aoo00 people start for the gold fields of
Alaska and the Northwest Territory,
Canada. during the present year, and
not less than 20 per cent. viii attempt
10 get In by way OF the Chkoot and
White Passes. Even a this early day
the full capacity OF every steam and
sailing ship on the Pacific coast is taxed
to Its utmost capacity 10 carry the pas
sengers and freight that is being Of
fered, and they are being dumped off
at these two points at the number of
800 day. which viii soon be largely In
| crea sed.
In view of the fact that there Ia no
local civil government in the Territory
or Alaska, and no one with suflicien
authority to prevent crime and disorder,
and in view Of the large number of the
undesirable and criminal class who are
now Hooking to our community 10 prev
upon the unwary and innocent pilgrim,
and IN order to have some one with
sufficient authority and in sufficient
numbers to prevent disorder and block
AIDES on the trials leading TO the lakes,
Linderman and Bennett, and to protect
thS property Of the citizens of the
United States;
And, believing this TO be an extra
ordinary emergency, we believe that
marital law should be declared in all
this part Of Alaska. comprising the
communities of Dyea and Skaguay and
the trails leading therefrom TO the in
ternational boundary, and that sum
clent troops. not less than 300, be i'm
mediately dispatched TO these points
10 enforce the laws and preserve order.''
~ double murder occurred here at
O'Clock this morning. Deputy United
States Marshal ]. NJ. Rowen, formerly
City Marshal of Mont Vernon, Wash.
and Andrew McGrath a native of
concord, Ont, were shot and killed in
Jake Rice's variety theatre by Ed. Fay,
bar tender Fay is being guarded by
committee of citizens.
Tomorrow he Will be tried by a
| committee of twelve persons. Judicial
forms will be followed as closely as
possible. 1t is the general opinion that
If found guilty Fay will be hanged
The theatre has been closed by the clti-
zens The murder had a sad SEQUEL
in the death of Rowen's wife and child,
which was born n short time previous
to the murder of it's father. Rowen
was on his way to obtain medical as
sistance for his wife when the shooting
occurred.
The shooting grew out of a brawl,
in which McGrath was q participant.
He left the place and appealed to
Rowen. who, in the capacity of an
officer. went to the theatre to investi-
gate the matter